An oak tree is a lovely thing. In the summer its shade is welcome, and in the fall its colored leaves are spectacular. But it gets its start in a small way.
A tiny flower on a large oak tree is pollinated and begins to grow. Within a few month’s time it becomes an acorn, complete with its little sport cap. A full-grown tree produces thousands of acorns. Every healthy acorn (many are wormy) has the ability to produce all the parts of a new tree. But only a few of them ever grow into trees, because there are many hungry mouths ready to use them as food. This is just the way God purposed it, as He said to Adam: “Every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food).” Genesis 1:2929And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29).
Almost all acorns are good to eat, but the Indians of North America especially liked the sweet-tasting White Oak variety. It is not just humans who eat acorns. Squirrels and chipmunks find them a chief source of food. Perhaps you have seen them scampering over a tree, cutting acorns free with their teeth. These fall to the ground and are later picked up and carried to their nests. These lively animals do something else, too. Often they hide acorns in the ground, carefully covering them with soil. They, no doubt, are planning to collect them later. But usually they forget some of them, and so new little oak trees spring up from these forgotten acorns.
Some of God’s other creatures also use acorns. Insects drill through the shell and plant eggs inside. When the eggs hatch, the kernel of the acorn supplies the food that they need. Then there are woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue jays, wild turkeys and other birds that go after them. Pigs eat them, too, and even deer include them in their diet.
Surely God arranged such an abundant supply of acorns as tasty food for many of His creatures to enjoy. The acorns that escape all these hunters and fall on fertile ground germinate in the fall. As the shell cracks open, little roots push out into the soil before freezing weather sets in. But God designed this seed so that no stems or leaves appear until springtime. If they did, they would be killed by the cold of winter. In warm weather the top growth appears and a new tree is established.
In all of this we see again the wonders of God’s creation, supplying food for many and at the same time reminding us that all things reproduce “after their kind.”
We should be thankful to God for every kind of food graciously given us. It is important to also remember the words of the Lord: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:44But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4). Later, He explained to some who asked of Him: ". My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world....I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:32-3532Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And 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 6:32‑35). Have you done so?
ML-04/05/1981