This painting represents the 7-branch Temple menorah, as well as the Tree of Life and/or the burning bush. Moses was instructed to have the menorah constructed out of one piece of gold, decorated with almond fruit, buds and blossoms. The almond resembles an eye. The Hebrew root word meaning of almond is “wake” or “watch”. The almond tree is a symbol of resurrection. In Israel they are the first trees to awake from winter and blossom; also, the last fruit to be harvested.

I painted the base of the menorah as an eye, with the reflection of the menorah in the center, because the symbol of Israel is the menorah, and Israel is the apple of God’s eye. So, perhaps burning menorahs are the fire in the Lord’s eyes.

The key to interpreting the menorah is the center branch, with the Servant lamp that always points to the Messiah. Jesus is always at the center of the seven. Sevens in the Bible are frequently interpreted as having menorah structure. Examples are:

• The 7 days of creation (the sun is in the 4th day or in the servant lamp position)
• The first 7 words in Genesis have menorah structure, with the middle word being Aleph Tav (Alpha/Omega), with Jesus, again, in the center Servant lamp position
• The two doves and raised hands represent Pentecost, the 4th of the 7 feasts of The Lord – thus, occupying the Servant branch position
• Josephus said the menorah represented the seven known planets visible to the human eye – with the sun (light of the world) occupying the Servant lamp position
• The 7 colors of the rainbow are also apparent
• The menorah could also represent the 7 spirits of God or 7 eyes of Adonai, therefore, I painted seven eyes

The list goes on and on with, Jesus always being center.

The menorah is Israel’s symbol, found on their coat of arms with two olive branches on the side. In Zechariah chapter 4, a menorah is seen with two olive trees – one to the right and one to the left of the center branch, with gold pipes carrying oil to the center branch. The addition of the two olive branches to the 7- branch menorah portrays the Hanukah menorah with 9 lamps - Jesus, the light of the world is represented in this Festival of Lights menorah. We also see the interpretation in Zechariah that the two olive trees represent the two witnesses. These could be the Torah (Word) and Spirit, and may also represent the Jew and Gentile becoming the One New Man coming out of a single piece of solid gold.