Read: Genesis 2:4-25

And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (v. 9)

In the middle of this garden are two unique trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. What are we to make of this tale of two trees? We must first understand that this text is not a scientific explanation of how the world came to be, but rather (and more importantly) a narrative that tells us who we humans are.

The tree of life signifies the means to eternal life. It represents a life of obedience to God, in which we acknowledge our dependence on God. To eat from this tree results in human flourishing—true life gained through a proper relationship with God.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents the human possibility of universal knowledge—“good and evil” is a Hebrew of way of saying “everything.” To eat from this tree indicates the desire to be all-knowing, like God, but in a way not appropriate for humans. Eating from this tree is a bold declaration of independence from God. Hence the admonition not to eat and the assertion of deadly consequences (v. 17).

We still face this choice today: acknowledge our dependence on God, or try to go it alone.

Prayer:

Almighty God, help us acknowledge our dependence on you.

Author: Steven Bouma-Prediger

https://woh.org/