Chapter Three
Sizing Up The Evil Tree
Looking at the Symbolism
Please take another look at the uncovered tree. As you look, you see not only a rough looking old tree, but will also see some gruesome creatures on and about that tree. According to the scriptures, God considers all but one of these as being unclean (Leviticus 11:1-47). The Word does not specifically name the spider as being unclean; however, Isaiah says that the person that eats the eggs of a spider will die (Isaiah 59:5). These unclean creatures represent the evil fruit that one would find on an evil tree. Each of the creatures represents the nature of specific sin tendencies. The Word of God declares, "... I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me"; (Exodus 20:5). The word iniquity implies a tendency toward committing specific sins. It is a bent in a specific direction.
Lizards are generally known for their fear. Where I grew up on the farm, we had several variety of lizards. Most of them would run and hide at the blink of the eye. The lizard on the trunk of the tree represents the tendency to fear. Fear of man and fear of evil are not from God. Such fears are often inherent in families. Such a bent to fear may be passed on from one generation to another. Another characteristic of some species of lizards is that they have the ability to change colors. They just blend into whatever environment they find themselves. Of course, this is for their protection. It is a response to a fear of being harmed. You may know people who have the tendency to do the same thing. In order to be accepted, they just go along with the crowd.
Bats are known for being blind. I once saw a video of a snake lying on a ledge of the mouth of a large cave. The snake would simply stretch his head and neck out and grab the blind bats as they flew out of the cave. Some people have a tendency to be spiritually blind. In their blindness they fly right into the mouth of all kinds of false religions.
The snake has always been the symbol of deception and lies. His tongue is forked. From the Garden of Eden to the book of Revelation, the Word depicts Satan, the liar, as the serpent. Therefore, the snake is symbolic of the tendencies of lying and deception.
The owl, another unclean creature, has been used as a symbol of wisdom or knowledge. The first recorded sin as found in Scripture was that of a seeking of knowledge. Eve was tempted to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The serpent told Eve that if she would eat of the tree that she would become as gods, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:4). The owl then is a symbol of false knowledge or a symbol of idolatry. Idolatry is saying that we know more than God. Idolatry may well be another inherited tendency.
The vulture is an unclean bird. We associate the vulture with dead animals. We know that by nature the vulture eats creatures that have already died and begun to decay. Therefore, the vulture is a symbol of tendencies that are associated with death. These would include suicidal or homicidal tendencies.
Frogs are known for multiplication and for their jumping. There are also people who have tendencies to jump into situations without thinking. Some jump from one bed to the other as well. Therefore, the frog is a symbol of carnal or sexual sin tendencies.
The spider is known for her web. One of the strongest and most dangerous webs that a man can weave is possessiveness. Therefore, the spider in the web represents such tendencies as greed, selfishness, and jealousy.
The scorpion is a creature that we may often overlook. It is also a creature that inflicts a great amount of pain. There are many people who have a tendency to dwell upon the emotional hurts and pain that they have received. Thus, the scorpion is a symbol of a tendency toward pain.
The hornets are also known for their ability to inflict pain, but they are also known for their anger and aggressive attack. Therefore, the hornets are a symbol of a tendency toward anger, rage, bitterness, and revenge.
The turtle is usually seen as a creature that moves very slowly. It sticks its head in its shell when trouble comes. Some people also get very little accomplished. They often shirk responsibility when they need to assert themselves. Thus, the turtle is the symbol of such tendencies as laziness and procrastination.
These unclean creatures are therefore representative of tendencies toward the sin that we find in our lives. Again, we should understand and keep in mind that the evil tree with evil fruit on it must come from somewhere. The fruit does not suddenly appear out of nowhere. God's Word reminds us, "As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come" (Proverbs 26:2). We do not have an effect where there is no cause.
Discovering the Tree's Beginning
The iniquities of our forefathers are often like seeds of evil that are planted deep within the soil of our SOUL (mind, will, and emotions). Sometimes they are planted within us even before we are born. Others are planted through our early childhood experiences. Some seeds never fully sprout, but simply lie dormant. Others, given the right environment, not only sprout, but become strong trees producing evil fruit. When we act upon and nurture by habitual involvement sin tendencies, they often become overwhelming, full-grown trees producing fruit of alluring, sometimes driving, and compelling evil in our lives.
What is the source of the evil seed? Jesus gives us an interesting parable in the gospel of Matthew. He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sows good seed in a field, but the enemy came and sowed tares among the good seed (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). We should understand that a parable has one basic meaning. The basic meaning of this parable is that the children of God must coexist along with the children of the devil until the Son of man sends his angels to separate the two. However, we can also see another principle. The principle is that the enemy is the one that plants evil seed. We should give credit where credit is due. Generational curses are another work of the Devil.
