Why Did God Put The Tree of Knowledge In The Garden of Eden?

Greetings, friends!

As we continue our journey through the story of Genesis, one question keeps coming up: Why did God put the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden? If God knew that eating from the tree would bring about duality, make us aware of our nakedness, and lead to sin, why did He place it there in the first place? What was the point of it all?

Let’s dive into this and explore a few perspectives, particularly through the lens of the esoteric interpretation of the story, and see what we can uncover.

Watch the video covering it in more detail here:

A Symbol of Consciousness

From an esoteric perspective, the tree of knowledge symbolizes the awakening of human consciousness. The act of eating from the tree is seen as a transition from innocence to awareness, from unconsciousness to self-awareness. In a way, it represents both a fall from grace and a necessary step toward becoming fully human.

This interpretation suggests that God’s plan for us was always to become fully conscious beings, which would involve experiencing both the good and the bad. It wasn’t that God created us as fully realized beings right away, but He gave us the free will to evolve and grow into that potential. Perhaps He allowed us to fall so we could make our own choices and own up to our own actions. After all, without this autonomy, could we truly take responsibility for our growth? The tree, then, was never an accident — it was part of the plan all along.

This aligns with ideas in books like The Law of One, which describes our journey through higher planes of existence after death. It seems that the awakening of our consciousness in this life mirrors what happens after we leave this world, reinforcing the idea that we must first learn the lessons of duality before we can ascend spiritually.

The Integration of Dualities

Another layer to this story is the tree’s symbolic representation of duality: good and evil. The presence of the tree in Eden signifies humanity’s initiation into the realm of opposites — opposites that are necessary for the evolution of the soul.

In Eden, everything was easy. There was no sin, no temptation — walking with God was simple. But as soon as duality entered the picture, our journey became much more complicated. With Satan, sin, and suffering in the world, walking with God requires much more effort.

Think about it this way: If life was all sunshine and rainbows, it would be easy to follow God. But when faced with suffering, temptation, and evil, it takes a true commitment to stick with God. The story of Job is a perfect example of this. Job had everything taken from him — his wealth, his health, even his family — and was left in misery. Yet, despite all the trials he faced, he never lost his faith. In the end, God restored everything to him, making him even more prosperous than before.

This is the idea: true faith is shown when we remain steadfast in our commitment to God, even through life’s toughest challenges. Just as Jesus sacrificed everything for us, we are called to endure hardship and remain aligned with God through it all. The higher the trials, the greater the reward when we remain faithful.

The Path to Wisdom

From an ascetic viewpoint, the tree could also represent the path to wisdom. The knowledge we gain through eating the fruit is not just about understanding good and evil — it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of the universe’s workings. This wisdom comes through the experience of separation from the divine, or what we might call the fall.

As we progress on this journey, we begin to see how our lives here on Earth are part of something much bigger. The existence of evil, temptation, and duality may seem like obstacles, but they serve a higher purpose.

If we think about our current position in the universe, it’s like we are still in the “cradle” of cosmic evolution. There are probably many beings out there in the universe with vast wisdom and advanced technology, possibly even greater than our own. But before we can interact with these beings, we must first learn the lessons of duality. We must prove that we can overcome evil and not be corrupted by the power and knowledge that might one day be available to us.

This idea also relates to concepts like telekinesis or the power to control others. If humans were given such powers right now, we might not use them for good. We need to go through the process of learning wisdom — of truly understanding good and evil — before we are entrusted with such abilities.

The Symbolism of Transformation

In more mechanical or chemical terms, the three minds symbolize the raw material — prima materia — of the soul’s journey toward perfection. The act of eating the fruit initiates a process of transformation, where, through trials and tribulations, the soul seeks to return to unity with the divine. This echoes the overall theme that we are on a journey of spiritual evolution.

The tree of knowledge, then, becomes a symbol of the process of human growth and spiritual awakening. It’s about learning through experiences, facing challenges, and striving to reunite with the divine.

The Show ‘Lucifer’ and the Fall

Interestingly, there’s a TV show called Lucifer that explores some of these themes. While it’s not biblically accurate and takes a lot of liberties, the show depicts Lucifer, the fallen angel, as he evolves from a being consumed with anger, lust, and sin to someone who seeks redemption and reunites with God.

In a way, this mirrors the human journey. We all fall — we’re born sinners — but through the struggles of life, we can return to unity with the divine. The show depicts the idea that anyone — even the devil — can return to God if they let go of their issues and choose the path of goodness.

While Lucifer is not based strictly on the Bible, it captures a larger spiritual truth: the fall is not the end. It’s a necessary part of the journey that ultimately leads us back to God.

Conclusion: The Purpose of the Tree

So, why did God place the tree of knowledge in the garden? It was a necessary part of our evolution. It gave us the free will to choose our path and understand the duality of existence. It was the test of whether we would choose good over evil, and through that choice, we would gain the wisdom to eventually reunite with the divine.

In essence, the tree of knowledge was not just a test — it was a tool for our spiritual growth, a necessary step in our journey to becoming fully human, fully aware, and fully one with God.

I hope this reflection has helped you understand the deeper purpose behind the tree of knowledge. As always, I look forward to seeing you in the next post!

God bless!