Where Did the Forbidden Fruit Come From?
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” — Genesis 3:2-3, NIV
The term “forbidden fruit” is a metaphor for anything we might desire that isn’t moral, legal or right to indulge in. But where did it come from? Forbidden fruit comes from the book of Genesis in the Bible, where one taste resulted in sin and suffering entering the world.
The Biblical Origin of the Forbidden Fruit
Our story begins in Genesis 2 when God gave the first man, Adam, a simple command.
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, NIV
One day, a crafty serpent questioned Adam’s wife, Eve, asking if God really said they couldn’t eat from any tree in the garden. Eve told the serpent that God had instructed them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they would die.
“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, NIV
Looking at the allure of the fruit, Eve felt tempted. She took some of the fruit and ate it, despite God’s commandment. Eve also shared the fruit with Adam. Instantly, their eyes were opened, and they noticed they were naked. So, they sewed fig leaves together to make clothes for themselves.
Ashamed, Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden. But, God called for them. Once found, Adam explained that he hid because he feared being naked before God.
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” — Genesis 3:11, NIV
Adam and Eve’s disobedience was the first sin. And because of their sin, suffering entered the world.
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your good until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” — Genesis 3:17-19, NIV
What Type of Fruit Was the Forbidden Fruit?
When you see a photo of Adam and Eve, an apple is normally depicted as the forbidden fruit. But the Bible never actually says what type of fruit they ate. In fact, the Hebrew Bible describes the forbidden fruit only as peri, which is the general term for fruit.
Some historians have speculated that it could’ve been a pomegranate, mango, fig, grape, citron, carob, pear, quince or even a mushroom. Despite the type of fruit Adam the Eve ate, the outcome was the same: disobedience and separation from God.
The Fall of Man and the Existence of Poverty
Adam and Eve’s sin began the fall of man. In one moment, man turned away from God and to their own desires. Because of that sin, suffering entered the world, from violence and pain to poverty. And it’s the same suffering the world experiences today.
According to the World Bank, approximately 333 million children live in extreme poverty around the world.
Children living in extreme poverty must survive on less than $3.00 per day. This means they’re unable to access life essentials like simple medical care, nutritious meals or even clean water.
Without what they need to grow and thrive, these little ones live without hope, faced with the reality that they may not escape the grip of poverty.
Hope & a Future
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
While sin separates us from God, our heavenly Father didn’t forsake us. Instead, with compassion for us, he made a way for us to escape sin and death through his Son, Jesus.
Jesus lived a sinless life and died for our sins. He then rose three days later, conquering death. Through his loving sacrifice, we can be completely forgiven of our sins and spend eternity with him.
With Jesus, we have hope. Despite the pain and suffering we might endure, through him, we all can have a bright future, including the little ones in poverty.
We Can Have Compassion in a Fallen World
For those living in poverty in this fallen world, the above message of hope is life-changing! But how do we share that message of hope with them? By showing them the same compassion God has for us and helping to end their suffering.
One simple way to do just that is by sponsoring a child in need. When you sponsor, you empower a local church to care for a child’s spiritual and tangible needs. Not only do you equip a church to share the gospel with a child, but you also enable them to provide a child with:
Education.
Medical care.
Safe community.
Protection from abuse.
Nutrition support.
Disaster relief.
This love and care remind a child that God has bigger plans for them beyond poverty. And it encourages them to seek a brighter future for themselves, their communities and their nations.
