The Forbidden Fruit

In a related note to my previous article, I want to discuss this forbidden fruit that is mentioned in the Genesis account. What is it?  What is it’s significance?

You will often see this reference in western culture to an apple. Now just to set the record straight, while the account does talk about a tree, it never says what the fruit is.  But if one becomes more familiar with Hebrew culture, you will find this symbolism of trees, fruits, branches, harvest, etc. is common throughout the scriptures. This is a symbol. Many creationists and biblical defenders often make this mistake of trying to defend a literal interpretation of what they find in Genesis. The reality is that the story of Adam and Havah is a parable. I’m not saying it doesn’t have many true aspects rooted in fact, or that it didn’t really happen. What I’m saying is that the story is still presented as a parable with symbols meant to teach certain ideas. 

In symbology, trees represent many things, the most common things are family, life,and knowledge. In the case of this store you have a tree of like and a tree of knowledge.  The tree of knowledge is described in the account as knowledge of both good and evil. 

So to continue I will explain an idea, which is an idea presented in the very story itself. There are many things which are true, but that you must be prepared to grasp and understand before you can receive it. If this truth is given to you prematurely, it can actually be harmful.  Now in the account we know the “tree” was placed there, such that it could be taken. Now one could argue in this story that if God didn’t want them to partake, why did He put it there?  

To answer this I am going to give an example.  When you were a young child, no doubt your parents told you not to EVER touch the stove. Why did they say this?  Because as a young child the stove can be very dangerous.  At that age you didn’t understand how to use it properly. It can burn and could cause very serious harm if not treated with the utmost respect. But did this mean that you could never touch it, EVER?  Of course not. In that state you are not ready, but with preparation one day you may be. 

So it is with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The whole idea was that it was to be partaken of, but Adam and Havah needed to be prepared to do so. They needed to learn and grow first so that they could be properly prepared.  Along comes Satan and he convinces Havah to partake by telling her the benefits of partaking in that knowledge, but he deceives by not telling the consequences of doing so, and of course he doesn’t tell her his motives.  I think an important part in this is understanding Satan’s motive.  His plan was to get Adam and Havah to do what they were destined to do anyway, but try to get them to do it in a wrong way.  If he could introduce a corruption to it from the very beginning, then he could do as much damage to the plan of salvation as possible from the very foundation.  I just wanted make this distinction clear. There is a big difference between God telling them that they were ready to partake and them partaking on their own prematurely. 

Hopefully this sheds a new light and makes you think a little differently of our first parents. Hopefully this gives you a new love and respect for them. I intend to continue this discussion, but I leave this with you for now to ponder and consider and pray upon.