Fruit

Numbers 13:24‑25  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Eshcol’s grapes (Num. 13:24-2524The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. (Numbers 13:24‑25)) were the fruit brought back from the land of promise, the land of Canaan, which the people of God were to possess and enjoy. We know unbelief kept them from it. Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve spies who believed that Jehovah would help them conquer the land. Forty years later they entered it with the people of God, while all the unbelievers had perished in the desert. The same kind of fruit they had brought back forty years earlier was still there.
Fruit Produced by the Believer
We are called to bear fruit for God. The three fruits brought out of Canaan the cluster of grapes, the pomegranates and the figs bring before us three aspects of the fruit God produces in us and by us.
(1) The grapes represent the fruit of the Spirit as recorded in Galatians 5:2222But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22). They speak of the reproduction in us of the character of Christ Himself.
(3) The figs were missing when the Lord Jesus came to pick some (Matt. 21:1919And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. (Matthew 21:19)). The fig tree was to produce fruit just as Israel was to make known the true God. But they failed there was much profession but no fruit! Rather, the name of God was blasphemed among the nations because of them (Rom. 2:2424For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:24)).
Fruit Born by the Believer
(1) The fig represents the action of the Spirit of God by us towards others our brethren or lost souls around. The fig is a basic staple food, essential in Biblical lands. Does not the Lord say to every one of us, “Give ye them to eat” (Mark 6:3737He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? (Mark 6:37))? May our lives, our activity, our distribution of literature, or whatever means used cause souls around us to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(2) The fruits of Canaan were carried on a staff, a piece of wood, hanging between heaven and earth. This staff reminds us of the cross of Christ and the fruit hanging from it. We are crucified with Him. It is only in the measure that we apply this practically in our lives that we will bear the fruit of God, in us, toward Him and toward others.
(3) The wooden staff could not be carried alone two must carry it. The Lord Jesus tells us that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:55I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)). In order for the fruit of God to be manifested in our lives, we must be in communion with the Lord Himself (John 15:44Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)). Without communion it will be impossible for the true fruit of Canaan to be produced in our lives. So, then, “let us go up at once, and possess it” (Num. 13:3030And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. (Numbers 13:30))!
M. Payette