The Secret of Almond

Prunus dulcis, colloquially called ‘almond’ has a special place in the Bible. A group of Israelites rebelled in the wilderness regarding the priesthood and the call of Aaron. Because they were envious of the priesthood given to Aaron (Num 16:10).

Then God put them to an assay to ensure them the call of the priesthood of Aaron. He told them to collect twelve staffs from the leaders of ancestral tribes and write their names on the staff. In the staff of the tribe of Levi, Aaron’s name was written. They had to place all the staffs before the ark of the Covenant of the Law in the Tabernacle. On the next day, Aaron’s staff which represented the Levi’s tribe, not only sprouted, but budded, bloomed and produced almonds. (Num 17)

Furthermore, God instructed them to design the Menorah, the candelabrum in the Tabernacle with buds, flowers and fruits of almond. This candelabrum represents Christ who says “I am the light of the world,” (John 8:12). Well, what relates Christ with almond? Why was the candelabrum designed with almond?

The world that functions bustlingly becomes dormant in the winter. Therefore, winter denotes death. The Spring that comes after Winter makes people happy because every tree blooms and produces fruits in that season. The first tree to bloom before all the other trees after the end of winter is almond tree. It can be represented as the firstborn from the dead. It is the symbol of Christ who is the firstborn from among the dead (Col 1:18).

The blossoming of Aaron’s staff symbolizes the power of resurrection of Christ from the dead. The miracles that Aaron did using that staff were all executed only by Christ! Yes, you can see only Christ in the whole of Old Testament.

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Colossians 2:17)