In South Africa there are some black people, called Bakones, who build their houses in the trees. They have curious little huts fixed high up on the stout branches, and when they want to go up and down they do so by means of notches cut in the trunk of the tree, some of which are so large that Mr. Moffat, the missionary, counted as many as twenty huts in one tree. Each of these huts had but one little room, about six feet across, where the inhabitants lived. It was only just about big enough to hold the bed, the rude cooking vessels, and a few other things used by these poor wild people, so that it must have been something like a gypsy’s tent, only made of wood instead of blankets. I daresay you wonder why these people live in this manner, because although, it would be very nice, just for a change you know, it must be rather awkward at times. At any rate, I fancy you would get tired of having to climb up and down every time you wanted to have a run. No room up there, you see, to bowl a hoop or even to spin a top; only just to eat and sleep. Well, the reason why these people live in trees is just this; in that wild country there are many lions, great fierce creatures that could run away with you in a moment, just as a cat would run away with a mouse. And these lions are very bold. They mostly prowl about at night, often a whole family of lions together, the father and mother and the young lions too, so that if really hungry they would not mind attacking a village; and as the houses are but slightly built, often only of branches, they could easily break in and kill everybody. But lions can’t climb, and so, in order to be safe from them, these people live, like the birds, in the branches of the great tree, as I have told you.
When they hear the terrible lions coming trampling and roaring over the plain, how nice it must be to look down from their snug little huts and feel that they are perfectly safe! “Ah!” they perhaps say (only they don’t speak English, you know,) “you may roar and rave, and roam about down there, but you can’t, touch us.”
Thus, you see, the tree is their place of refuge and security. If a flood comes, as it may sometimes do in the rainy season, they are safe up there in their nests. And then there’s another thing I must tell you; these trees are a kind of fig-tree, and figs are very nice (at least I expect you think so,) and not only nice, but are used in that country instead of bread. Dried figs pressed into the form of a cake are commonly eaten in eastern countries. (1 Sam. 25:18, 30:12; 1 Chron. 12:4040Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel. (1 Chronicles 12:40).)
It is the traveler’s food, and is very supporting. Well, now, to have bread growing, so to speak, at one’s very door, must be very pleasant; not baker’s bread, you understand, but ripe, juicy figs, which are food and drink too in a hot country, where water is often scarce. So, then, this tree is not only a refuge, but also feeds and refreshes those that dwell in it. If a little black boy is playing on the wide plain and hears a lion coming he runs to the tree, scrambles up its broad, strong trunk, and is safe. If he is hungry and thirsty, he climbs along the branches and plucks the juicy figs!
“How good is the God we adore,” thus to make this useful tree grow where it is so much needed by these poor black people, too many of whom do not even know Him, and so never think of thanking Him for all His goodness.
Now can you tell me of whom this tree reminds us? Who is it that is the Refuge of the poor sinner—a refuge from judgment as well as from all the power of the enemy? When Satan, “as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour,” to whom does the believer fly and find safety? When judgment like a flood shall overwhelm the world, in whom will the believer find himself secure? “Ah,” you will say, “I know! —it is the Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, it is; and moreover, He is also the Bread of life (John 6:3535And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)), the Rest (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)) and the Delight (Song of Sol. 2:33As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. (Song of Solomon 2:3)) of those who have believed in Him unto everlasting life, for they “live by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)), they repose on His heart of love (John 13:2323Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John 13:23)), and they find all their delight in His presence. (Ps. 16:11).
Have you thus made your nest in a tree?
Selected.
ML 09/16/1900