Good and Bad Figs

Aim: To submit to God's will—even in difficulty—trusting Him for good.

Doctrine: God is pleased with His people who bend to His discipline, because it conveys acceptance of responsibility, and because there is an implicit faith in His goodness.

Exegesis: God's strange means by which He evaluates fruit: the process starts at the temple (church) (vv. 1-3); the captives will enjoy the new covenant's promises (vv. 4-7); the rebels, seeking self-preservation, perish (vv. 8-10).

Further application: What I am to learn from this ''figs'' lesson: I should not resist any of God's actions towards me, be they ''good'' or ''bad;'' I should believe God for redemption—since it is His character to save.

Key phrase: v. 1a ''The LORD showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD...''