Eucalyptus Tress

Read Isaiah 55:12

Eitan and then Yoni, our tour guide, explained the presence of all the Eucalyptus trees by the side of the road. These non-native trees were brought in from Australia for their ability to lower the water table in soil. They were planted in the swamps and along with drainage canals, members of the early farm co-ops (affectionately known as Kibbutz) successfully drained many swamps. These swamps became very productive farm lands. We also heard the story of the famous Israeli spy Eli Cohen that was very successful in infiltrating the Syrian government circles. He gave the advice that if Syrians would plant Eucalyptus trees around the troop outpost on the Golan Heights, they would have shade in the summer and wood to use for heating in the winter. This advice was followed and many such trees were planted. The spy was eventually discovered and killed, but when the war of 1967 began, all the Israeli forces had to do was aim for the groups of Eucalyptus trees and indeed the Syrians were quickly routed. Trees that were non-native to Israel have since become a story line in the history of their nation. In Israel trees are a big deal.

Eucalyptus trees don’t usually have a good reputation, they do lower water tables and their wood is too hard to use in carpentry, I should know…I lived around them all my life (they were common in Bolivia, where I grew up). As I wrote in my journal about this, I felt the spirit teach me:”Henry, I will use anything I want to, if it will accomplish My Will. I will transform swampy lives into productive ones; I will drain sin; I will import new methods to enable My Followers; I will point out the enemy clearly and it will be defeated.”

Holy Spirit, take away all the swampy sin in my life. It’s that simple. LORD, I want to be soil that bears a huge harvest.