20 Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?”
21 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.
22 “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
Why did Jesus use a fig tree to teach the importance of faith? Why did Jesus use a mountain to teach the importance of faith?
I think Jesus used a fig tree to represent those minor mundane problems in our life. We almost don’t think it is worthy of our prayers to pray about minor mundane problems in our life. However, Jesus commands us and encourages us to even pray in faith about little things. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:7-11.
Yet, there also is the duty to be diligent and work. “He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.” Proverbs 27:18
I think that Jesus used the mountain to represent the major, almost overwhelming problems in our life that tower over us and covers us in a shadow of fear.
Note the progression from the fig tree to the mountain. If we pray in faith and see our prayer requests granted as to the minor mundane problems in our life, then, such granting of our minor prayer requests builds our faith to handle the bigger problems in our life. “… you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.”
This Scripture teaches that we must have faith, and not doubt. “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,” James 1:6-7.
It helps us to believe that God wants to bless us. Remember the prior Scripture which reminds us that our Father in Heaven will give what is good to those who ask Him! “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
I will close this devotion with one of my favorite verses which teaches us that an element of faith is that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 