We are not told what kind of trees were in Abraham’s grove, but how encouraging to learn of his honoring God by planting trees. However, it is certain these trees were not mangroves, which would not grow in Israel. Mangroves require the salty, sandy shore waters of the Florida Everglades or similar places throughout the southern oceans of the world to thrive—and thrive they do, in spite of efforts to get rid of them.
Mangroves, once having taken root, anchor themselves in mud and rotting vegetation with the upper parts of their roots arching up and spreading out in a great mat. These are so tightly pressed together that only small animals, birds, crabs, snakes and insects can penetrate them. The trunk and foliage is lifted some 50 to 75 feet high off the ground by these matted and tangled roots. These arching roots continue to grow from the base of the tree as it grows.
Salt water will kill almost any other kind of tree. They are helped in part by growing where fresh water from rain and streams dilutes the salt. In addition, these trees are provided with filtering systems that remove much of the salt drawn up from the water, and they grow rapidly on what comes through the filters.
Of what use is a forest of this kind? Among other things it prides living quarters for innumerable creatures. Certain crabs find this a safe homesite. Lobsters and many shellfish welcome the opportunity to hide in the mass of roots. Leaves, dropping and decaying, provide rich food for many sea residents, including fish, bivalves and a great variety of worms, sea slugs and insects.
Birds, such as herons, spoonbills, egrets and other water-waders, find an abundance of food here. Shrimp, migrating many miles to such protected spots, grow fat and healthy before returning to deep water. Crocodiles and water snakes frequent such places, too. As the groves spread, ponds are formed within them, providing welcome resting places for migrating birds.
Mangroves growing in great numbers also protect adjoining land from storms and hurricanes. As they spread, the land gradually builds up behind them, in contrast to many places where storms eat into the land, washing sand and soil away.
The more God’s wonderful creation is studied the more we see that everything has its proper place in His plan. The Bible refers to a tree to tell us a wonderful thing: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river.” Jeremiah 17:7,87Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7‑8). Can this be said of you?
ML-08/05/1984