Tree of Good and Evil...

The tree from Genesis, which plays a leading role in the Fall

The Fall is the blackest day in the history of the world. On the day of the Fall, everything went wrong. Since then, there has been all kinds of misery in the world. In Genesis 3, at the beginning of the Bible, we read what happened that day. Everything was very good In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, all was well. There was nothing bad. Death wasn't there. There was no sadness, no illness, and no pain. Everything was in harmony with each other. Harmony between the animals. Man also had a good relationship with God and His creation. When He had made everything, God said: “See, it's very good.” Man's job The first humans were Adam and Eve. They lived in the Garden of Eden, paradise. They had to maintain that court. There were many fruit trees in the garden. All fruits were equally delicious. God allowed man to eat as much as he wanted. This was the situation before the Fall. Put to the test

God created man to love Him. People are allowed to eat from all trees in the garden, except one tree in the middle of the garden. God is testing man with this. When Adam loves God, he trusts and obeys Him. Will man obey God (out of love)? The consequences of disobedience The tree that is not allowed to be eaten has a special name. It is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eating the forbidden fruit means that man dies. God warned him about that. God did not make man like a robot. God wants man to be obedient out of love. Man was able to choose: for God or against God. Does man love God voluntarily? A talking snake After a while, Eva sees a snake. The devil uses the serpent. Through the serpent, the devil speaks to Eve. The devil says to Eve: “Is it really true that God said, “You must not eat from all the trees in the garden?” 'The devil makes God suspect; you can tell by the tone of voice in which he asks: “Is it really so?” He also lies. Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from all trees except one.

Eva replies that they can eat from the trees in the garden, except the one tree in the middle. She tells the snake that eating it will result in death. The snake is lying The devil then tells Eve that they will not die if they eat from that tree. The serpent disregards God as a liar. God did say that disobedience ends in death. The snake tells them that their eyes will be opened when they eat. They will then be like God, knowing good and evil. Man tried and tested Now the test follows the sum. Who trusts people? God's Creator? Or the devil who says God is lying? Things go wrong Eva takes a look at the forbidden tree. The tree is a feast for the eyes. She sees that the fruits are very good. Covetable, to be wise. She takes the fruit and eats. She also gives something to her husband who is there. Adam also eats the fruit. What does this mean? Adam and Eve do eat the forbidden fruit. In doing so, they show that they do not believe God. They don't trust Him, they trust the devil's voice more. The first people disobey God and want to be like God. They want to decide for themselves what is right and wrong.

The relationship with God is broken Of course, this has major consequences. The relationship with God is now broken. There has been a divorce. They notice that immediately. They realize that they are naked and are ashamed of each other. They cover themselves with leaves. They hear God's voice and they hide in the bushes. Adam and Eve are no longer able to face God. They don't dare to meet Him anymore, even though the relationship was so good before.

Evil after the Fall Indeed, man now also knows evil. The worst evil is that man no longer wants to know God. In addition, death, mourning and sorrow have also come into the world. And everything else you can think of about misery. You come across it every day. Evil has been in our hearts ever since. Man fell from the high position of justice in the accident. From now on, he is prone to hate God and his neighbor. That's the Fall. Man no longer fulfils the purpose for which he was created: to love and honor God.