“Nathanael said to Him, “How do you
know me?” Jesus answered and said to
him, “Before Philip called you, when you
were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
John 1:48
In His teaching about prayer Jesus in
Matthew 6:6, 8, commanded, “when you
pray, go into your inner room, close your
door, and pray to your Father who is in
secret; and your Father who sees what is
done in secret will reward you…for your
Father knows what you need before you ask
Him.”
This story of Nathanael under the fig tree is
a great illustration of these truths. Getting
alone with God, shutting out all
interruptions, and bearing our hearts with
Him produces great rewards.
First, we are assured He sees us and hears
our prayers: “The eyes of the Lord are on
the righteous and His ears are open to their
prayer.” 1 Peter 3:12
Second, we are assured God will honor our
faith to reach out to Him: “Draw near to
God and He will draw near to you.”
James 4:8
Third, we are assured God answers prayer:
“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and
you will find. Knock, and the door will be
opened to you.” Matthew 7:7
Fourth, we can take any need, large or small
to the Lord and trust He will respond to our
need: “Don’t worry about anything, but in
everything, through prayer and petition with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and
minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7
Fifth, last but certainly not least, God
rewards our efforts to connect and commune
with Him. Sometimes the reward is
answered prayer we can see. Other times it
is simply His peace and comfort knowing
He has our need, concern, or burden in His
hands. We can trust in His faithfulness and
timing. The best reward of all is coming to
the realization that He, the very God of all
creation, does hear us, see us, and knows our
need before we ask, because He is with us.
This story of Nathanael under the fig tree is
a great illustration of the proof of these
truths. While Nathanael was sitting all alone
under the fig tree, bearing his heart to the
Lord, possibly confessing sin, or seeking the
Lord’s will, or surrendering his life to God,
Jesus was right there. He saw him praying,
He heard his prayer, and He saw the purity
of his heart.
Why would we not in the same way trust in
the very one who gave His life that we
might have life abundant?
…Bro. Sherman
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