- Leaves and immature fruit of the common fig
The Fig Tree in the Bible Record
Well over a million tonnes of figs are
now produced globally each year.
Around 80% come from the Middle
East, with Turkey, Egypt and
Morocco together producing over
half of the world's figs. The fig is
highly valued for its nutritional and
health benefits today, but was even
more important in Bible times, as
numerous Scriptural references
confirm, from Genesis to Revelation
and over half of the books in between.
The fig was the first plant in the Bible
with a specific name (Genesis. 3.7 as a covering for nakedness)
and numerous allusions to it
elsewhere cover a wide range of
circumstances. This article will
consider how the fig shows the power
and purpose of Almighty God.
- Sliced common figs
- Photograph from CC BY-SA 2.5 via wikipedia
Fig tree facts
Out of at least 850 species of fig, only
two have significant use for man and
both are mentioned in the Bible: the
common fig, Ficus carica, and the
sycamore fig, Ficus sycomorus. The
former is the plant most readers will
be familiar with; the latter, also
present in many Middle Eastern
countries, was particularly important
in Egypt for both fruit and
timber.
The most interesting feature of figs is
how they reproduce. It is sometimes
claimed that figs do not flower. The
reason for this mistake is that the
flowers are hidden inside what is
usually regarded as the 'fruit', more
correctly a multiple fruit. It contains
numerous flowers developing inside
a hollow, fleshy receptacle, known as
a syconium.
A small opening in the fig provides
access for a pollinator, usually the
minute fig wasp. Each fig species is
normally pollinated by a unique wasp
species to ensure that it is pollinated
by its own kind. The complex process,
beyond the scope of this article,
by which this takes place, is unique to
fig species; it is not only critical for
survival but also provides food for
man. (For more about the remarkable
fig wasp, see Light Vol 26.2).
Fig trees produce different kinds of
figs. There are different types of
flowers to produce seed and edible
fruit, as well as providing a place for
the fig wasp to breed. As readers of
both Old and New Testaments will
know, the fig produces up to three
crops of figs each year.
Each cultivated fig contains around
1,500 seeds (see picture on left). It
would be highly undesirable for all of
these to germinate in one place, at
the same time. This, however, does
not happen because germination
inhibitors are present in the fig that
must be removed before germination
can take place. This usually happens
as the fig passes through the digestive system of an animal ;
conveniently this disperses the seed
widely.
Remarkable as the fig is, the production
of new plants by seed is
dependent on the presence of the
correct fig wasp. This is not possible
in countries having unsuitable
climate for this insect and, were it
not for another provision, the fruit
we value could not be produced in
cooler countries. The Creator,
however, has enabled certain fig
varieties to produce infertile fruit
without pollination. This provision is
of great value to us but is of no
benefit to the fig and it is very
difficult to explain how this could
possibly fit the evolutionary theories
that this unique plant has attracted.
Infertility simply does not fit
evolutionary theory. This remarkable
plant, utilised by mankind since
early Biblical times, provides an
excellent example of the Creator's
handiwork.
A symbol of prosperity and security
The fig was often cited in the Bible to
illustrate the blessings offered to
God's people. Before they entered
their land, Moses identified this tree
as one of six or seven vital species to
be enjoyed there:
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.
Recording how Israel was at peace under Solomon, the inspired historian also used the fig tree:
And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, each man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan as far as Beersheba, all the days of Solomon
When Israel sinned, the fig did not
flourish as a punishment from God,
as one of their prophets declared:
I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, your vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees, the locust devoured them...
The destruction was not, however, to be permanent,
as we are constantly reminded in
Scripture. For example another prophet wrote:
Do not be afraid... the fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
- Baskets of figs in a market place
- Picture from driendl/shutterstock
A symbol of the nation of Israel
Although the national tree of Israel
today is the olive, the Bible associates
the fig with the nation in important
prophecies . Through inspired
writers, God selected this tree to
represent His people, and several
Bible passages confirm this. One
example is in the writings of the
prophet Jeremiah; he mentions the
fig more than any other inspired
writer. God declared that the nation
being taken captive was made up of
good and bad individuals, as typified
by baskets of figs:
... two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD ... One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
God then continued the
analogy to tell the prophet that,
although the bad figs would be
rejected for ever, the good figs would
return to the land; they had an
eternal future, just as Joel confirms
that Israel will have (see Joel 2.27; 3.17,20).
Perhaps the most important Biblical
mention of the fig is to be found in
the address given by Jesus to his
disciples on Mount Olivet, recorded
in three of the four gospels.
Matthew's account reads:
Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the very doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
The certainty of this event could
hardly be expressed more strongly.
- Figs over wintering in the writer's garden in the UK
- Picture by Adrian Pickett
It is interesting that Jesus used the
fig tree to illustrate his words
because it is one of the last trees to
develop leaves, even though fruit is
present over winter (see photo
above). This suggests an event taking
place quite close to harvest. In a
similar way, the Jewish people have
been present throughout their very
long "winter" of dispersion, emerging
close to 'harvest' when Jesus returns.
Jesus warns us of great trouble for
the world at the time of the end, just
before he returns from heaven. The
disciples were just as keen as we are
to know when this would happen.
The answer Jesus gave had a
deliberately hidden meaning so as
not to disappoint believers living a
long time before its fulfilment, and
so that we would all maintain a state
of personal readiness.
An important clue was given by Jesus:
... this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place '''
He applied the time limiting condition of
the emergence of leaves on the fig
tree to the State of Israel. Thus, he is
telling us that the Mount Olivet
prophecy will be fulfilled during the
lifetime of at least some who
witnessed the founding of Israel. The
State has now been in existence for
72 years. This means the time is close.
Jesus and the prophets tell us that
other events will take place prior to
his return. Most, if not all of these,
are in an advanced state of fulfilment.
Notably, Jesus tells us that there will
be a great crisis:
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
It is not difficult to see how this is
being fulfilled in our world today,
with so much political strife and
environmental foreboding.
It is reasonable to believe that Jesus
was not only referring to the extent
of trouble in the last days, but also to
a threat that is fundamentally
different from the causes of trouble
in the past.
This is seen in the next verse:
And if those days had not been shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened
The troubles he referred to earlier in the chapter,
although serious, did not threaten
the future of mankind in the way this
new cause of tribulation does. Living
in the nuclear age, with weapons
enhanced by the latest technology,
we will understand what this means.
We can add to this, the present global
threat to health and economic activity
caused by a previously unknown virus.
The message for today
Although there is bad news in the
Mount Olivet prophecy, the final
message is very good news indeed:
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
Two verses mentioning figs reinforce the good message.
First, Solomon encourages us to look forward to a time of renewal:
The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!
Finally, the prophet Micah assures us that the world's frightening military resources will soon cease to exist:
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days... They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken
Thus, having witnessed the fall of
man in Eden, the fig tree will also see
a world at peace and the redemption
of God's people.
- Rip Figs for all to enjoy in the Kingdom.
- Picture from serezniy/123RF.com
Author Adrian Pickett
Country Hertfordshire,, UK
Source Light on a New World reprint from Volume 31.2
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