Many ask why God planted trees in His Garden and then instructed Man not to consume from them. To properly answer this question we must consider the purpose of the Garden itself.
Many believe that since God knew Adam and Eve would eat from the tree, He must have intended them to do so as part of His will. Unfortunately, this assumption is incorrect.
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life symbolizes our interdependence as humans living on planet earth and in space. Its roots reach deep underground to draw sustenance from Mother Nature while its branches stretch toward the sky to gather energy from sun and moon rays. It serves as a constant reminder that we all belong to one human family.
God planted two special trees in Adam and Eve’s Garden of Eden: The Tree of Life and Knowledge of Good and Evil. He instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from either tree in an experiment to determine their loyalty; obedience would ensure eternal life, while disobedience could bring death. If they chose obedience over rebellion they would continue on living forever while disobeyance meant death would follow soon thereafter.
According to Scripture, the purpose of the Tree of Life was to enhance and sustain physical life on an ongoing basis for Adam and Eve in their garden. Its central position ensured easy accessibility from anywhere within its bounds.
After Adam and Eve committed sin, access to the tree of life was prohibited; eating its fruit would have ensured immortality even in their fallen state; thus God expels them from his garden and places a sword-wielding cherub at its entrance as a means to prevent their return.
The New Testament indicates that this tree will be restored to its original purpose in Revelation 22:3-4’s New Jerusalem, standing in its middle and bearing “twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruits every month… while its leaves serve to heal nations.”
Some critics allege that God created an ideal world and then corrupted it by giving man free will, yet this is far from being the case. Human sinfulness was no result of environment or circumstances; rather it was his own responsibility in disobeying Him. Out of His great love and mercy He provided an antidote – Jesus Christ as the true Tree of Life.
The Tree of Knowledge
The Garden of Eden and Tree of Knowledge story is one of the best-known stories from Scripture. According to Scripture, Adam and Eve were placed by God into this paradise-like garden where they had access to all trees except one. God made Adam and Eve in His own image and likeness so they could choose right and wrong, though He prohibited them from eating from one tree: that belonging exclusively to Himself which contained wisdom. Adam and Eve violated God’s commandment by eating fruit from Tree of Knowledge which contained wisdom as well as power reserving only Him: sinfully acting against God thus leading them out of Eden forevermore.
People may question why God would create a tree that led to mankind’s demise if He did not want it. Unfortunately, this question misdirects blame away from Adam and Eve; more likely than not their sin was at fault.
First and foremost, it should be acknowledged that Eden was an idyllic garden filled with beautiful and inviting trees that produced food in abundance – this included both life-giving and knowledge-giving trees alike. So why did God prohibit them from partaking of its fruits?
God was likely testing Adam and Eve to see their reaction to His prohibition, testing their obedience and dependence upon Him, as well as whether or not they would use their prerogative of choosing good over evil, an honor bestowed by Him.
The Bible makes mention of the Tree of Knowledge because it was nearby the Garden. This allowed for easy temptation by Satan for Adam and Eve; furthermore, its proximity was a constant reminder of their transgression.
In conclusion, the Bible also makes clear that the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge wasn’t an apple after all – more likely it would have been citron as this region is known for growing citrons.
The Tree of Good and Evil
God set up the Tree of Good and Evil as an obvious test to see whether Adam and Eve would obey Him or embrace moral autonomy. He knew his children needed to learn obedience in order to mature into wise, mature adults able to make wise decisions for themselves as adults; the serpent tempted them away from submission to law by tempting them away from eating from the Tree. Doing so brought both good and bad experiences as their independent choices brought suffering and death into their lives.
As such, the Tree of Good and Evil serves as a vital reminder that we cannot act independently from God. Should we choose not to turn toward Him for guidance in life decisions, good or evil may emerge and impact all areas of life – so it is imperative that we maintain close ties with Him at all times – this lesson from The Tree of Good and Evil should always remain at the forefront of our mind.
God created the Tree of Good and Evil in Eden as a warning. According to popular opinion, its main function was foreboding sin and death through knowledge contained within. By contrast, all other trees in Eden provided food or were pleasing sights; only this one stood in opposition.
But, it should be remembered that the Tree of Good and Evil did not inherently possess any evil; man was responsible for any misdeeds on their part, not the Tree itself. Even God declared everything he created was “very good”, meaning there was nothing bad or sinister about it inherently. Therefore, some believe it makes no sense that He would plant something that caused mankind’s downfall, only then forbid them from eating from it!
The Garden of Eden
Many people ask why God created a tree which, according to Him, taught Adam and Eve “good and evil.” Yet the purpose of this tree was not meant to judge them, but to enable them to learn about His character and laws as well as teach them about a righteous, loving being who created all life on Earth.
God placed Adam and Eve in an Edenic garden filled with trees of every variety, including fruit-bearing ones. He allowed them to freely consume all but one, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil; He warned them if they ate from it they would die; however a serpent (in Genesis 2, symbolized as snake) convinced them to break God’s law and consume fruit from it anyway; after doing so they were expelled forever from that garden.
God placed a tree in the Garden as an experiment on Adam and Eve to test their obedience. Though He knew they could obey Him, He wanted to see whether they would choose outside knowledge instead of following His commandments; He wanted them to see there’s a difference between righteous living and selfish gain.
God placed special touches in his Garden that went beyond plants, trees and water. For instance, two symbolic cherubim guarded its entrance – these creatures represent both judgment and mercy from him.
From Adam and Eve’s actions in Eden we can learn that God always has plans that exceed our mistakes. His purpose was to redeem both creation and humanity – which is why He sent His son into our world that Adam and Eve had destroyed.
As with the Garden of Eden, God demonstrates His heart of compassion by accepting prostitutes and tax collectors while criticizing Pharisees; He gave hope and salvation to people with blindness, deafness, lameness or illness – caring for all His children equally and taking us all someday into an even better place.
