Fig Knobs

Have you ever read the story of the fig tree in the New Testament?

Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”

It appears that Jesus was quite harsh, cursing a tree for not having fruit, when it wasn’t even the “season” for fruit.

However, upon studying fig trees, I learned that when the leaves are full, there are tiny knobs that indicate fruit is coming, and those tiny knobs are edible for those who pass by.  Jesus must have noticed that though the tree was full of pretty leaves but the knobs were not there, and he knew that meant there would be no fruit.

God expects us to bear fruit.  He sends rains in due season to our weary souls.  It’s up to us to soak and receive those rains.  He sends time of great abundance so that we feel secure and safe.  It’s up to us to praise Him and share those things with others.  He sends the season of the Sun to shine and make things grow, after the rains are over.  But we must direct our hearts toward the Son in order to walk and grow in his light.

When we don’t do these things, we are like this fig tree – all showy – with no indication of fruit.

It’s sobering lesson in these verses, that we must be fruitful in order to be pleasing to the Lord. 

I read further that fig trees don’t produce fruit, mostly due to an imbalance of nutrients and water. 

We must stay in the Word, be faithful in time of drought, be thirsty for his rain, and soak it up when he sends his showers of blessing.

Then, when hungry people pass by, we will have something to offer them…something that satisfies their hungry hearts.