What I'm Studying: A Tale of Two Trees- Part 2

Last time we talked about the two trees in the Garden of Eden. Today I want to talk about the Tree of Life and the Cherubs.

Every painting that I see of cherubs are depicted as cute and harmless. Little cubby babies with wings, smiling and having a good time. I am sure that is not what they looked like, but that is the picture I get in my mind.

The text says that they were placed to guard Adam and Eve’s way back into the Garden.

Look at Genesis 3:24…

²⁴ After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Now, did you know that cherubs show up only two time in the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament)?

1st- To guard the tree of life.

2nd- They are on top of the Ark of the Covenant to “guard?” or “shelter?” the tree of life.

Why do I say “tree of life” in the second example? What is in the Ark of the Covenant? The Ten Commandments which represent the Torah.

In Proverbs 3:18 it says…

“She (referring to the teachings or Torah) is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.”

Actually, when you look at the functions of the cherubs in both stories, it seems they have opposite purposes from one another.

In one story they are keeping you away from the tree of life.

And in the other story they are sheltering you in the tree of life (or the Torah or the Bible). Fascinating!

So, what does it all mean? It means that there is some type of equivalency in the Tree of Life and the replacement Tree of Life.

Why does God keep us away from one tree, but give us a replacement?

Why does he not want us to live forever, but in the second tree of life we find life?

And why do the angels that keep us away from one tree, give us access to another?

I guess we are going to have to keep studying!