Jer 24:1 The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

Figs are a national fruit of Israel. Figs and fig trees are mentioned many times in the Bible, symbolizing peace and abundance. Here we see God directing Jeremiah’s attention to two baskets of figs: one basket of very good figs and one basket of rotten figs. These figs represent the nation of Judah in 597 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar has come a second time to deport many from Jerusalem and Judah, taking them to Babylon. Josiah’s son Zedekiah is now the king at the pleasure of Nebuchadnezzar. One basket of figs represents the Jews who are in Babylon; the other represents the Jews who didn’t get deported. Which basket represents those who remain in Jerusalem? 

If you asked the Jews who didn’t get deported which basket represents them, they would probably say the good figs. They felt lucky that they weren’t carried away to Babylon. But this isn’t the way God sees them. God says that the good figs are those Jews in Babylon; the evil, rotten figs are those in Jerusalem. God has sent them to Babylon for their good (v. 5).

Jer 24:6-7 For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. 7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

When we read the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel, we see that God changed the heart of those Jews in Babylon. They forsook their idols and returned to God. Sometimes we go through circumstances that we don’t want to go through, but if we are walking with God and love Him, all things work together for good. Romans 8:28. Ask God what you can learn from your experiences, and trust God through them. God has set His eyes on you for your good!

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry