In the book of Genesis, we learn about the Garden of Eden, where God placed Adam and Eve to live and flourish. In the middle of the garden were two significant trees: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In this article, we will explore the deeper meaning behind these two trees and how they relate to our oneness with Deity.
The Hebrew word for tree is "ets," which means a standing tree, a source of life and happiness. It is interesting to note that the root word for tree, wood, is "atsah," which means to fasten or make firm, to close the eyes, or shut. Thus, the tree represents something that we fasten ourselves to or build our lives on. We have a choice of which tree to build and live from: the tree of life or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents knowledge, specifically the knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil. The Hebrew word for knowledge is "daath," which refers to facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education. The root word of knowledge is "know," which means to understand or perceive. When we eat from this tree, we are choosing to live by knowledge and logic, based on our own understanding of what is right and wrong. We are relying on our own perception of reality, rather than trusting in God's wisdom.
The Hebrew word for good is "towb," which means beautiful, pleasant, agreeable, or good. The word for evil is "ra'," which means adversity, ethical evil, or moral principles. The Greek word for evil is "ponéros," which means toilsome, bad, wicked, malicious, or worthless. It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for Satan, the adversary of God, is essentially identical to the word for adversity. Satan is also described as an adversary, the same as the carnal mind which leads people away from God and into separation.
Before eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve had no knowledge of right or wrong, good or evil. They existed purely in love and had no consciousness of the carnal reality. But when they ate from the tree, their eyes were opened, and they became aware of their 5 physical senses. They became conscious of their carnal reality and believed they were separate from God.
The Apostle Paul warns in Romans 8:7 that the carnal mind is enmity against God, as it is not subject to God's law. It is rooted in the flesh, which refers to unaided human effort, decisions, and actions that originate from self or are empowered by self. When we eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we are living from our five physical senses, and our minds are controlled by logic. We are rooted in the carnal mind, which separates us from God's awareness and leads us away from oneness with Deity.
In contrast, the tree of life represents our spiritual union with God and our oneness with Deity. When we eat from this tree, we partake of God's life and receive His wisdom and understanding. We are no longer separated from God by our sin and shame but are made whole and complete in Him. We become aware of God's presence in our lives and experience His love, peace, and joy.
The Lord's Prayer includes a plea to deliver us from evil, which refers to what is worthless and base. It is not a plea to save us from the malicious intent of others or dark forces of evil. Instead, it is a plea to be saved from the burdens and toils of life
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