Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Trees

Yesterday was a busy day. After working all day, I came home and fixed supper, did the dishes, watched 24, and played some piano and violin. In between those things, I managed to read through the entire book of Genesis. Needless to say it was a late night, but wow - to read through all 50 chapters was incredible.

After reading Genesis 1-3, I found myself asking a question I hadn't thought much about before: Why did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as well as the tree of life? I'm sure biblical scholars have debated and reasoned over this for years, but as I contemplated this I was somewhat quizzical over the purpose of these two trees. Why were they there in the first place? If God knew what would happen, why even put them in the garden?

But Genesis 1:12 tells us, "The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." All of God's creation was good, and for God to have created these two trees not only were they "good," but they had to serve a purpose. Were they purposed to tempt Adam and Eve? Had Adam and Eve not eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, what other purpose might the trees have served?

What makes this question even more interesting is found in Genesis 3:22 - "And the Lord God said, 'The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." It was after this that God banished them from the garden, and placed cherubim on the east side of the garden with a flaming sword to "guard the way to the tree of life." (v. 24) From simple observation, God did not want them to eat of these trees, which only emphasizes the question of why they were there in the first place.

Interesting. I don't have an answer, but I find this passage fascinating.

Another observation I made was in Genesis 2. On the sixth day of creation, God made man in His own image. We know that from Adam's rib He also created Eve. But did you ever notice that this all occurred in the same day? After creating Adam, Genesis 2:19 tells us that "The Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beats of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to Adam to see what he would name them." Can you imagine - Adam was just created, and now he has to name all of earth's creatures? And after doing so, God caused Adam to fall asleep, and when he awakens there is a woman who was created just for him! Again, this all occurred on the same day (for those of you who hold that one day of creation is equivalent to a "day" as we know it - for others, we'll not divulge into that discussion right now).

I look forward to reading more...

2 comments:

  1. The way I see it, or maybe question it. Either God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil to give us the choice. Some could say tempt, some people have said there has to be a choice in order to have a love relationship. While I understand that, I can't help to think if maybe in the relationship with God, could there be a future purpose of that tree. Could the Godhead and Adam and Eve eat together of the tree later. Could it be like a child being told don't drive te car, or cross the street. Could it be that there a later pupose for that tree? But because of our disobedience we wanted in our timing - now. If we view God as Father, would a father have something that a child couldn't touch EVER, just for the purpose of obedience? Or something designed for LATER probably something to be shared or taken in part. Just thinking out loud.

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  2. Great question! I would have to answer that the tree was probably created to give us the choice. We were, after all, created with a free will (one of the attributes of being created in the image of God). I like Daniel's thinking, too, of the later possibilities of sharing in the fruits of the tree... interesting thoughts!

    (BTW- I didn't know you played violin!)

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