Depending on The Power of God
October 27, 2022
Commentary
The prophet is shown a vision of two baskets of figs (v. 1). One was a basket of good figs, the other of rotten, stinking and smelly figs (vv. 2-3). God said “These figs are like the people.” The good figs represented those who are going to be carried captive to Babylon (vv 4-7). This was kind of surprising, because if you lived in Judah in those days, you would have said, “The worst thing that could happen to me would be to be taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and carried into Babylon.” However, what looked like the worst thing to them, was the best thing in God’s eyes. God promised to watch over the remnant in captivity and bring them back to the land (Ezek.11:16-17). He also promised to give them a new heart so they will know him (Jer. 4:22). This will be fulfilled in the future when God again regathers Israel at the beginning of Christ’s millennial reign on earth.
The leaders of Judah were prone to trust their political allies and lean on the arm of flesh instead of depending on the power of God. To emphasize the difference, Jeremiah contrasted a desert bush with a fruitful tree by the water. The poor figs represented the apostates who remained in the land to support Zedekiah and the other survivors who were determined, with the help of Egypt to resist Babylon (v. 8). They eventually fled to Egypt. They were ridiculed wherever they went (v. 9). God would send instruments of judgment upon them such as sword, famine and plague until they were all destroyed (v. 10). Those survivors had felt blessed of God, but in reality they were cursed.
Application
Regardless of what happens in my life I need to accept what God is doing and know it is for my good and that His love for me is greater that anyone on this earth.
Jeremiah 24:1– 10 (NET)
1 The Lord showed me two baskets of figs sitting before his temple. This happened after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported Jehoiakim’s son, King Jeconiah of Judah. He deported him and the leaders of Judah from Jerusalem, along with the craftsmen and metal workers, and took them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good-looking figs in it. They looked like those that had ripened early. The other basket had very bad-looking figs in it, so bad they could not be eaten. 3 The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”
4 The Lord’s message came to me, 5 “I, the Lord, the God of Israel, say: ‘The exiles of Judah whom I sent away from here to the land of Babylon are like those good figs. I consider them to be good. 6 I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. 7 I will give them the desire to acknowledge that I am the Lord. I will be their God and they will be my people. For they will wholeheartedly return to me.’
8 “I, the Lord, also solemnly assert: ‘King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 9 I will bring such disaster on them that all the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified. I will make them an object of reproach, a proverbial example of disaster. I will make them an object of ridicule, an example to be used in curses. That is how they will be remembered wherever I banish them. 10 I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their ancestors.’”