And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." Genesis 2:16-17
Why did God say you will certainly die? What's so bad about knowing what is good and what is evil? Isn't that a good thing? Looking at the word in Hebrew translated "good" I noticed something, though. The first seven times this word is used in the Bible, it is God deciding and proclaiming that something is "good."
The created light was good. (Genesis 1:4)
The separation of the dry land and the seas was good. (Genesis 1:10)
The bringing forth of grass and herbs and trees that produce fruit was good (Genesis 1:12)
The creation of the sun and moon and stars was good (Genesis 1:18)
The creation of the birds and sea creatures was good (Genesis 1:21)
The creation of livestock and land animals was good (Genesis 1:25)
All that God had made was good, indeed, very good (Genesis 1:31)
The eighth time the word is used, it describes God's evaluation of the trees of the garden he had made:
The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9
(God also decided that something was NOT good: The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18)
God made the tree in the middle of the garden pleasing to the eye and good for food. But the serpent introduced into the minds of Adam and Eve doubt. Doubt about God's goodness, wisdom, and integrity.
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5
So, when Eve looked at the tree, she concluded that the fruit of the tree was "good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom." Did you see that? Eve added something to God's evaluation of the tree: desirable for gaining wisdom. After Adam and Eve ate of the fruit and their eyes were opened, they suddenly decided that running around naked was not good. That being clothed was good. Doubt in God's goodness led them to take over their own care and welfare. To act as if they knew better than God. Though, from their hiding place, I think they knew they had taken a wrong path, pride prevented them from turning back. What would have happened if they had fallen on their faces and repented right then? They did not, only making excuses and shifting the blame. But God in his mercy sacrificed animals to make coverings for their nakedness. Just as Jesus died for us, a sacrifice for sin, when we were yet sinners, and He covers us.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26 (ESV)
After all that he has done for me, can I trust that God knows what is good for me? Can I trust God in my hard times? Or do I entertain the doubts? Can I trust God to decide what is "good" or "evil" in my life? This has to be a faith thing, because more often than not it is only looking back that we can see his loving hand at work in our lives. It took Joseph 22 years in exile, after his brothers sold him into slavery, to be able to say:
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
David and Paul also were able, after years of trial and suffering, to proclaim:
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm 119:71
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
"To trust the Lord with all our heart is to no longer rely on our own understanding, will, abilities, and resources. It is to submit all our living to our God no matter how scary or confusing that may be. To completely let go so that we can let God be God over us and all our living." -- Timothy Denney, One Pursuit https://1pursuit.org/2022/08/18/trust/
Lord, help me not to entertain, even for a moment, doubts about your goodness. Help me to trust that you are always working for my good and the good of my loved ones no matter how bad things appear. Help me to be able to say some day with David, "It was good."
I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
You are good, and what you do is good … Psalm 119:68
"I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:24
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