DEVOTION / Summer is here!
Baal-hanan the gardener
Now that summer is here we can enjoy God’s beauty all around us. Growing plants and gardening are wonderful pastimes we enjoy. Millions of dollars are spent every spring on the sale of seeds and plants that are ready to be set gracefully into the soil to grow and give delight to us for another year. Plants are some of God’s special gifts. Perhaps that is why the name Baal-hanan sprouts up in Scripture.
It took much work for King David to rule over his kingdom. First Chronicles mentions priests, singers, gatekeepers, treasurers, army officers, and special overseers. An organized government was important to keep the country running smoothly. Among the names in the list of the king’s overseers is Baal-hanan. The Bible says, [He was] the Gederite [who] was in charge of the olive and sycamore-fig trees in the western foothills (1 Chronicles 27:28).
Caring for nature was important to Baal-hanan. He had the privilege of being the caretaker of the olive and sycamore-fig trees. He planted them, pruned them, watered them, and picked their fruit. He lived close to nature and God’s living blessings.
How often do we take time to enjoy God’s gift of plants and flowers? When is the last time we enjoyed the trees and grass, flowers, and shrubs? Do we ever take a moment to smell the sweet lilac blossoms or notice the beautiful colors all around us? We have been blessed to take care of God’s wonderful creation.
“You will be like a well-watered garden” (Isaiah 58:11).
Did you know that Jesus was once mistaken for a gardener? On resurrection Sunday, Mary Magdalene sat beside the empty tomb and wept, wondering what had become of her Lord. Jesus came to comfort her and dry her tears. The Bible says, She turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary” (John 20:14-16).
What a beautiful story. Mary, thinking Jesus had come to care for the beautiful plants and flowers of the garden, finally realized that Jesus had come to care for her. She saw Jesus not only as the Creator of the flowers of the fields but as the one who fed and cared for her. Likewise, Jesus cares for each one of us with the undivided attention and patience that a loving gardener has for each plant. Praise the Lord today for caring for you “like a well-watered garden!”
By Reynold R. Kremer