What Kind of Fig Are You?
Jeremiah 24
In Jeremiah 24, the Lord showed Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs (24:1).
This was a time of great turmoil for the southern kingdom of Judah.
Their second-to-last king (Jeconiah) was just carried away with the ruling class and skilled labor from Jerusalem to Babylon.
Zedekiah was to be king of Judah now, the uncle of the king who was just carried away, set up as a puppet for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
Zedekiah was not a very good puppet, however, and often rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar and against God Himself.
So we see this vision that Jeremiah receives of these two baskets of figs.
The vision itself (24:2-3).
In one basket of figs, Jeremiah sees the best figs he had ever seen.
Now, figs are not too common in our every day experience, so let’s substitute in, say, grapes.
You see the juiciest, sweetest bunch of grapes in the store.
They look so delicious, and they are the just perfect.
Then right next to it, you see a bunch of bad grapes.
You know if you keep grapes for too long they start to wither, they taste way too ripe, and sometimes they even have mold growing on them.
That’s what Jeremiah sees for the bad basket of figs, they can’t even be eaten.
If you tried, it might even induce a gag reflex, and you’d lose your lunch.
The meaning of the good figs (24:4-7).
The good fig is the fig we want to be.
This reminds me of the many illustrations and comparisons that the Bible gives concerning fruit.
Recall, Jesus said that we would be known by our fruit (Matt. 7:15-21).
These are people who do as the Lord has told them.
Things had gotten so bad in Judah by this point, that God was going to have them carried away no matter what.
Throughout his book, Jeremiah pleads with Zedekiah and the other Jews to submit to God’s judgment, and they would live.
Yeah, there’s going to be a time when you will be in exile from your home, but you can return.
Later we find that it’s 70 years, but the outcome will be great.
T1hey will have a heart, a desire, to know God.
When the Jews return to the land in Ezra and Nehemiah, we see that they have a greater desire to please God.
As we see with the later prophets, however (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi), not everyone had such a desire.
As Christians, I pray that we all will turn to God with our whole heart, for that is not only what He desires, but what He deserves as our Creator, our Savior, and our Redeemer.
The meaning of the bad figs (24:8-10).
Now our attention shifts from the good figs to the bad figs, it is as if they make even God sick.
Zedekiah and his ilk were not willing to listen to God through Jeremiah—they despised the word of the Lord.
They did this because it was nothing they wanted to hear.
We see that Jeremiah faced off against false prophets who were telling of their victory over Babylon, or that their captivity would last only a couple years.
Zedekiah wanted to hear such good things, which emboldened him to be that not-very-good puppet king we talked about.
Oh they would be carried away, but instead of returning, they would be delivered to harm, a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse.
On top of that, the sword, famine, and pestilence would plague them till they were destroyed.
I hesitate to make any connections to our modern time, except this: be that good fruit and obey God.
If not, you will be that disgusting, putrid fruit, disobedient to God, and as a result cast out.
I know which one I want to be.
For those of you who want to be in that basket of good figs to receive that ultimate reward, I have good news for you—and it is called the gospel, literally good news.
I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.
And it is in His love and grace that we trust.
He tells us that we just need to believe in Him, trust in Him, put our trust in Him.
Then we need to repent of our sins, confess His name, and be baptized.
If you don’t care what basket you’re in, I encourage you, you don’t want to be in with the bad figs—destruction awaits.
So, what kind of fig are you? What kind of fig do you want to be?
Follow after God, and you will enjoy the wonderful benefits of being in that good basket—a home in heaven with Him.
