The forbidden tree placed where it had to be confronted often.
Why was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
placed in the center (midst) of the orchard (garden) of Eden?
Interestingly, Adam and Eve had to be deceived to "eat thereof".
It seems they had no intention of eating from the forbidden tree.
What was going on here?
Whether you take the story as literal or figurative, it begs many questions.
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Touch and Taste ~ by ReverendRV * November 22
Genesis 3:3 KJV; But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Did God really say that if Eve would touch that fruit, she would die? We read earlier in Genesis that God told Adam that if he ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil he would die; Eve added the part about the touch. Oh how the Serpent jumped on this mistake; he told her she surely would not die. Imagine her delight upon finding out that when she touched the fruit she didn’t die! The Serpent went on to tell her God knows when she eats the fruit she will be like God. No wonder she and Adam would eat the fruit after she didn’t die from the touch. But when they took a bite, their eyes were instantly opened and they saw their Nakedness; which was symbolic of their Spiritual death. ~ Sometimes we make it too easy for the Devil, don’t we? Not understanding the Truth well enough can be like not understanding it at all. But what if Eve understood the Truth better than we thought she did? Maybe she was a better helpmate to Adam than we think she was…
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the Tree of Life are symbolic of God’s Covenant of Works and his Covenant of Grace. Elsewhere in the Bible we find another analogy picturing two other women; Hagar and Sarah. Hagar symbolized Mount Sanai and Sarah symbolized spiritual Jerusalem. Mount Sanai represents the Covenant of Works, just like the Tree of Knowledge also represents it. The Ten Commandments epitomize the Covenant of Works; the Bible also calls them ‘killing letters’. ~ In the book of Exodus we are told that Mount Sanai was burning and quaking! God said that if the people approached the mountain to touch it, they would die. Have you approached this fierce mountain? Stones with writing on them have been cast to the ground; one says thou shalt not take the LORD’s name in vain. Have you ever used God’s name as a cuss word? Yes? You have touched the mountain! Your eyes are opened and you are naked before God! You look back at that cruel rock and see more writing; it says thou shalt not Murder. The Bible says that even if we break just one Commandment, we are guilty of broken them all. That boulder is covered with the Ten Commandments of God. You have spiritually died and will go to Hell as eternal punishment. Does this bother you even a little?
But there is a Tree of Life and there is a Spiritual Jerusalem; Mount Calvary. The second woman Sarah had a husband named Abraham. He obeyed the word of God and took his Promised son to Mount Calvary to be a burnt offering. God stopped Abraham from slaying his son that day and provided a substitute for the offering. Around 2000 years after this, Jesus Christ died on a Cross as a bloody sacrifice for Sin. Since he led a faultless Life, only Jesus was qualified to purge Sin from out of existence. He died and was buried three days but arose to life again; walking among witnesses for fifty days. We’re Saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus, apart from Meritorious Works which we might be tempted to touch and taste. Repent of your Sins, find a Bible believing Church that will help you understand Truth better. ~ Was Eve the first Prophet of God? Did Eve really get the word of God right when she said that touching the Law would lead to certain death? She was wrong about her touching it because she was a pure Being, but she was right about our touching it as Fallen creatures…
Psalm 34:9 NIV; Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
