Tale of the Terebinth

What comes to mind when you hear the word stump? It’s likely you do not think that a tree stump has a future—much less a promising one. But I believe that the Lord saw something entirely different when He pruned the nation of Israel.

In Isaiah 6:13 (NKJV), God is referring to Israel when He says, “As a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.”

While living in northern California, I worked and resided on a ministry property affectionately called “The Land”—a 170-foot bluff overlooking a seemingly infinite view of the Pacific Ocean. One morning, as I took a walk along this majestic stretch of land, the Holy Spirit brought the above verse to mind. When I arrived back at my house and looked the verse up, the words initially drew a picture of desolation. What would become of this beloved property that had been part of a longstanding history as a ministry since the Jesus Movement?

It was a perplexing time on The Land, and this word from the Lord seemed to point to an unforeseeable future. Thousands had been drawn here, many met the Lord, and followed in the footsteps of fruitful discipleship. But after living on this ministry property years after its heyday, I noticed the numbers began shrinking, and the property was like peeling paint. With this verse etched in my mind, The Land’s fate seemed irreversible. 

In whose hands would this special piece of real estate end up? The million-dollar view from this bluff, which stretched from north to south across the ocean, seemed limitless. The property held an almost sacred appeal for so many, including the Native Americans next door. 

The strong and mighty terebinth tree, which is related to the oak tree, is mentioned throughout the Old Testament. It has a deep, extensive root system and remains green in times of drought. It is large and often lives more than 1,000 years. Over time, terebinth trees became natural landmarks, memorials, and places of rest because of these qualities.

Even when a terebinth is cut down, a new tree often grows from the stump. The terebinth is often known as a symbol of endurance and resilience in Scripture, like when the Lord met with Abraham. Genesis 18:1 says, Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. At this meeting, God gave Abraham the promise of a son.

The verse in Isaiah that says “the stump will be a holy seed” struck me the most. At The Land, the Word had been planted in the hearts of the people who had walked, talked, and been taught from it. Like Israel’s remnant, generations would flourish and produce a harvest in the coming years.

Job 14:7-9 reminds us, For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again … . Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.

Though a stump may seem lifeless, the seed of God’s Word, which is watered by the Holy Spirit, is alive and will not fail. How much more hope is there for you, me, and others than a terebinth stump?

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Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.