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The Cedar's Of Lebanon project envisions
the reclamation of lost ground in the
declaration to replant the decimated forests of the Cedars of Lebanon.
The initial focus of the Cedars of Lebanon
Reforestation Project was to focus on the extension of the once mighty
cedar forest of the Jabal Niha area in south Lebanon. It was there where
the cedar trees were cut for the construction of King Solomon's Palace
and the First Temple in Jerusalem. (I Kings 5)
An enthusiastic reception by local municipal
officials was later deadlocked by opposition from the Islamic Hezbollah,
the dominant military force in south Lebanon. It appeared that the south
was not the place to initiate the project until the terrorists were removed
from controlling the area. Strangely enough, the Hezbollah inadvertently
redirected the Project to a location of far greater historical and prophetic
importance.
The Project then began to work with a Lebanese group in the north of Lebanon
called Friends of the Cedars, who were already replanting around the most
ancient of the groves known as the 'Cedars of God'. The society was located
in the ancient Maronite city of Becherre. The grove is located above the
city, consists of over 350 ancient trees and a few thousand smaller trees
replanted since 1985. Some of the older trees are estimated at an age
of over two thousand years. The grove is located nineteen miles from the
coastal city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon.
Becherre, the birthplace of the famed Lebanese
poet/artist/writer, Kahlil Gibran,
is situated in the rugged mountain valley of Qadisha (The Holy Valley).
Above the ancient grove stands Qornet es Sawda (Black Horn in Arabic),
Lebanon's highest peak at over 10,000 feet. (3088 m)
Maronite Christians fleeing the initial Muslim takeover of Lebanon in
637-39 AD, established a Christian stronghold centered in Becherre,
which had successfully resisted take-over for nearly 1400 years. Since
the Middle Ages, the Qadisha valley has also become the refuge of generations
of Monks, hermits, ascetics and anchorites dwelling in natural cave
chapels and monasteries cut from the rock.
At a time when most Westerners are regarded
with suspicion, Native Lebanese respond with warmth to the vision of
restoring the Cedars to their prominence.. It opens up the hearts of
the people because they know the restoration of the cedars will improve
the environment, ecology, economy and the sheer beauty of the now barren
slopes.
They are moved by the Project commitment
to their national tree, featured prominently on the Lebanese flag. Imagine
all the trees of a coastal range in North America disappearing, leaving
only the bare and rocky soil in its place, and you will capture the
way the Lebanese long for the return of their biblical cedars.
The Projects interest in the area is the latest, in a procession of
more well known historical figures. Namely, Queen Victoria, The Emperor
Hadrian, and last but not least, the Old Testament Prophets of Moses
and Ezekiel.
In 1876 the 102-hectare grove was surrounded
by a high stone wall financed by England's Queen Victoria. The wall
protects against one of the mighty cedar's smallest natural enemies;
the goats who would gnaw with glee on the young saplings
In the 2nd century the Roman Emperor Hadrian strove to protect the forest
by surrounding it with stone boundary markers. Two hundred of these
markers still stand as sentinels today testifying to a much grander
forest of the past.
But Most significant to the Project's
vision, is the emphasis placed on the area by Moses and the prophet
Ezekiel. A comparison between the MacMillan Bible Atlas and modern maps
of the area bring out a starling realization.
The Project's 'forced' relocation to the Qadisha Valley seems to coincide
with the northern boundary of the promised land of Canaan. This boundary
is reaffirmed by God to Moses in Numbers 34, explored by the twelve
spies in Numbers 13 , and re- declared as the northern boundary in Ezekiel's
description of the Millennial Kingdom of Israel. This is the extent
of the nation Israel, which Christ as King will rule from over the earth
for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:5-7)
Numbers 34:7-9 also gives the northern mountain of Hor, as a landmark
near the coast of the northern border. It is logical that Qornet Es
Sawda (Black Horn ), Lebanon's highest peak would be a prominent candidate
for Mount Hor, which up to this day remains unidentified by Biblical
scholars. On a Clear day much of the Promised Land can be seen from
it's majestic heights.
The earliest scene of history finds Adam as a skillful horticulturist
caring for the Garden of Eden.The Cedar's Of Lebanon Reforestation Project
takes the care of the Cedars Of God with equal zeal, and eagerly anticipates
the prophesies which extend the reforestation all the way down to the
Egyptian border.
The theme of Reforestation is a major characteristic of the one thousand-year
millennial kingdom as prophesied in the book of Isaiah.
" In a very short time, will not Lebanon be turned into a fertile
field and the fertile field seem like a forest?....In that day the deaf
will hear the words of the scroll and out of gloom and darkness, the
eyes of the blind will see. " (Is. 29:17)....
"The wilderness will rejoice and blossom.... the glory of Lebanon
will be given to it." (Is 35:1,2) "...I will make rivers flow
on barren heights...I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia,
the myrtle and the olive.... I will set pines in the wasteland.. the
fir and the cypress together." (Is. 41:18,19)
Isaiah states the effect that reforestation
will have upon the residents of the land,
" So that people may know, may consider and understand, that the
hand of the Lord has done this." (Is. 41:20)
The Project desires to plant truth into the people of Lebanon, so that
the Jesus can take that truth, and turn the people into trees of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord, for the display of His splendor." ( Is.
61:3)
Planting
this spring ,starting in late March is the best time, because the cash
strapped Friends of the Cedars has 7,000 five year old cedar seedlings
in the nursery that will become root bound if they are not planted soon.
The Project is asking God to provide supporters for all 7000 trees at
a planting cost of ten dollars each.
Also needed by the forestry department, are the specialized water trucks
needed to keep the trees alive, while reservoirs are being prepared.
The task of planting each tree is labium intensive requiring pick and
shovel excavation of a two foot square hole in steep and rocky terrain.
A mulch mixed with hydro-gel is laid in to ensure water retention in
the first critical months after the transplant.
In sync with the gradual expansion of the forest, the rock water reservoirs
must be constructed in stages above the grove to catch the melting of
the abundant winter snows in the area. A unique drip irrigation system,
originally developed in Israel... will take water from the reservoir
by plastic pipe to each individual tree with minimum evaporation loss,
thus withstanding the searing hot seasons beginning each June.
The Project believes that all who participate
in the project, are planting trees which will likely grow into the Millennial
Kingdom of our Lord, a time of unparalleled growth and fruitfulness.
Those wishing to be a part of Millennial
History can support the Cedars of Lebanon Reforestation Project by contacting
the addresses found on our Contact Page
"To
those western poets,
the word “Lebanon” is a poetical expression associated with
a mountain
whose sides are drenched with the incense of the holy cedars.
It reminds them of the temples of copper and marble
standing stern and impregnable
and of a herd of deer feeding in the valleys.
That night I saw Lebanon dreamlike with the eyes of a poet.
Thus the appearance of things changes according to the emotions,
and thus we see magic and beauty in them,
while the magic and beauty are really in ourselves."
Khalil
Gibran. The Broken Wings, 1912
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