In Genesis 2, Scripture tells us that God planted a garden where He placed the first humans (Genesis 2:8). He also made various types of trees grow from the ground, including ones used for fruit as well as ornamental varieties (Genesis 2:9). Far more than only serving a function for the earth, the trees were made as an expression of God’s creativity and a reflection of His beauty. The garden planted by the Lord centered around the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Perhaps more than any other tree in history, this tree became a symbol of sin, rebellion, and sin. It was this tree that God told Adam and Eve not to eat from, since it would lead to their death (Genesis 2:16-17). Yet, the old serpent, the devil, convinced them that disobeying God was actually a wise choice. When Eve looked at the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and heard the serpent’s crafty talk, eating from the tree seemed like a good, even preferable, choice: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it” (Genesis 3:6, NIV). Adam ate the fruit as well, and thus, they both disobeyed the Lord’s instructions.
As a result, the curse of sin and death entered the world, affecting all creation (Romans 5:12, 8:22). God’s good creation had been marred because of Adam and Eve’s sin; nothing would ever be the same again.
The question, though, remains as to why God created this tree. Theologians have debated this throughout history: Why would He place something in the garden that could bring about such devastation? Well, the answer becomes clearer when we consider that there were two trees in the middle of Eden. Adam and Eve could choose to obey God and receive life (the tree of life), or rebel and suffer the consequences of their sins (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). He gave the first humans the gift of free will, which meant they could love Him without being placed under coercion. But with that freedom to love came the possibility they might turn away from God.
Scripture never speaks again of that tree where Adam and Eve sinned against God. It does, however, speak of the tree of life – but that is for another point.
Photo Credit: AI/ChatGPT
