When your goat gets pregnant out of season: Lessons from the Fig Tree

One sunlit morning when I was finishing up milking, I noticed that one of my goats looked pregnant. It was the middle of June and kidding season had passed several months ago. Normally goats get pregnant in the fall and give birth in the cooler spring months before the hot Texas summer weather sets in. This goat was definitely pregnant! She would probably be giving birth in the heat of late summer, an unseasonable time for sure. Although surprised, I was elated! Jilly is one of our best milking goats and we would welcome more baby goats and more of her delicious milk even it was quite unexpected.

At the exact same moment I noticed Jilly’s bulging belly, I heard this question stir from deep within my spirit: “Remember the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree?” I knew the Holy Spirt was speaking to me and trying to teach me something.

In the story of the fruitless fig tree, Jesus was feeling hungry and he noticed a leafy fig tree, so he walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there wasn’t- only big green leaves. The Bible says it wasn’t the season for bearing figs. Nonetheless, Jesus curses the fig tree and says, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again.” The disciples overheard him and the next day as they were leaving the city, they passed by the fig tree again and noticed it had shriveled up and died! This story has always made me ponder- Why would Jesus curse something that was not even expected to be bearing fruit to begin with? (it was not the season for bearing figs)

My thoughts then drifted to the Psalms 1. It talks about the blessing of those who follow God’s ways and not their own paths. They are like trees planted by rivers of water, bearing fruit in every season of their lives.

Then other stories of trees in the Bible started coming to mind. In Revelation there is a River of Life that flows with crystal clear water directly from the throne of God. On either side of this river is the Tree of Life which has twelve kinds of fruit on it, one for every month of the year. It says that the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. They are bearing fruit in every season.

Psalms 92:12-14 talks about how the righteous lovers of God are like flourishing Palm trees that grow and stand in victory and strength. They are transplanted into the heavenly courtyard where they are thriving in God’s presence. It says that even in old age they will still stay fresh and bear luscious fruit!

I noticed a theme emerging. God was speaking to me about being a person that bears fruit in every season regardless of outward circumstances. We are living in unprecedented times- there are wars and rumors of wars, there is talk of food shortage, recession, inflation, and covid re-emerging. In this world, there are so many messages that are telling us to fear, to live in anxiety, and expect the worse. It would seem this should be our natural response to the nightly news, but as people who live according to a different kingdom and pattern, we are not to live in fear, worry and anxiety. When we are rightly connected to the Vine who is Jesus and growing in the water of His Word and Spirit, we will continually bear fruit even when it is out of season and unexpected.

Maybe you have faced some serious hardships this year and are tempted to give way to discouragement, disillusionment, resentment, jealousy or comparison. Have situations not gone as expected or have you lost someone close to you? These are all real circumstances, yet our outward circumstances do not determine whether or not we will bear fruit. In Genesis 41:52, Joseph named his son, Ephraim because, he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” Isn’t that beautiful? Joseph, who was betrayed and left for dead by his brothers and sold into slavery had still become fruitful in a foreign land. He did not let his prison stay wear him down. He still believed beyond what he could see in the natural.

As the rest of the fig tree story goes, the disciples noticed that it had withered and pointed it out to Jesus. His response was interesting. He said, “Have faith in God. Listen to the truth I speak to you: if someone says to this mountain with great faith and having no doubt, “Mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the midst of the sea, “and believes that what he says will happen, it will be done. This is the reason I urge you to boldly believe for whatever you ask for in prayer- believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults. But if you will not release forgiveness, don’t expect your father in heaven to release you from your misdeeds. “

What does the fruit look like that we are called to bear? Does it look like showy service? Having big green leaves without the fruit of a repentant and humble heart? True and lasting fruit comes from the roots of faith and forgiveness. What mountains of difficulty are you asking God to move in your life? Believe that God can do the impossible and trust Him to move. Walk in love and forgiveness towards others. When we walk through difficult circumstances like injuries, disabilities, caring for aging parents or sick kids, there is the risk of becoming hard and bitter. The fruit God desires to see in our lives is forgiveness. When you feel like you’ve given and given and no one notices, how will you respond? God sees and knows... When you’ve become bitter or critical because life has thrown you unexpected curve balls, do you still have the faith to believe God is good, loves you and wants the best for you? This is the fragrance of fruitfulness. This is being pregnant with the possibility that God has a bigger plan and purpose for our suffering and we will see it birthed if we stay rooted in His love.