Our Daily Bread: Beyond Camp Family EditionSample

Ancient Wisdom

“General Sherman,” a giant sequoia in California, is the largest living tree on record, standing 275 feet tall and measuring 100 feet around at its base. It’s estimated to be a whopping 2,100 years old.

Scientists are learning more about ancient trees like General Sherman: not only do they live ten to twenty times longer than their leafy counterparts, weathering all kinds of environmental changes, but they also “teach” other trees in the forest how to survive such challenges by passing along their genetic “wisdom” through their seeds and pollen, improving the health and longevity of the surrounding forest.

The health and longevity of God’s people in Canaan depended on their listening to and obeying God’s wisdom.

As they entered the land—and what would be a season of many challenges—Moses recognized the importance of imparting God’s wisdom to future generations, so he charged them in Deuteronomy, chapter 6, to talk with their children “when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up” so they wouldn’t forget the Lord, who’d brought them out of Egypt.

As people who want to follow Jesus by faith, we’ve become part of the human forest made healthy and vibrant by our “ancient tree”—the Ancient of Days, mentioned in Daniel 7:13.

As we’ve been encouraged throughout our time at camp through the Scriptures and prayer and nurtured by generations of faithful followers, we absorb the wisdom He imparts, enabling us to survive and thrive together in this world.

Kirsten Holmberg

How has God’s wisdom helped you recently? Who is part of your “family tree” of faith?

Thank You, Father, for the wisdom You supply.