Not To Be Overlooked
When it comes to doing individual Bible studies, I have noticed that there is a common issue that many Christians (myself included) have. This issue is overlooking aspects that seem mundane or unimportant within the Bible, we often forget that there is nothing in the Bible that God did not plan for. Recently, I came across a section of scripture that I have read countless times but never really looked deeper into, and today I want to share my findings with you.
“37 Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar, almond, and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white that was in the rods. 38 He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the drinking troughs, that is, in the watering channels where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink.”
Genesis 30:37-38
As I have said, I have read this passage of scripture countless times, but I had no idea how much of a land mine I had come across until I decided to look more into this passage. I had no idea that this passage is often used by critics to discredit the Bible, they claim that Jacob using poplar, almond, and plane trees is nothing more than superstition, folklore, and a primitive veterinary understanding. However, we now see that science, in fact, had not caught up to scripture. What I mean by this, is that due to technology and advancement in veterinary science, we now see that these plants have a very unique contribution to animal welfare; one that allowed Jacob to produce livestock greater than Laban.
Science today states that these particular trees can cure urogénital problems, reduce fevers, act as anti-inflammatoires, and aid in reducing reproductive disorders. These would make the goats and sheep that Jacob was breeding to be healthier and thus produce healthy offspring. Even more, these trees don’t even need to be ingested in order to receive the benefits; simply steeping them in water allows for the chemical compounds to be put to use. Science today is finding out that allowing the female goats and sheep to ingest these plants increase conception rates, optimal gestation, and increases multiple births; a trait that would be highly needed when Jacob is asking that his wages be the speckled and spotted goats and black lambs (Genesis 30:31-32).
I am sharing this with you today to show you that where critics try to cast doubt on God’s word, it is more than likely that science simply hasn’t caught up to what the Bible has been saying all along. The second reason why I am sharing this with you is because it is important for us as believers to not overlook all that Scripture says, no matter how unassuming it may be. If we overlook these simple aspects, we miss out on learning more about God and the world that He has designed.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex