(12/21/2016) A Rebellious Fig Tree?

Today, points are shared on the account in Scripture of Jesus cursing a barren fig tree.  In addition to the operations of divine authority, faith, and sovereign will, the account speaks to false appearances and deception, the readiness of Israel to receive the Messiah at his Advent, the completeness and finality of coming judgment, sin as failure to respond to divine will, and the character of obedience as a demand upon all that exists, not merely all the living.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers (Canada)” using the ID “Violation Nation!!” (Level 5 with 8,513 points, a member since November 08, 2014) posted the following:

Why did the Fig Tree choose to disobey Jesus' orders? Didn't the Tree know that Jesus is the son of God?

Trees are not like us; they have no free will to disobey. This tree had no right and deserved the LORD's punishment.

I believe in this you guys?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.  Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?  Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;  When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?  Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?  When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,  And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,  And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further:  and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?  Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;  That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?  (Job 38:  4-13, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Divine not Demonic Process? (11/02/2014); The Barren Tree? (12/06/2013); Fruits From a Barren Tree? (12/07/2013); On Testing GOD (06/20/2013); GOD Grants License? (06/21/2013); Commanding the Storm? (05/08/2013); Death Has Been Transformed (05/09/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013)

“Violation Nation!!”, there are many points of instruction through the account of the barren fig tree.  Christian believers often acknowledge the account of Jesus cursing the fig tree as being a spiritual object lesson and parable that focuses on Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the one sent to reign as Christ and Messiah.  At the time of the Savior’s birth, multiple prophets and kings already had been sent to prepare the nation as GOD’s covenant partner and instrument to establish a divine ruler on the earth at his coming.  In the incident, Jesus was on his way to the temple, was hungry, and approached the fig tree seeing it from a distance as healthy and sound.  The fig tree appeared abundant and full, yet was barren.  Even so, his expectation of being fed was not grounded in “natural law” and the flesh so much as in his authority as the Son of GOD, the maker and owner of the fig tree, who was requiring there be a response to his sovereign will.  Also, Jesus is the Son of Man correcting the response of the pair in Eden, who were deceived and misled regarding a tree and its fruit.  The recognition of Christ was to be on the basis of containing aspects of the Savior’s inborn Spirit.  Thus, Satan appeared, yet, did not recognize Christ upon the earth as the Son who commanded in heaven, and even offered Jesus an earthly kingdom as a reward for worship.  While the operations of sin see the domination of awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures, sin is a condition and an effect that goes beyond iniquity and willful disobedience.  Sin opposes the continued existence of divine law (i.e., the will of GOD expressed), GOD as the Law Giver, and all Creation that relies on sacred law for divine order.  The fig tree may have had no self-awareness and personal power as an angel or a man, yet, was no less to respond to preeminent divinity.  Sin corrupts (i.e., introduces decay, rot, uncleanness), makes unfit to serve GOD, and removes spiritual purity.  Thus, judgment and the flood of Noah came against the entire earth, not just the people on it; and a final judgment will be followed by the establishment of a new heaven and earth.

There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC