2294.—Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil
Was the tree of knowledge of good and evil good for food? H. A. B. It is said of the Garden of Eden that “out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” We know no reason why it was not good for food, and yet the Lord reserved that for Himself. There seems to have been placed in that tree that which would enable man to discern between the good and evil, or which would quicken his senses in some way so that he could perceive the more clearly; yet it was God’s plan that man was to learn that by simple faith in his Creator. Therefore God reserved that tree unto Himself. Man must not touch it. When man did touch it, did partake of it, he broke the relationship between himself and his Creator. The evil which followed was not the result of the fruit, but the result of man’s rejecting the command of his God and breaking His law. It would seem that there would come a time when that prohibition would have been lifted, when man had developed right character by simple faith.