The Prodigal Son is one of my favorite parables.
A son thinks he knows better than his father and cashes out his inheritance early. He soon discovers that his newfound freedom is not all it's cracked up to be. After losing everything, he returns home expecting to be chastised by his father. Instead, his father has prepared a welcome home party for him! It's a great story.
But have you ever heard of the story of the Prodigal Son and Daughter? It's found in the first few pages of Scripture.
This year, I am reading through the Bible from start to finish. My goal is to see familiar stories in fresh ways. It's easy to rush past the opening chapters of Genesis because I've read them so many times. (I would guess Genesis is the most-read book in January as people begin Bible reading plans!) But the story of Adam and Eve is the story of all of us. There is so much I can learn from it.
In the beginning, God creates the first pair of humans and puts them in a beautiful garden. I think we sometimes view the Garden of Eden as some kind of tropical paradise. Adam and Eve were on an eternal island vacation and spent their days relaxing in the sun. But it was so much better than that!
Eden was a place where God dwelled with Adam and Eve. And God gave them a purpose. They were to rule alongside him and help all creation flourish. This is an amazing responsibility. I imagine it was similar to the relationship the father in Jesus' parable had with his two sons. The father invited his sons to work alongside him. They had everything they needed to thrive.
The first command God ever gave to humans is pretty incredible, too.
"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;" (Genesis 2:16, NIV)
"You are free..."
The first command uttered by God is not a restriction. It's an invitation to explore creation! You are free. It reminds me of the words the father spoke to the older son when he became envious of the welcome home party for his brother.
"'My son," the father said, "you are always with me, and everything I have is yours." (Luke 15:31, NIV, emphasis mine)
It is so easy to believe the lie that God is holding out on us. I know I've believed it before. But here, on the first pages of the Bible, we see God is a good father. He delights in spending time with his children, giving them good gifts, and filling their days with purpose.
And yes, God did place one restriction on his command to live freely:
”… 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 2:17, NIV)
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a bit puzzling. Why is knowledge of good and evil a bad thing? And why would God place a tree in the garden that is forbidden? Is this some kind of trick?
A lot can be said about this topic. But I think one important point to remember is that God desired a real relationship with Adam and Eve. And for that to be possible, they needed to trust that God was the source of all good things.
As Adam and Eve grew in their relationship with God, I believe they would have been given access to that tree in small doses. God would have given them the knowledge they needed at the right time.
And so they had a choice. (Because, as one pastor I heard put it, love is always a choice.)
They could trust that God would give them wisdom. Or they could take it for themselves. And we know how the story ends.
The serpent managed to convince Eve that God was holding out on them. And Adam bought into the lie, too. And here's the thing: the fruit from the tree did provide them with some knowledge. But it was a knowledge that left them feeling disillusioned and ashamed.
Some people find this story hard to believe. And I get why! It seems so mythological. But I only need to look at my own life to know it's true.
How many times did I take knowledge I wasn't ready for? How many times did I obtain wisdom in a way that wrecked me?
In the song "Growing Young," Rich Mullins sings these haunting words:
I've gone so far from my home
I've seen the world and I have known
So many secrets
I wish now I did not know
'Cause they have crept into my heart
They have left it cold and dark
And bleeding,
Bleeding and falling apart
Indeed, there are secrets in this world I wish I could unknow. Things I wish I could unsee. Words I wish I could unsay. All because I thought I knew better and grasped at knowledge I wasn't ready for.
There is a great irony in the parable of the Prodigal Son. The money the younger son used to wreck his life always belonged to him. But he took it before he was ready for it.
What if the son had stayed home and deepened his bond with the father? What if he had partnered with the father to create something beautiful? What if he had gained knowledge and wisdom from the father as they worked alongside each other? Maybe then, when it came time for the son to inherit his money, he would have used it in a way that led to flourishing.
Same thing for Adam and Eve. And same thing for me!
The story of Adam and Eve is a tragic one. But it was not the end. Because even as they left the garden, God had a plan to get them back in one day.
He was already preparing the welcome home party.
Questions to Ponder:
What do you think was the purpose of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
What is the difference between seeking wisdom/knowledge from God and going after it our own way?
Have you ever obtained wisdom/knowledge in a way that led to death (not necessarily literal death!) instead of flourishing? What did you learn from the experience?
How can you partner and work alongside God this year, trusting him to provide you with the wisdom you need?
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