08/09/2017 FIGS
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.