BIBLE 101: JEREMIAH 17:5-8

by Sarah Lee (sarahl@lordoflife.org)

Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals     and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water,     sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes,     and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

—Jeremiah 17:5-8

Bible 101

What does resiliency look like? If you’re a tree, there are several different answers to that question. Trees are some of the oldest living organisms that we know of, and while you may think that a tree must have perfect living conditions to grow to thousands of years old, that’s not entirely true. The bristlecone pine tree often lives in high altitudes, facing fierce winds, belowfreezing temperatures, and sparse soil. Despite these inhospitable conditions, bristlecones are extremely tough and can live thousands of years. One of the oldest known trees is estimated to have taken root in 2,832 BC! Another kind of tree, the quaking aspen, survives over thousands of years in a very different way. While each trunk may only live about 100 years, an entire aspen grove can be a single organism, sharing one root system and pushing up new shoots to replace the old, dying ones. One of the oldest groves of aspen is estimated to be around 10,000 years old.

Imagine the things these trees have lived through— the rise and fall of empires, seasons of drought and seasons of abundance, the establishment of nations, the genocides of entire people groups, deforestation, and changing climates. These trees were probably even alive when Jeremiah 17:5-8 was written. This passage paints a vivid picture of two trees doing everything they can to survive and thrive in very different circumstances. Jeremiah compares these trees to people who choose to trust in very different things. The first, a tree that lives in the parched desert, is like a person who relies solely on human strength. Even when there is water to be found, this tree isn’t able to access it—it doesn’t even notice! The second, a tree planted by a stream, is like a person who trusts and relies on God. This tree has deep roots that can reach water—it stays green and produces fruit even in times of drought. It’s tempting only to see the stark differences between these two situations, but when we look closer, we see one similarity. Both of these trees face a lack of water, whether from the climate they’re planted in or the season of drought they’ve found themselves in. Each of our life situations is unique, but inevitably, we will face tough times. And even how we face those tough times and survive through them may need to be unique—like we see with the bristlecone and the quaking aspens. The way I survive and thrive may look different from the way you survive and thrive. We don’t get to choose where we’re planted, but we do get to choose how we prepare for and face the difficulties of life.

Thankfully, there’s one sure help that we can always tap into. We can grow deep roots of faith, drawing from the living water that is Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean the droughts won’t come—they will—but it does mean that we have a reservoir of strength that we can access no matter what.

reflection questionsn

• Which tree from the passage do you relate to most? Why? • What does resiliency look like in your life? • How can your faith in Jesus prepare you for difficult times?