Luke 13:6-9 :

He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

I am going “out on a limb” today by saying that I believe that this parable is about the Nation of Israel. I believe that Jesus was expressing that it was only Himself keeping the nation from being brought down by God. At that time, Israel was a nation with many enemies much like today, except that they were “occupied” by Rome. Jesus had come first to show Himself as their Messiah. To this day the Jews have failed to recognize this as a nation. After this time, Jesus allowed the nation to be destroyed and then be put back together, but they continue to lack peace as they continue to not recognize their Messiah.

I love Israel, but I cannot love their actions against Jesus as they continue to avoid their only real Hope. If only they knew the Power that waits to take their burden off of their backs and destroy their enemies. I love Israel and want Her to be saved and I will continue to defend Her until that day. I also love the Arabs and hope that they will turn to Jesus as many have already. These events that we see in our world between Israel and her enemies are not a surprise to God. We can rest assured that Jesus Himself is interested in each person and wants to save every one from destruction.

Even though Israel, like a fig tree, was cut down by the Romans shortly after they rejected Jesus, they were re-gathered into their own land hundreds of years later as was promised by God. God never fails Israel and He will never fail us either.

Romans 11:25-27 :

For I don’t desire you to be ignorant, brothers, of this mystery, so that you won’t be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written,

“There will come out of Zion the Deliverer,
and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
This is my covenant to them,
when I will take away their sins.”

As Gentiles, we should not be proud because we have not been “cut down.” The Bible also says that we will be cut off if we don’t continue if faith. In that sense, this parable also applies to us. It is important to hear God’s word and believe it without being “wise in your own conceits.” We should also not worry about being cut off for committing a sin. God isn’t looking for a good performance, but for hearts that depend on Him for their success. When we start to depend our “own conceits” we have completely missed the what salvation is really about.