After the Babylonian invasion and the exile to Babylon of King Jehoiachin and many skilled workers and craftsmen, the Lord sent a vision to Jeremiah. The vision was of two baskets of figs; one containing figs that looked very good and delicious looking, the other with figs that were rancid and could not be eaten.

At that time, there were two groups of Judeans: those who were exiled to Babylon, and those who remained in Jerusalem. Many of the remnant of Jerusalem thought of going to Egypt for safety. With this context we can understand that the good figs were those who obeyed the Lord, surrendered to the Babylonians and were taken into exile. The Lord would bless them. He would watch over them for their good and prosper them. Then he would bring them back in his time. He would give them a heart that seeks him whole-heartedly.

On the other hand, the bad figs represented the evil King Zedekiah and others that remained in Jerusalem, in disobedience to the Lord's words. The Lord would make them abhorrent to all the other nations. Because they didn't obey the Lord, he would destroy them with sword, plague and famine. The Lord, not Egypt, was their sanctuary.


Application: Father, help us to turn to you with our whole hearts. Give us hearts to know you, that we may be your people, and you may be our God.
One Word: Come to God; be like a good fig