04_The two trees Gen 2:9 Out of the ground the Lord God caused every tree to grow that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen 2: 15-17 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.” There is a story of a young boy who was sailing with his father, the captain of a sailing ship. While he was exploring the ship, he came to the huge sails flapping above his head. Intent on getting closer, he began to climb the mast, unseen by anybody. The higher he climbed, the more exhilarated he felt. He felt like a creature of the air rather than the ground. At the very top, he made the mistake of looking down. Instantly he froze in terror. Then he began screaming for help. The crew crowded around below. They shouted instructions and urged him to climb down. The hubbub only frightened him still more. Then his father arrived on the scene. Calmly, he called up to his son, “Look up and tell me what you see!” The boy obeyed, and through his tear-filled eyes, saw the marvelously blue sky. As he described it, his father continued, “Keep looking up. Now, climb down a step and tell me what you see.” The boy obeyed, looking up and following his father’s steady voice. He descended step by step, until he was standing on the deck again. His father knew that his voice would comfort and encourage his son as nothing else could do. He also knew that by looking above, his son would no longer be fearful of falling. The boy could concentrate on directing his feet as he climbed down. For the son was assured that his father’s voice would never lead him into harm. It would guide him safely through fear and danger. This story mirrors the choice presented to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God had created them fearfully and wonderfully. He had given them a paradise filled with every good and beautiful tree. Especially significant were two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were free to eat from any tree, including the Tree of Life, but forbidden access to the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The reason was also made clear. The day they ate that fruit, they would die. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil wasn’t inherently evil. God declared that all He created was good. The tree symbolized the desire for autonomy, freedom from dependence on God. It offered the ability to know good and