Tu B’Shvat is a time of expectation. Seeds unseen in the ground are gestating and about to break forth into the sunlight of growth toward maturation and fruitfulness. It is along the line of this cycle that I wish to focus your attention—in an unusual way. What about when expectation is thwarted?
Allison Bottke has written a remarkable book, just published, on the subject of parenting problem adult children. When we bear a Seed (a Child) we have such high expectation for that Seed-Child. How awful it is when our expectation is not only thwarted but dashed with tragedy.
In a similar vein I want to focus for a moment on the fact that God had a generation that was an Adult Problem Child: the Generation of First Temple Israel, part of which failed to recognize the Messiah when he came, though the rest did recognize him and follow him to a fruitful end. This touches on the theme of Seeds and Growth as can be seen in Mark 11 concerning the fig tree that Yeshua cursed just after his Triumphal entry.
The scripture says in verses 12-14, “And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it.”
Yeshua had an expectation that was thwarted. And we know that this story is about much more than Jesus wanting a meal even though the time for fruit-bearing was not yet. Was he just in cursing this tree for not bearing fruit ahead of the appointed season? Of course he was: He is the LORD of his creation and he can do with it as he wishes. The truth is, he was making a different statement: he was speaking about the death of a generation that was about to make the biggest mistake since the fall of man. It was going to crucify God’s Messiah-Son. And the result would be the death of a people—in part (Romans 9-11).
But can the Tree live after it has died? Can the expectation of the Seed still be accomplished? Is God able to do such a thing, so that failure forever can be turned miraculously into resurrection unto triumph forever?
We shall explore this more fully in a future sermon. But for now please realize that your Seeds that have become stunted and lifeless are not necessarily finished. God is the master of all things. Just as he is working in this prophetic season of the world to bring about one of the most astounding of all miracles, a miracle concerning His Seed-People, so he is at work in your life to bring about something far beyond what you can even imagine: life from death. Take heart concerning your Seeds. God is about to break forth in your life with a Miracle!
