“The LORD God made … trees grow out of the ground— trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
Genesis 2:9
I had read Genesis many times without giving much thought to the Tree of Life. It’s easy to ignore, like the trophy case in a school hallway— you pass by it indifferently every day. But if you stop to look closely, you discover some notable things about the school’s athletic teams.
Take note of the Tree of Life. It wasn’t just a beautiful tree; it represented something. It stood in the middle of the garden as a symbol of God’s desire for mankind to live forever with Him. In contrast, there was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One led to life, the other to death.
Can you imagine standing before a tree that offered eternal life with God? What if Adam had chosen obedience instead of sin? We can’t conceive what it would have been like if he had done so. The presence of the Tree of Life reminds us that God’s intention for mankind was always life, joy, and communion with Him. Adam’s failure meant losing access to this gift and left us asking, How do we now seek to live in a way that honors God’s design for our lives?
Take note of the Tree of Life. It wasn’t just a beautiful tree; it represented something. It stood in the middle of the garden as a symbol of God’s desire for mankind to live forever with Him. In contrast, there was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One led to life, the other to death.
Can you imagine standing before a tree that offered eternal life with God? What if Adam had chosen obedience instead of sin? We can’t conceive what it would have been like if he had done so. The presence of the Tree of Life reminds us that God’s intention for mankind was always life, joy, and communion with Him. Adam’s failure meant losing access to this gift and left us asking, How do we now seek to live in a way that honors God’s design for our lives?
Scripture Focus
Genesis 2:9-25
Insight
Father, thank You for the rich symbolism that You give us in Your Word as a picture of Your love for us. Amen
Bible In A Year
- Esther 1-2
- Psalm 38
- Luke 1