Why Do Fig Leaves Matter?

Fig trees represent many things in Jewish culture but what they are mostly know for is a place to find shade, to rest and to spend time seeking God. We see this when Jesus meets Nathanael in John 1: 47-48

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”” Jesus knew him because he sought God and intentionally set aside time under the fig tree to build relationship with God. Nathanael was called a true Israelite because his faith was anchored in relationship, a longing to know God and be known by Him. It wasn’t about how many times he sat in Synagogue, or observing the right rituals. It was about know God and that is the very reason God created Eden as a place where He could relate to mankind. Eden was, in a sense, a fig tree.

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Fig trees are normally huge, well developed, shady and often represent Israel in Scripture. We see the first mention of fig trees in Genesis just after the fall.

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭

Adam and Eve took what God provided as a place of dwelling and relationship and used it to cover their nakedness. Thus hiding themselves because they were now looking to their own understanding. How often do we see mankind do this today? We hid behind opinions, cultural norms, political correctness, even theology. We take what God provided (the Bible) as a path to know Him and we make it fit our own understanding. Instead of using it as a stepping stone to sit with Him and to know and be known by Him. God gave us “fig trees” so that we would dwell with Him.  Somehow so many of us have taken this as measuring stick of how “righteous” we are or what a good Christian we are. Let me pose this question, and I am asking myself as well, how often do we just dwell with Him on our own? I don’t mean Sunday in church, or by reading the Bible or in prayer group etc. which are all good things but it is not where we are seen by Him. We are seen when we sit under the fig tree and just talk with Him and listen to hear His voice. We often move so fast that just taking time to sit, breathe and connect is a huge challenge. We are often so busy “doing” for God that we forget His whole purpose in creating us was to come and dwell with us in the cool of the day. His entire purpose was to be with us, not do with us. Again, doing things isn’t bad but it cannot be the source of our faith. Our faith comes from being with Him, knowing and being known.