During the time when the Torah (book of the law) was not given, how did the people walked with God? The answer is a simple word - faith. The Hebrew does not separate spiritual things with physical. Everything is created by God and is connected to God. In Genesis, we read how the father of faith, Abraham, walked with God. He is involved with his environment. In chapter 21:33 Abraham planted a Tamarisk tree. The rabbis have been looking into the significance of this act recorded for us while many of us will just skip right to the next verse. The Tamarisk tree grows very slowly and has a widespread of feathery branches with pink when blossom. Abraham was lodged in the open and needed these shades for his people. He did this so that his people can rest, eat, and sing in a better environment. The trees help beef up the landscaping as well.

May we learn to be involved in making a better environment (not just planting trees) for God's people and the environment. The man of faith did so and so can we.