Tall Drink of Water

After the rainy season, the baobab tree loses its leaves to conserve resources. Without its foliage, its branches look like gnarled roots sticking out at odd angles, earning it the nickname the “upside-down tree.” But there’s nothing upside down about its design.

The baobab can reach 30 feet (9 m) across and 100 feet (30 m) tall. Even during harsh droughts, the tree’s girthy trunk can store over 20,000 gallons of water. Though the wood holds a large amount of water, the tree is not susceptible to rot as other trees would be.

These designs benefit more than the tree. Animals munch on the moist bark when water is scarce and dine on its nutrient-dense fruit. Locals sometimes hollow out the broad trunk, creating a natural desert water tower they can fill during the rainy season.

Locals call the baobab the “tree of life” because of its essential role in providing water, shelter, food, and medicine to creatures and humans in a hostile environment. Even in a sin-cursed world awaiting the tree of life in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 22:14), the baobab tree stands as a towering testament to God’s provision for his creation.