I AM

I AM : M. M. Ninan
called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites
cut off there.
Other places in Palestine were famous for its special luxuriant
vines such as of Sibmah, Heshbon and Elealeh (Isa 16:8,9,10; Jer
48:32) and of Engedi. (So 1:14) Even today, Palestinian vines are
probably the best in the world.
The picture is clear from the above. Isaiah places it squarely thus:
Isa 5:1-5 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved
one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of
stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
Man was created in the image of God. He was asked to keep the
earth, and populate it. But in so doing, Man wandered away, forgot
his purpose, and produced evil instead of good. Vine represents
Life especially Man.
When Adam failed, a new chance was given in Noah. Noah also
got drunk from the newfound prosperity. Vine is the symbol of
Human Life. It is a symbol of abundant life, the luxuriant growth
of the wine that spreads on. Season after season the vine remains
bearing new leaves and new fruit. Generations after generation life
go on. Life was to be a life in the vineyards. But then the error of
Noah was repeated through the nations. They got drunk with the
abundance and let themselves naked.
So, God selected one particular person in Abraham. There arose
Israel.
109