Genesis 2:7-9 To eat from the tree of life is to live by faith
Genesis 2:7-9 To eat from the tree of life is to live by faith
7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Background
Yahweh Elohim fashions man from the dust of the ground and breaths life into him. God places him in an enclosed and protected garden, a paradise on earth so that he may live abundantly. God also places within the garden a tree of life and a tree of the knowledge of good and evil so that man may choose between them. In today’s devotion, we learn that in order to experience abundant life, man must eat from the tree of life and live by faith.
Observation
Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
The relationship between man and the dust from the ground is evident: he is formed from it, he is to cultivate it, and he returns to it when he dies. The similarity of the Hebrew phonetics of the word “man” (adam), and “ground” (adamah) further highlights the primeval relationship between man and ground. In the making of man, the Lord God (Yahweh Elohim) is pictured as a potter fashioning an earthenware is clearly the image here. The word “form” connotes God as the Artist who conscientiously and fearfully fashions and forms every human being (see Job 10:8-9, Psalms 139:13-16). However, man in becoming a living creature requires more than a divinely-shaped piece of earth; he needs to possess within him the breathe of life.
The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden… The tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The word Eden connotes pleasure, delight and fertility. The garden of Eden is an enclosed and protected area, established for cultivation of vegetation for food. It is also a sanctuary, a paradise where God, man and animals dwell in bliss and harmony. The garden is also an orchard planted with trees delightful to the eye and pleasing to the palate. In the midst of the garden is the tree of life which confers life and immortality on those who eat of its fruit. Proverbs describes a tree of life as wisdom, as the fruit of righteousness and as God’s favour to fulfil man’s desires.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast.
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth,
By understanding He established the heavens. Proverbs 3:18-19
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls. Proverbs 11:30
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is antithetic to the tree of life and those who eat of its fruit will acquire the knowledge of good and evil. What is the knowledge of “good and evil”? It refers to the instinct to device one’s personal moral perspective (what is good and bad) and to make autonomous decisions apart from God; that instinct, is reserved only for God who is the truth and who alone is qualified to create laws (John 1:1). The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents the desire to acquire all knowledge (both known and hidden by God) and the right to judge which belongs to God. Man, who is by design limited in wisdom and knowledge is not to live autonomously, but by God’s laws and His revelations. However, man wants full autonomy, thus, he makes up his own rules and seeks to justify them. Man, in choosing human wisdom over divine law, eats from the forbidden tree resulting in death, not life.
Truth
Before man’s body returns to the ground, he should seize every opportunity to serve God.
A man’s life is inextricably tied to the ground; being made from it, he has to live on it and ultimately return to it. Having said that, a man’s soul, the eternal part of him, comes from the breath of God who transcends the earth. Therefore, when a man dies, his body returns to the ground and his spirit returns to God who gave it (see Ecclesiastes 12:7). The fact that a man’s soul comes not from the earth but from God above communicates an important truth: a man’s eternal abode is not earthly, but heavenly. Nevertheless, many live their lives as if they will be spending eternity on earth.
A man’s life, spanning 70 to 80 years is predominantly filled with labour and sorrow. And when he dies, he withers beneath God’s anger as his secret sins are spread out before him (see Psalms 90:7-12). Here, the psalmist realises the brevity of life and urges all to conduct themselves with eternal perspective. In doing so, God may make man’s endeavours successful and leave an enduring legacy (see Psalms 90:17).
Many churchgoers, under the cover of “marketplace” ministries think they are serving God when they are actually serving themselves. They rarely demonstrate the gospel through their lives and are apathetic towards the plight of the marginalised. Entrapped by the cares of life, they looked nonchalantly at missionaries and charity workers being convinced that God has not called them to a life of nobility and simplicity. The fact remains that a man’s body will continue to waste away day the day, and material things will lose their value as he ages. When that day finally arrives, he dies and returns to the ground, his books are closed before him, and nothing more can be done. Therefore, man must seize every opportunity to serve God while he still have the breath of life in him. In doing so, our soul (contrary our decaying body) is being renewed day by day towards a glorious resurrection on the day of judgment (see 2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
To really experience the abundant life, believers must live by faith and not by fleshly wisdom.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents the desire to be in control one’s life and to live independently of God’s rule. However, the power to determine one’s destiny belongs only to God and God alone. Hence, the tree of life and the forbidden tree presents a clear and present choice for man: to live by faith or by fleshly wisdom.
Feeding on the tree of life predisposes one to live by divine revelations. One who eats of the tree of life harbours an intrinsic conviction that in order to be eternally blessed, God’s will must be done. This conviction stems not from fear but from trust and reverence towards God. What then, are the revelations of God? What do both trees represent concerning our manner of living?
a. Purpose and direction
Tree of life: To follow God’s calling to help establish His kingdom and leave a legacy for future generations. / Forbidden tree: To follow that which bodes well with our fleshly desires and to find significance through that which seems right in our eyes.
b. Security
Tree of life: To rest on God’s promises alone. / Forbidden tree: To place our security on material possessions and personal abilities.
c. Passion
Tree of life: To resonate with Christ’s passion for the poor and to bring salvation to the world. / Forbidden tree: To fulfil our fleshly desires, interests and to exalt ourselves above others.
d. Modus operandi
Tree of life: To seek God’s perspective and to obey His instructions in all our endeavours. / Forbidden tree: To do what is in my immediate interest and perspective. To craft my own rules, chart my own paths and decide what is good for me and what is not.
Many churchgoers are undecided between the tree of life and the forbidden tree. They seemed to have taken a bite from the tree of life, but continue to hang around the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, one cannot love both trees, you either hate one and love the other, or you are devoted to one and despise the other (see Matthew 6:24). One who feeds from the tree of life seeks out God’s wisdom single-mindedly and walks in His will even though he may not fully understand. God has promised for such to receive divine favour to prosper in everything he does and fulfil his calling (see Matthew 19:29).
Application
Are you in a habit of delaying your commitment towards God? You supposed that you still have many days ahead and desire to experience what it is like to live autonomously. As a result, many make decisions that carry far-reaching consequences and they cannot recover from them; the loss of time, resources, and precious opportunities. They are traumatised and hurt by relationships and decisions that they should not have made. The fact that they have strayed so far makes it almost impossible for them to turn back. But God promises that those who eat from the tree of life will have their desires fulfilled (see Proverbs 13:12). Lay down your autonomy and feed on the tree of life. As you incline your heart to God’s voice, you will discover the wonderful plans and calling He has ordained for you.
Dear Lord, I desire to commit myself to you and feed from the tree of life. I adopt your vision for my life. I resonate with your passion for the lost. I place my security in you and believe that you will provide for my needs. I receive your wisdom and see from your perspective for all things. Fill me with the fruit of your Spirit and fulfil the desires of my heart. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.