The Fountain of Youth
“Of every tree in the garden you may surely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not shall you eat from it.” Genesis 2:16-17
Knowledge – Often the most important thing we learn from the Bible is what it does not say. What I mean is that every biblical story, poem, letter or narrative is set in a particular context; an historical-cultural situation that governs the vocabulary, thought forms and implications of the passage. Just as Paul’s letters to the believers in Corinth must be read against the backdrop of first century Corinth, so Moses’ retelling of the creation story must be set against the backdrop of the Mesopotamian cosmological myths. What we discover (in both cases) is that what is not said is extremely important for understanding what is said. You can’t read the Declaration of Independence without knowing the history of taxation under English rule. You can’t read Genesis 1 and 2 without knowing the competing mythology of ancient Mesopotamia.
What does the Bible leave out of this historical-cultural background? Well, one thing that is conspicuously absent is the concern with immortality. You see, in all the other ancient myths, the focus would have been on the Tree of Life, not of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. All of the civilizations of Mesopotamia were preoccupied with death. So, their mythology included ways to avoid dying by finding the secret to living forever. Funny thing. We seem to have the same cultural preoccupation, don’t we? From Ponce De Leon to cryogenics, from Max Factor to the movies, we are all trying to at least pretend that we can live forever. The Bible doesn’t even bother with this nonsense. Why? Because the focus of the Bible is not death, but life. And for life, the issue is not immortality but morality! That’s why the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is at the center of the story, although it is not at the center of the Garden. The issue is about obedience that brings life, not magic that brings unending existence.
What the Bible says about the critical issue of life is this: obedience is in our hands. If you want to live, follow God’s instructions. It’s really that simple. Of course, the Bible also clearly says that we, collectively and individually, have rebelled and disobeyed. So, we have a big problem. Life is found in obedience. We have disobeyed. We deserve death – and it cannot be avoided by anything that we can do. No point in looking for the mythological solution to our dilemma. There isn’t one! The only one who can fix this is God, not you, me or good ol’ Ponce.
There is something else that isn’t said here. It’s not the Tree of Good and Evil. It’s the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Bible doesn’t say something else that ancient mythology embraces (and that we still find today). Human consciousness in the natural man is not about good versus evil. That’s the view of the ancient mythologies. The Hebrew view is different. The problem is the desire to know the difference between good and evil. In other words, the real issue is our choice to decide for ourselves what is good and what is not good.
The two are tied together. If I determine what is right and what is wrong, if I can control my ethics, then I have a claim on immortality. If I do everything I’m supposed to do, then I should live forever, right? Wrong! Morality is ultimately a function of doing what God says is right, not what I think is right. And because my will asserts itself against His, I am not holy as He is holy. I need a Savior, not an elixir.
Is that how you view the Bible? Do you see that it is all about living, not dying? And the only way to live is God’s way, not yours.
Topical Index: immortality, morality, good, evil, Genesis 2:16-17, knowledge
Good morning Skip: Excellant article! The problem with the “Tree of the Knowedge of Good and Evil” ; with out Christ I can’t do the Good, nor, not do the Evil. I need the Grace of God active in my life!! Shalom, my friend!
Rex and Dottie George
You’re right, of course, from a perspective thousands of years after the story was written. But remember the principles of biblical exegesis. What did it mean to the audience that first heard this story. That’s where we must begin if we are going to understand it.
Shalom
Will you please help us to understand what it meant to that audience?
Shalom,
Robin
The entire purpose of Today’s Word is to help us understand the text from the perspective of the original audience. That’s why we spend so much time talking about the Hebrew background, etc. Of course, we need to add to this linguistic material the historical context and the culture. It’s a big job. Not one that can be done is a page a day. But over time we will begin to see what it was like to live – and think – in the times when the text was written.
I think Piper says it right: “God is most glorified when I am most satisfied in Him.” From innocence to believing (outside of God’s boundaries) that I can “be like God”, i.e. knowing good from evil, is nothing more than discontentedness with God’s gracious and sovereign supply for me and therefore, dissatisfaction with God. I am stuck in a broken world that tells me regularly that I must have what I was never intended to have apart from God….It is the biggest of lies because God does not give up His throne or rule for His creature. And so, apart from God’s salvation, I am left with the hopelessness of “me” which only leads to a grave. Any wonder that when Christ saw some of the disciples falling away and then He turned to the 12 and asked, “Do you want to leave also?” that it was Peter who said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!” (John 6) Praise be to God through the Lord Jesus Christ, who redeems us and gives us Hope.