Gluten Free & God Seeking: Why Did God Put Man in Front of Two Trees in Genesis 2?

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Why Did God Put Man in Front of Two Trees in Genesis 2?

Everyone seems to know the story of Adam and Eve in the garden. As a kid I learned that they disobeyed God and ate the apple that they weren't supposed to and because of that they were thrown out of the garden. But is that all this story is supposed to tell us?

I've realized by reading this Life-Study that in order to really get this, I need to factor in the events that occurred between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. It's amazing that after Satan and his followers rebelled, God didn't annihilate them all. I learned in chapter 7 of this Life-Study that God won't do this because it gives Him more glory if man (another created being) would defeat His enemy.

You may be thinking what on earth does this have to do with anything? But I learned in this Life-Study that this tree represented none other but God's enemy Satan. Have you noticed here that God doesn't even tell Adam anything about the epic battle that's been raging between them or anything about what these two trees really symbolize.

God's going to leave the choice up to Adam because I'm sure you've noticed that God in His greatness made man with a free will. In chapter 13 of the Life-Study of Genesis Witness Lee mentions this in the opening that only a small person forces someone to take his way, and a great person allows you freedom of choice. Surely our God is the greatest One in the universe!

I guess what puzzles people a lot when they read this story is why did God leave this tree that represents the evil nature of Satan there in the garden of Eden? I liked reading on page 160 brother Lee's thoughts on this:

When I was a young Christian, I was bothered by this. I said, "Why did God put man into such a dangerous situation? If I had been God, I would have removed the tree of knowledge of good and evil, I would have left the tree of life, placed man in front of it, and built a high protective wall to keep him safe. Why didn't God do this? Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden as a temptation? Every problem comes from this source. Why didn't God take it away? If He had removed the tree, it would have saved us a great deal of trouble." I was not the only one who had these questions. Many young people asked me the same thing. However, if God had not given man a choice, He would have forced him to take the tree of life. God is too great to do such a thing. God is honorable and attractive. In order to display His greatness and prove His attractiveness, He needs the second tree (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Genesis. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1974 Print).