Lessons From the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is central in the story of Adam and Eve. When presented with two contrasting trees, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve made a choice that would affect every human being to follow.
Today, we’ll take a fresh look at this familiar story and see how it impacts our lives.
Also, be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free new devotional eBook to help you apply the Old Testament to your life today!
Lessons From the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
“Where do you turn for comfort and fulfillment at the end of a long day?” a friend recently asked.
I wanted to tell her I turned to God in prayer, worship, and Bible-reading at the end of long days, finding comfort in him. But the truth was that I turned to books and movies that had nothing to do with God. I turned to chocolate and anything else in the cupboards that might fill the emptiness inside me.
The temptation to look for comfort apart from God began in the Garden of Eden.
God offered Adam and Even an invitation. They could walk with him in the cool of the day, finding their comfort and satisfaction in him, or they could turn to a forbidden tree.
In the middle of the Garden of Eden, God placed two trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The tree of life symbolized God’s provision and goodness. Those who ate from it would receive spiritual renewal, union with God, and eternal life.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil symbolized the temptation to self-rule apart from God. It carried the deceptive promise of knowing good and evil and becoming like God, while being apart from him. The consequences of eating from it included spiritual death, shame, and separation from God.
The Decision to Eat From the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Rather than eating from the tree of life, Adam and Even chose to listen to the serpent’s deceptive words: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5, ESV). They ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
As shame and sin entered the world, this single act set a paradigm for every human being to follow: an inclination to pursue satisfaction apart from God.
The pleasures of this earth are never enough.
We can chase every pursuit and pleasure this world offers, and achieve every dream and desire of our hearts, but we will never be satisfied apart from God.
The Lesson of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
This is the lesson of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
We were created for union with God, and fulfillment apart from him is fleeting.
The tree didn’t deliver what Adam and Eve hoped for; it delivered shame, spiritual death, and broken union with God.
Our experience is no different. When we pursue fulfillment apart from God, we will ultimately be let down.
The question remains: How do we find satisfaction in God? Let’s look at some practical ways to turn to God for fulfillment and comfort instead of turning to things of this world.
How to Find Satisfaction in God
1. Receive Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Contrary to popular belief, there are not many paths to God.
Jesus described himself as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Either Jesus is the only way to have a relationship with God, or he was lying. There is no middle ground here.
The first step toward finding fulfillment in God is receiving Jesus as the Savior and Leader of our lives.
2. Join God in his work on earth.
We were created to join God in his work on earth, bringing his kingdom to a broken world.
Ask God to open your eyes to what he is doing around you. Then, join him in this work. He will guide you.
3. Pursue relationships with other people.
Our lives are meant to be shared with others.
Aim to live a life of love, loving God and loving others.
Establish relationships with all sorts of people: those who follow Jesus as well as those who don’t. Your purpose is to carry God’s love to all people. Stepping into this purpose will bring the fulfillment you crave.
4. Embrace lifestyles of worship.
Romans 12:1 says we are to offer our bodies in worship to God. This means everything we do is meant to be an act of worship.
When life becomes worship, when we live to adore and praise God, we will find the satisfaction we desire.
5. Grow in God’s Word.
God uses the Bible to renew our minds.
We find fulfillment in him as he renews our minds.
Read, study, meditate on, and memorize the Bible. The words of the Bible are spiritual food, nourishment for our souls.
6. Pray continually.
First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing.
When we stay in constant conversation with God, we find fulfillment through our relationship with him.
7. Cultivate a grateful heart.
Gratitude leads to joy and peace.
Learn to give thanks in all circumstances and you will find deeper peace and joy.
8. Find your strength in God’s joy.
Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
God wants us to grasp the joy he experiences as we draw near to him. Learn to experience God’s joy, and his joy will be your strength.
9. Give your life away.
The abundant life is not found in acquiring more, but in giving our lives for others.
Just as Jesus did not come to serve his own needs but to serve others, we are called to give ourselves to others in love. This always leads to deeper fulfillment.
10. Experience God as your safe place.
Psalm 91:1 reads, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Learn to find shelter in God’s presence, and he will give you rest.
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What can we learn from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? God wants to be our life source. May we learn to turn to him and be filled.
If this post blessed you, I invite you to explore our library of family devotional books and free devotional eBooks below. Be blessed as you draw near to God!
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Attention All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Apply the Old Testament to Your Life Today
Do you want to learn how to read the Old Testament and apply it to the challenges you face in your everyday life? In 30 devotions, my free devotional eBook, Timeless, will help you grow in God’s Word while applying it to your life. You’ll also learn how the entire Bible points to Jesus as we unpack fascinating symbolism linking the Old Testament to Christ. Download it for free with promo code JESUS here or consider offering a $4.99 donation to support this ministry. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
