In the earlier part of the chapter, the metaphor is used to portray the fall of Jerusalem and the exile in Babylon. A great eagle (Babylon) plucked up the top of the cedar (the king of Judah and his officials) and took them to Babylon, where they flourished in a diminished state. Rather than accepting this as the chastisement of God and recognizing that Babylon was God’s instrument, Judah played power politics to try to wiggle free of Babylon — even violating the oaths that it had made. The appropriate disaster followed.

In the latter portion of the chapter (verses 22-24) the same symbols were used but with a new twist. It now referred to God’s future action on Israel’s behalf — liberation and restoration. God would plant the tip of the cedar on a high mountain (presumably Zion) that would become a glorious and fruitful tree. The purpose of the parable was to drive home the point that God is the ultimate master of all human destinies and the fate of nations rather than human machinations. It is far better to trust God and to submit to His will — good advice for all times and places.

Paul was right on target when he described faith as a sense of confidence and peace throughout the ups and downs of life. Faith does not consist of doctrines and creeds. Those are beliefs. Faith is a sort of inner guidance or navigation system that does not rely as much on factual or sense data as on an intuitive sense of the heart that one is on the correct path. Paul insisted that this faith should be put to good use by living our life in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord even while we are so far from our ultimate destiny. Our own heart will instruct us and we will know when our conduct is pleasing to God or not.

The warm weather of spring and early summer finds many people working very hard in their yards and gardens. We know that planting and growing requires patience and a lot of grubby, sweaty, work without the satisfaction of immediate results. So it is with the kingdom of God.

Jesus used metaphors and similes to describe the kingdom of God, especially seeds of various sorts. We all know that watching a seed grow is a frustrating and useless task. Jesus chose the image of seeds because they appear small and insignificant but are charged with the potential of something great and fruitful. Such it is with all activities undertaken with love and the desire for human well-being.

It is easy to be overwhelmed and discouraged. Our deeds may seem insignificant and ineffectual, especially in the face of so much suffering and negativity, but they will have a life of their own. They will grow at their own pace and in their own manner. Just as with plants, there is no way we can make deeds grow faster by yelling and getting angry. The result: lush, fruitful trees and abundant harvests. The catch: we might not be around to see it and others might even claim the credit.

When our labours are done with love and a desire to do God’s will this shouldn’t even bother us. Patience is not an innate human virtue. It must be learned daily for the duration of our lives. Most of the time, people want instant and spectacular results. Problems of all sorts — economic, political, environmental, social and religious — must be solved in short order by the appropriate program or policy. It seldom turns out that way and disappointment usually turns to rage and impatience.

Real faith means being consistently kind, compassionate, patient and just in word, thought and deed — even when it seems useless. In this manner the world is transformed and God’s reign becomes a reality.