THE BEAUTY OF ALMONDS


Last week, the East Coast got hit with blizzard conditions. Did you see it on the news? Heavy snow as far south as Alabama and Georgia, and all the way up the Atlantic coast to Maine, causing hundreds of flights to be cancelled, schools to close, road problems, accidents--all kinds of weather woes and hassles. So as I drove past all the almond orchards here in Hilmar, in full bloom, with sun and warmth making the bees do their pollinization thing and the heavy scent of the blossoms strong enough to cover the usual faint odor of manure, I praised God that I live here in the central valley of California! Since it was my day off, I decided to go out to my friends, the Tornquists, who have a large almond orchard and get “up close and personal” with the trees and their blooms. It’s been years since I have done this, just going out and walking through the orchards in springtime when the trees are heavy with blossoms. I’m around this stuff all the time, for heaven's sake! Why would I spend precious time hanging out in an orchard? (You know how it goes when you live somewhere...) For some reason though, my sense of gratitude that day, for all of this, drove me to get out there and really appreciate this amazing phenomenon that occurs here in California every spring. I took my camera too, and shot nearly 100 photos of the orchard and the blooms in every conceivable manner.


Later that day, I thought that the topic of almonds might make for an interesting blog post. For those of you who still have weeks to wait for spring to arrive, I thought this topic and my pictures might give you a tantalizing taste of what’s around the corner for you, even if you don’t live where orchards burst forth in beauty, and encourage you to hang in there just a little longer--for a new season, new growth, and warmer days are just ahead. Also, there are a number of important Scriptural references to almonds, so maybe I can give you some spiritual insights regarding these delightful, delectable nuts as well.

I’ve learned a lot about almonds and almond orchards since coming to Hilmar in 1980. I actually lived in an almond orchard my first three months here! I discovered how the nuts grow inside both a hull and a shell, and that they are a 100% usable crop: cows eat the hulls, the shells are sold as fuel for co-generation plants to make electricity, and humans consume the nut. When they are harvested, in late August and September, almonds do not fall from the trees on their own. They must be shaken or knocked down, swept into rows on the ground, picked up by machine, and then delivered to processing facilities like Blue Diamond. This is the background to a silly adage I learned early on: “Why do some people pronounce the word ‘almond’ and others say ‘âmond?’ Well, they’re almonds on the tree and âmonds after harvest because you shake the “L” out of ‘em!” (There’s precedence for this way of pronouncing too--think ‘salmon...’)

There are many varieties of almonds: carmel, mission, nonpareil, California, and more. Some are hard shell and some are soft shell. Almond trees are not self-pollinating either, so every orchard must have more than one variety (as well as the bees) in order to get a crop. Each variety blooms and harvests at a different time too. Almonds are very nutritional. A one ounce serving (approx. 23 nuts) has 7 grams of protein, is an excellent source of magnesium and the antioxidant vitamin E, essential minerals, and monounsaturated fat--the kind that lowers the “bad” cholesterol, LDL, and raises the level of good HDL cholesterol. Besides eating them alone, you probably know that almonds are used in a wide variety of food items, from trail mix to cereal to candy to all kinds of baked goods. Almond flavoring is a regular ingredient in Scandinavian recipes, and marzipan (almond paste) is especially popular in the Middle East and Europe.

Other almond facts:
• California produces 80% of the world’s almonds
• The largest almond crop in history was in 2002: 1.084 billion pounds!
• Almonds are California’s #6 agricultural commodity and #1 agricultural export ($1.081 billion dollars in 2003)
• California ships 70% of its total crop to over 80 countries around the world

Now for some “spiritual nutrition” regarding the almond...

The shape and beauty of the almond blossom must be especially significant and precious to God. When the Lord instructed Moses in the desert on how to construct the various components of the tabernacle, He said: “Have them (the Israelites) make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” (Exodus 25:8-9) These included the Ark of the Covenant, the altar (for burning sacrifices), the table (for the bread of the Presence), the Tent of Meeting, the priestly garments (including the breastpiece with the 12 precious stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel), the oil and incense, and the lampstand. And just exactly how is this lampstand to be created?


“Make a lampstand (menorah) of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; it’s flowerlike cups, buds, and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand--three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair--six branches in all. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.”
(Exodus 25:31-36; 37:17-22; later reference in Numbers 8:1-4)

It must have been an exquisite furnishing and a beautiful piece of art, serving such an important function in the worship of God. Exquisite--just like almond buds and flowers!

Later in Numbers, the people grumble about Moses and Aaron and their leadership. To settle this leadership issue once and for all, God tells Moses to take twelve staffs from the leaders of each of the tribes and write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi, Aaron’s name is written. Then all of the staffs are placed in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the Ark where God meets with Moses. The staff belonging to the man that God will choose will sprout “and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.” Moses does all of this, and what happens?

“The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.’” (Numbers 17:8, 10)

This demonstration of divine power was more than enough proof that Aaron was God’s chosen leader and that the Levites held a special position. Not only buds and blossoms, but even fully formed fruit! Supernatural results! God’s produce--almonds--used to verify His desires! Amazing.

The almond tree signals some other things in Scripture too:

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’ ‘I see the branch of an almond tree,’ I replied. The Lord said to me: ‘You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.’” (Jeremiah 1:11-12)

Here, Jeremiah’s vision of an almond branch represents the Lord’s vigil and His intention to carry out his plans. It is a symbol of watchfulness (the Hebrew word for watching sounds like the Hebrew word for almond tree) and of promise because of its early flowering. Just as the almond tree blooms first in the year (it “wakes up” early), so the Lord is ever watchful to make sure His word is fulfilled. In this case, God is telling Jeremiah of the sudden and rapid punishment He is about to bring on His people (v. 10, 14-16) because Israel has forsaken God.


At the end of Ecclesiastes, most of chapter 12 is devoted to a graphic description of the progressive deterioration of humans as we age. Because of this, the Teacher urges his readers to live life to the fullest, to embrace wisdom, and to know that every detail of life is significant. Once again the image of a blossoming almond tree is included in his poetic account:

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’--when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.’ (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 5)

One interpretation of the almond tree image here is that its pale blossoms suggest the white hair of age.

Almonds are also included in a list of “some of the best products of the land.” This occurs when Joseph’s brothers have to return to Egypt a second time for food during the famine in Canaan and to have Simeon released from prison. However, they must take along their youngest brother, Benjamin, or else Joseph will not give them food nor let Simeon go. Israel (Jacob) finally relents when Judah guarantees the boy’s safety. To further find favor with Joseph, he tells his sons to take along as a gift some of the best things from their land:

“Then their father Israel said to them, ‘If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift--a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.’” (Genesis 43:11)

This was a customary practice in that culture when approaching one’s superior, whether political, military, or religious.


There you have it! Maybe more than you ever cared to know about almonds--but hopefully some information that will increase your appreciation of this tasty nut, as well as some insight into Scripture. I plan to create a new album of more of my photos on Facebook so watch for that. Central Valley Springtime For those of you who are enjoying spring with me here in California, I hope my blog has again increased your gratitude for what we have and enjoy here in our wonderful state. For those far away, I hope I’ve whetted your appetite for spring even more--and that when the first blossoms on your trees, shrubs, and flower beds begin to burst, you will appreciate the coming season much more too.

Shalom.

(scroll down for a few more photos here...)