Am I the only one who felt sorry for the fig tree that Jesus cursed in the Gospel. After all it wasn’t
even the season for figs. I don’t go out to my tomato plants in the middle of winter and expect to find
tomatoes on them. And I don’t condemn them for not having tomatoes in winter.
Mark 11:12-14
Now the next day,as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. After noticing in the
distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found
nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you
again.” And his disciples heard it.
Mark 11:20,21
In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the
roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has
withered.” NET
What then can we learn from these passages? That God has unrealistic expectations of us? That we
should make unreasonable demands on others, and then be angry when there not meet? Of course not!
Then what?
The big lesson here is that the tree represents the Nation of Israel, but that’s not what I want to
focus on. I want to look at how this passage effects our everyday walk with God. First I would like to
point out a few other passages that might help you see what I am trying to say.
2 Timothy 2:4
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season;
correct, rebuke and encourage —with great patience and careful instruction.
NIV
Ecclesiastes 11:4
He who watches the wind will not sow,and he who observes the clouds
will not reap. NET
John 4:35
Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I
tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest!
The example of the fig tree shows us that our timing is not God’s timing. The Nation of Israel was
not ready for the coming of the Messiah and because of they were driven from their homeland. We are
often guilty doing the same in our walk with God. “This isn’t the right time, my children are to young,
my car is to old, my house is a mess.” Sometimes consciously and sometimes subconsciously we do
this when God wants us to do something. We’re not the only ones. Moses resisted Gods call at first,
Sarah did not expect to be having a child at ninetynine
years old, Jonah had to experience a fish tale
before he was ready. There are many others as well. Some, it is sad to say, never responded to His
command.
It is clear in the Scripture that God has a work for each one of us, a special task(s) that He has
prepared just for you
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared
beforehand so we may do them. NET
Since God has prepared for us we must prepare for Him. And be ready when He calls. I drove a lot
of old Vans back in the ’80 and closest thing to air conditioning was driving with the windows down.
Those old vans were noisy. Often if I was driving on the highway with the windows down I could not
hear the radio, in fact I would usually forget it was even on. Then I would come to an exit and slow
down and hear the radio again. We are often like that with God, flying down the highway of life, but
not listening for direction, because there is to much noise (distractions) in our lives.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witness, let
us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us, NIV
Sometimes the smallest things can trip us up or get in our way. Very subtle sin habits can creep into
are lives without us even realizing it. Such as being to focused on sports or shopping or house keeping
or our children, the list goes on. These things can keep us from hearing the “still small voice” of God.
Just like driving down the highway with the windows open. The Scripture says “be still and know that
I am God.”Ps46:10 NIV
We are told:
Matthew 7:15-20
“Watch out for false prophets,who come to you in sheep’s clothing
but inwardly are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are
not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles,are they? In the same way, every good
tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear
bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.
Let us continually keep our hearts prepared for the Lords calling, keep our minds fertile for the
Lord’s planting, in every season of our lives. So that we can bear good fruit and not “wither from the
roots.” To the Glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.