“I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: that they may see . . . that the hand of the Lord hath done this.”
Isaiah 41:19-2019I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 20That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. (Isaiah 41:19‑20)
Joshua trees in North American deserts have also been planted by the Lord, and He has placed around them many living creatures. These trees are found only in the deserts of the United States, from Utah to California, and northern Mexico. A large display of them can be seen from your car as you drive through the Joshua Tree National Monument in southern California where soil and rainfall are just right for them.
Many grow as high as 40 feet, supported by a thick, woody trunk. They have an assortment of odd-shaped branches that end in clusters of thick, spiky, dark-green leaves. A cluster of greenish-white flowers grows in the center of these leaves after the winter rains. When other desert plants begin blooming at the same time, the desert looks like a beautiful flower garden.
The Creator has arranged that Joshua trees do not crowd one another, for each needs lots of space to benefit from scarce rain and nourishment from the poor desert soil. But they are there for a purpose; they are a shelter and life support for many animals, birds and other kinds of desert life.
For instance, many lizards live there, including the zebra-tailed lizard which scoots over the ground with its striped tail lifted over its body. Another is the long-nosed leopard lizard that always runs upright on its two hind legs. There is also the loose-skinned chuckwalla that never seems to be in a hurry. And there are many others.
Certain tortoises find a good life among the Joshua trees as do a variety of snakes, including some rattlers. Kangaroo rats make their homes there too. Gophers are all around, and desert woodrats make nests underneath or up in the tree trunks. Mice are also plentiful, and jackrabbits and cottontails can also be found along with the occasional coyote, fox and badger.
Great numbers of birds live in the area, including falcons, roadrunners, hawks, quail, ravens and owls. Many of them make nests in these trees, and others nest on the ground underneath. Bats hide in the Joshuas in daylight and hunt desert insects at night.
Although people may drive by these trees and rarely give them a glance, we see they are really another wonderful example of God’s creation and His constant care over it all. How happy those of us are who know this loving, caring, planning God. We can clearly see a master design and know that all things did not come into being just by chance. This is why the Bible says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:11Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; (Ecclesiastes 12:1)). And to remember our Creator means also to remember the love that brought Him from heaven to die on Calvary’s cross for all who will admit they are lost sinners and accept Him as their Saviour. Have you accepted Him?
MARCH 31, 1996
ML-03/31/1996