If my Dad was still alive, this week my parents would be celebrating their blue sapphire wedding anniversary. I thought all sapphires were blue. After all the word ‘sapphire’ comes from the Greek word for blue. But they come in all colours apart from red. Sapphires are very hard and durable, hence their suitability to mark engagements and anniversaries.
One of the most famous sapphires, the Star of India, a 563 carat Star sapphire was among the gemstones assembled by George Frederick Kunz for the banker J P Morgan, for the Paris Exposition in 1900. Then it was donated to the American Museum of Natural History. On October 29th, 1964, a group headed by Jack ‘Murph the Surf’ Murphy stole it amongst other gems.
During the Museum’s opening hours, they had unlocked a bathroom window, then, after dark the crawled in. They found that ‘The Star of India’ was the only item alarmed. However, they stole it along with others making their heist worth over $3 million (luckily for them, the batteries in the alarm had run out!). The gem was uninsured. The gang was caught after two days and the Sapphire was recovered from a Miami bus station locker and returned to the museum. More evidence of its durability!!
Mining for sapphires is mentioned in the Biblical book of Job, which is thought to be one of the chronologically oldest books in the Old Testament. Some traditions suggest that Moses’ tablets on which the ten commandments were written were made of sapphire. Isaiah prophesies that the New Jerusalem will be built on foundations of sapphire (Isaiah 54:11) and this is echoed in Revelation referring to the new heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21: 19-20). Sapphires were recognised throughout the Bible for their durability. A fitting stone to celebrate 65 years of marriage!!!
Heavenly Father,
Today we celebrate long lasting relationships that have survived the ups and downs, the good and the bad events in life. We thank you that in Your creation we can find symbols to help remind us of the durability of such relationships. In the sapphire You combine beauty with great strength. Help us Lord to reflect Your beauty and strength as we seek to serve You in our relationships. Amen