257 Who Put The Tree In the Garden? Part 2

In this the second of this two part series on who put the tree in the garden we consider various explanations given for this tree being in the garden. We have concluded that the evil was in the presence of the serpent in a random tree of the thousands of trees possible. The consequences of evil enticement in the garden is also considered. We also consider the connection between the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and reward and punishment. We conclude with a look at the restoration of the pristine garden in which the tree of life is in abundance and no mention of the other tree.

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SHOW NOTES

The Origin of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden.

This is a follow up of podcast #245 where the results of eating from this tree were examined. The major result observed was the belief that God is dualistic, being both loving and vindictive, both good and evil. It was this false picture of God which was introduced by the serpent into the minds of Adam and Eve at the tree. This false

understanding condemned man to fear God and desire to be free of him. Jesus had to come to dispel this false understanding.

Part 2

4. The entrance of evil into the garden

The narrative in the first two chapters of Job hint at the possible origin and entrance of the temptation to evil in the garden. Following the Job narrative, it is not far-fetched to surmise the Shattan challenged God on his hyper protection of Adam and Eve against his, Shattan’s, alternative life-style. In a universe premised on love and freedom this is a catch 22 situation for God. He grants Shattan access to Adam and Eve at only one tree out of thousands. It is the vulnerability of love. Love does not demand its own way (1 Corinthians 13:5).

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Genesis 2:8-17 NLT Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made. 9- The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—

17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

When the tree is labelled, “The tree of the knowledge (Hb. Yada) of good and evil” it is suggesting that if one ate of this tree, one would experience evil in addition to good. In Genesis 4:1 Adam knows (Hb. yada) Eve and she conceives a son. This implies the “knowing” this tree provided was experiential rather than cognitive.

I have cognitive insight into pedophilia, but I have no experience. I have cognitive insight into drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs, but I have no experience of these practices. These activities are not about cognitive knowledge or understanding, but experience.

A prohibition against eating from this tree would make sense. God did not want man to experience evil.

Various explanations are given for this tree being in the garden.

a. The tree was to assess Adam and Eve’s loyalty.

If so, this was a moral test and so was a temptation. This solution implies God is tempting Adam and Eve to do wrong or sin by placing this tree in the garden. This contradicts James’ assertion that God never tempts (1:13). It can be argued that God did not tempt but he was culpable if he made temptation possible. It is not fair to set a moral test for a spouse, a child or a parent. This is to violate the relationship. It happens but it is morally wrong because it is assumed that the test might be failed.

Unless, God does not force his own way on beings in his universe (1 Corinthians 13:5).

b. The tree was placed there as a blessing.

The argument that is was a blessing is based on the tree being a reminder to Adam and Eve that God was not the source of Good and Evil. This concept was reinforced by the prohibition against eating from the tree. Not eating was a faith statement that only good came from God. Their loyalty was demonstrated by eating from the Tree ofLife and not eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The is arguments can be used to justify having street drugs available to teenagers. If they refuse them, it is a blessing. However, this is weighting the outcome in favour of failure.

Both trees affected them only as they ate from them. Cognitive knowledge is not in consideration but experiential knowledge. The trees implied and invited an existential experience. For addictive substances, evil is one of these, this is not a fair test. The addict loses the power of choice once the addiction takes hold.

If Adam and Eve had not eaten of the fruit the tree could have been viewed as a blessing but they ate and it brought the curse of sin and death.

c. A third possibility is that the Tree if the Knowledge of Good and Evil was demanded

in the garden by the devil who wanted access to Adam and Eve. While this option is not documented in a parallel situation he demanded access to Job to demonstrate his Job’s perfidy (Job 1 & 2).

We also have examples of such impositions on God by the devil in laws for divorce, slavery, war, monarchy, and diet. These laws were not inspired by God but were forced on God by the desires of his people against his wishes.

God is not a benevolent dictator and must work with all his creation. He loves his enemies and treats them with grace (Matthew 5:43-48). Love also does not demand its own way (1 Corinthians 13:5) and thus allows for alternative choices no matter how costly to love.

Love cannot have its own way all the time as it then becomes abuse. Love to be love must be transparent and vulnerable. The cross is the greatest evidence that God is vulnerable. He became subject to deicide at our hands

5. The consequence of evil enticement in the garden

One bite of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil had long term consequences (Genesis 2:16-17) whereas one nibble from the Tree of Life has only a short-term effect. It had to be eaten from repeatedly to maintain life in perpetuity (Genesis 3:22-24). One cyanide sandwich means death but one has to keep eating

health-giving sandwiches to stay alive.

The are the only two named trees in the garden. The Tree of Life indicated that God was the giver and maintainer of life (John 10:10). The other tree represented the belief that both good and evil come from God. Eating from it means one has subscribed to a dualistic God.

The Serpent makes this dualism plain when he says, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil” (Genesis 3:5 NLT). “Knowing” is from the Hebrew yada which implies experience rather than information. The serpent is implying that God experiences both good and evil in himself.

This picture of God results in an unhealthy fear of God and a suspicion that he does not always have one’s best interests at heart. This means one must negotiate the favour of God with acts of penance and sacrifice to please him to ensure a happy life. The foundation of opposition to the kingdom of love is now laid down. It becomes the

ethos of the Kingdom of this World. It is so cunningly conceived that it will require God in Jesus Christ to come and reveal the true Kingdom of God thousands of years later.

This false picture of God has permeated human perception to this very day. Jesus, it seems, is the only one who knew this picture to be false. He came to correct the picture of his Father and give us the truth about the Father’s heart.

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and Reward and Punishment

To date, Nathan French has offered the most extensive overview of the various scholarly interpretations in the history of research chapter found in the published version of his doctoral dissertation, wherein he contends for an interpretation of this term as "the knowledge for administering reward and punishment," suggesting that the knowledge forbidden by Yahweh and yet acquired by the humans in Genesis 2–3 is the wisdom for wielding ultimate power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_the_knowledge_of_good_and_evil.

To this very day most Christians see heaven as reward and hell as a punishment. This illustrates the extent to which the idea that God is dualistic and works by reward and punishment is ingrained in the very heart of popular theology. This view of God leads to prayers that beg God to do good for us. In our misunderstanding of God we believe we are kinder than God. Any kindness we ever conceive is a reflection of God’s kindness. God is much kinder than all of us put together. The apostle John, a son of thunder transformed to the beloved disciple understands the situation and writes as follows:

1 John 4:18-19 NLT Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first.

6. The restoration of the pristine garden

There is an abundance of the Tree of Life on both sides of the River of Life (Revelation 22:2) in the New Earth. There is no mention of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This confirms that the problem was not a tree but an invading supernatural being who was intent on cultivating rebellion against the love of God for created beings.

Since this being has ceased to exist because of the lake of fire there is no Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. There are many trees but no beguiling serpent to poison the picture of God’s character from one tree. That matter has been solved by the cross and the showdown between love and selfishness at the end of the millennium.

The end reflects the beginning. The garden was made perfect and was later invaded by an evil being who was restricted to one visible tree. The claims made by this being against God have played themselves out against the backdrop of God’s other-centred, self-sacrificing, unconditional love. The universe watched and the universe voted for God. The universe is convicted by the love of God and is eternally secure for this reason.

Hallelujah.

Amen.

Here is the conclusion of the jury of the universe:

Revelation 5:11-14 NLT Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing.”

13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

Ian Hartley, June 2026