Genesis: 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
[New International Translation]
Summary
After Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD, after the “Fall from Grace,” they immediately felt naked. They were experiencing a spiritual separation from GOD, because of their disobedience, and they thought they could solve this spiritual problem in a physical way---namely by making clothes and covering their bodies.
They began sewing fig leaves together to cover up. But nothing is ever hidden from GOD.
FIGS
A Biblical Fruit
Figs were a common and popular fruit during biblical times. Figs were eaten fresh, dried, like raisins and they were also fermented. There are a number of references to figs in the bible besides the reference in Genesis 3:7. For example, Abigail, the wise wife of Nabal (whose name means “fool” or “folly”), baked 200 fig cakes as a peace offering for David. See, 1 Samuel 25:4-38. Zacchaeus, who was short in stature and who desired to see JESUS, climbed a sycamore fig tree. See, Luke 19:4. JESUS saw Nathanael under the fig tree before Nathanael saw HIM. See, John 1:48.
Fig trees and grapevines were common household plants. Micah 4:4 states: “Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree.” In times of war, armies often destroyed homes, vineyards and fig trees. So to be able to sit under one’s own vine and fig tree represented a time of peace and prosperity.
JESUS used the fig tree in a number of his teaching parables. In Luke 13:6-9, there is the parable of the barren fig tree. There is the parable about the budding or leafy fig tree. Mathew 24:32-33 and Mark 13:28-29. In Matthew 21:18-20; Mark 11:12-14 and Mark 11:20-25, there is the withered fig tree. Each of these fig tree stories has spiritual significance.
Today’s Health Benefit of Eating Figs
There are a number of healthy benefits of eating figs. They include the facts that:
Fig fruit is low in calories. 100 g fresh fruits provide only 74 calories. However, they contain health benefiting soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and pigment anti-oxidants that contribute immensely for optimum health and wellness.
Fresh figs are high in antioxidants. Fresh figs, especially black mission, are good in poly-phenolic flavonoid antioxidants such as carotenes, lutein, tannins, chlorgenic acid...etc. Their anti-oxidant value is comparable to that of apples.
Fresh figs are an excellent source of vitamins. In addition, fresh fruits contain adequate levels of some of anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, E, and K. Altogether these phyto-chemical compounds in fig fruit help scavenge harmful oxygen derived free radicals from the body and thereby protect us from cancers, diabetes, degenerative diseases and infections.
Fresh and dried figs are a good source of minerals like calcium, potas-sium, manganese, iron, selenium, copper and zinc. One hundred grams of dried figs contain 640 mg of potassium, 162 mg of calcium, and 2.03 mg of iron. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is required for red blood cell formation as well for cellular oxidation.
Figs are rich in fiber. Figs are high in fiber and are often used in weight management programs.
From “Fig Fruit Nutrition Facts,” www.nutrition-and-you.com/fig-fruit.html and from “FIGS,” at www.WHfoods.com.
Figs: A Physical and Spiritually Useful Fruit:
In Genesis, GOD provided a garden with a number of trees for the first couple. Instead of obeying GOD and eating fruit from the right trees, including fruit from a fig tree, Adam and Eve chose to disobey GOD and eat fruit from the wrong tree.
We all have disobeyed GOD. And, in Ephesian 6, we are given a solution to the problem of our nakedness. The Apostle Paul tells us to put on the “full armor of GOD.” This spiritual armor includes:
- The breastplate of righteousness;
- The shield of faith;
- The helmet of salvation;
- The sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of GOD;
- Feet that are shod in the preparation of the gospel of peace; and
- The belt of truth.
See, Ephesians 6:10-19.
Each piece of armor, like the different fig tree story, is worth thinking about and praying about in order to appreciate the significance of each spiritual item because each day we must decide whether to wear a “string a fig leaves” or if we are going to be spiritually fully armored.
Instead of focusing on what other people are wearing, perhaps each of us should focus on:
-Whether we have strung together a string of “fig tree lies” and abandoned the truth;
-Whether our shield of faith crumples like a withered fig tree in the face of adversity;
-Whether our spiritual sword is dull because of our lack of knowledge concerning GOD’s WORD;
-Whether we are more concerned with store sales and what we wear and eat than justice, fairness and righteousness;
-Whether we are easily angered, agitated or quick to take offense rather than spreading footprints of peace and goodwill.
Instead of laying out our clothes for the next day, perhaps we should consider taking a spiritual inventory each day or each night of our spiritual armor, asking GOD to repair or reinforce each piece.
And, perhaps we should take a few minutes and read a few Bible fig stories. Each one---the account in Genesis; the story of Abigail, David and Nabal; JESUS’ encounter with Nathanael, the story of Zacchaeus and each of the fig parables is thought provoking. Each fig account is spiritually useful for spiritual growth.
So today, have a few figs, for the body and the soul.
Then, have a spiritually fruitful day and BE BLESSED!
