The concept of the Jesse Tree originates from Isaiah 11:1, which prophesies, "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of His roots." The branch, serving as a biblical emblem of renewal amid adversity, becomes a means to discuss the anticipated Messiah. It symbolizes Jesus the Christ, fully God and fully man, full of grace and truth.
These devotions aim to unravel the narrative of God in the Old Testament, linking the Advent Season to God's steadfastness.
"After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless...Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."
Genesis 15:1-6 NKJV
In the quiet stillness of the night, Abram found himself alone with his thoughts, pondering the promises of the Lord. The word of God came to him in a vision, a whisper that resonated through the depths of his being, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
Yet, Abram, burdened by the weight of unfulfilled longing, spoke the unspoken ache of his heart to the Lord. "What will You give me, seeing I go childless?" The promise of having all the families of the earth blessed through him seemed distant and elusive.
In a tender response, the Lord led Abram outside, beneath the canvas of the night sky. "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them," the Lord urged. "So shall your descendants be."
In that sacred moment, Abram faced a choice – a choice between doubt and belief, between fear and faith. And in the quiet of the night, Abram believed in the Lord, his trust reaching beyond the boundaries of earthly understanding.
Abraham, the father of faith, points us to a greater promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. In Him, all the families of the Earth are blessed. Jesus was the promised reward.
With the advent of Christ, we Gentiles have been grafted into the people of Israel. We now have entered into the glorious fold of eternal blessing and promise. We now by faith, receive the Lord - our exceedingly great reward.
