Have you ever read the Bible and wished that you could have been a part of something so impactful? Whether you were inspired by Esther’s courage, David’s devotion, the twelve apostles’ faithfulness, or Moses’ willingness, the result would have been the same: this inspiration created a desire for action in your life.
For many people, that inspiration could result in a disheartened feeling. After all, aren’t the days over for taking part in the Bible? It’s already written and published, so there’s no opportunity for action anymore.
That’s actually farther from reality than you might think! What if I told you that you can take meaningful action right now and help fulfill biblical prophecy in your lifetime? That would be pretty exciting, wouldn’t it?
It’s almost so exciting that it doesn’t seem like it could be true. Keep reading and we’ll dive into two passages in the Bible that directly relate to this topic.
Fulfilling Scripture by Planting Trees in Israel
“I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane, and the pine together.” – Isaiah 41:19
Did you know that every single one of the trees mentioned here is a species that we are replanting as part of the Greening Israel Project? You can find out more about Israel’s native trees here.
As you arrive at one of our new planting sites in Israel, the word ‘wilderness’ takes on a whole new meaning. But after planting one of these indigenous trees in a plot that’s now one step closer to Eden, the wilderness seems much less vast.
“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle, and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” – Isaiah 55:13
Much of the land of Israel has a surplus of briars and thorns, remnants from centuries of desolation. But here’s the good news: restoration is underway. As you take the first step toward redemption, you’ll begin by physically removing these thorns and briars, replacing them with native trees like cypresses and myrtles. However, the most impactful part of the process appears at the end of the verse:
“It shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
When you plant a tree in Israel, you have the opportunity to take part in making a name for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and demonstrating that His covenant and promises to the Jewish people endure forever.
I can’t resist sharing one more Bible passage related to this topic, which holds great significance…
“…foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers.” Isaiah 61:5
While this passage doesn’t specifically mention trees, it does mention you personally. It may not mention you by name — after all, it would be a bit funny if it said, “Jerry shall be your plowman and vinedresser….”
In this wording, “foreigners” refers to you. That means that when Isaiah spoke this prophecy, he may have envisioned you personally tending the fields and replanting the barren forests of Israel, even if he didn’t mention you by name (sorry, Jerry).
Why Should You Plant a Tree in Israel with HaYovel?
There are a lot of groups to choose from when you plant a tree in Israel, and there are also a lot of places in the world where you can plant trees, so why plant a tree in Israel with HaYovel?
The simplest answer is the theme to this entire article: to fulfill biblical prophecy. We’ve already thoroughly discussed that, but what we haven’t addressed is what happens to you when you fulfill biblical prophecy.
After speaking to countless volunteers and even looking into my own personal life, the result of fulfilling prophecy is exponential. To put it simply, the event that occurs when you plant a tree in Israel is life changing.
You can find out how planting a tree in Israel has changed the lives of previous volunteers here.
Why Plant a Tree in Israel with HaYovel?
There are a few things that stand out about HaYovel’s tree planting efforts in Israel. HaYovel and the Greening Israel Project only plant indigenous trees in Israel. Tree planting efforts by other organizations focus on planting trees that grow quickly and require little water. The problem is that this does little to change the ecosystem and restore the land. That’s why we focus on planting trees that are native to Israel. Ultimately, this is what will return Israel to its previous, forested state and, in turn, bring back the native fauna.
That’s not all that HaYovel does differently. We focus entirely on planting trees in the biblical heartland of Israel, or as most of the world would call it, the West Bank. We call it the biblical heartland because that’s where so many of the stories in your Bible took place. No other groups have tree planting efforts in this region due to the controversy of the area, but that’s exactly where we’ve decided to focus on reestablishing the forests of Israel.
This is Your Chance to Fulfill Prophecy by Planting Trees in Israel
The myth that you can’t be like the heroes of the Bible has been busted, so what does that mean for you? Today, be determined to be like your biblical heroes and act on the promises of God—you won’t regret it!
In our lifetime, we have the chance to be part of one of the world’s most important opportunities. Join us in reforesting the biblical heartland of Israel by planting a tree or by signing up for one of our volunteer trips today.