The enemy is not our earthly father, grandfather, or great grandfather. Therefore, we should understand the nature and work of Satan at this point. The Devil enjoys working in darkness. He relies for his strategy upon the ignorance of Believers who fail to acquaint themselves with his nature and the ways in which he works. Paul informs us, "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Corinthians 2:11). Peter also warns us to, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith..." (I Peter 5:8-9). The following are some names, titles, and descriptions of our enemy:
1. SON OF PERDITION (destruction, ruin, waste, and loss) (John 17:12)
2. MAN OF SIN (II Thessalonians 2:3)
3. ANTICHRIST (I John 4:3)
4. MURDERER (John 8:44)
5. WORMWOOD (bitterness) (Revelation 8:11)
6. UNCLEANNESS (Revelation 16:13-14)
7. BELIAL (worthlessness) (II Corinthians 6:15)
8. THE ACCUSER (Revelation 12:10)
9. GOD OF THIS WORLD (II Corinthians 4:4)
10. PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR (Ephesians 2:2)
11. THE TEMPTER (Matthew 4:3)
12. THE ENEMY (Matthew 13:25)
13. FATHER OF ALL LIES (John 8:44)
14. BEELZEBUB (dung-god, father of flies) (Matthew 12:24)
15. PRINCE OF DEVILS (Matthew 12:24)
16. APOLLYON (destroyer) (Revelation 9:11)
17. ANGEL OF THE BOTTOMLESS PIT (Revelation 9:11)
18. THE DEVIL (slanderer) (Matthew 4:1)
19. THE ADVERSARY (one who stands against) (I Peter 5:8)
20. RULER OF DARKNESS (Ephesians 6:12)
21. SERPENT (Genesis 3:4, Revelation 12:9)
22. ANGEL OF LIGHT (in disguise) (II Corinthians 11:14)
23. PRINCE OF THE WORLD (John 14:30)
24. THE WICKED ONE (Matthew 13:19)
25. THE DEVOURER (Malachi 3:11)
26. THE THIEF (John 10:10)
27. THE GREAT DRAGON (Revelation 12:9)
Jesus describes Satan by saying, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." (John 10:10). One of his tactics is to make us believe that other people are our enemies. If he can make us believe this, he will have us destroying one another. Another tactic is to make us believe that he is stronger than God. Finally, he also will try to get us to ignore him. However, we must recognize that he does exist and that he is our enemy. We should also know that he is the sower of the evil seed that produces the evil tree.
Finding the Most Effective Method
In the area of the country in which I live, we have many mesquite trees. These trees are known for their stamina. They can withstand most kinds of weather and are extremely difficult to kill. These trees remind me of the nature of the evil tree. One could pick all the mesquite beans off the tree and throw them away, but that would be rather useless. The tree would just produce more beans later. I have seen this done in counseling. I have seen people go through deliverance and all kinds of repentance, but just fall back into the same sin habits within a few weeks.
One could trim back a few limbs on the tree, but that would give only a very small amount of temporary damage to the tree. The limbs will grow back. I have seen people concentrate on overcoming a specific area of sin. They may do well for a while but within a few months the sin returns.
One may even cut down a mesquite tree and think that they have killed it, but it will come back from the trunk. I have seen Christians wage rugged battles against the sin tendencies in their lives and then have to face them again at a later date. We should also note that it is difficult to just try to root up a mesquite tree. The roots usually run quite deep and will even break before they come out of the ground. What roots remain, remain alive and will again produce a tree with beans on it. I have seen people who think that by doing some radical surgery on their sin habits that they have solved their problems. Again, within a year or so they find themselves fighting the same old sin tendencies. What once seemed to be a victory, now becomes a renewed battle field.
The most effective way to kill a mesquite tree is to cut the roots below the surface of the ground. Then the tree will die! In similar fashion, we must cut the roots of the evil tree. If one can cut the roots and destroy them, the tree must die. What are the roots to the evil tree? Where did they come from? How are they destroyed? John the Baptist stated, "And now also the axe is laid unto the roots of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hew down, and cast into the fire" (Luke 3:9).
This may be hard for some to accept, but we find the roots in the sins and iniquities of our forefathers. This truth will be further illustrated in a later chapter. We should begin by understanding that God demands a perfect obedience of His law. God states, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God" (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). The next twelve verses describe all kinds of blessings. However, God says that curses come with disobedience. "But it shall come to pass, if thou will not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee": (Deuteronomy 28:15). The next fifty-two verses deal with various types of curses which include poverty, illness, and social problems.
Understanding the Roots
It is very important that we see the difference between two words that we often take to have the same meaning. The one word is sin and the other word is iniquity. The scripture gives a definite distinction between the two. Sin is basically a transgression of the law of God. However, iniquity is the result of sin. "And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity" (Leviticus 5:17). The Hebrew word that the scholars translate iniquity means perversity. It is a bent or twist in something. I have some boxelder shrubs planted next to our brick house. The sun warms the brick and the shrubs bend their branches toward the warm brick. In a similar fashion when one sins, a bent toward that sin is established deep within them. A flaw is established in their character. When a man looks upon a woman with lust as she walks by, he may twist his head to get a better look. However, a new twist inside also occurs. We call this, "iniquity."
The catch is that this bent or twist toward the sin is passed on to other generations. A portion of God's law states, "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation" (Exodus 34:7). The book of Lamentations gives a very clear order of events. "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities" (Lamentations 5:7).
Burton Stokes and Lynn Lucas devote an entire chapter in their book, No Longer A Victim, discussing iniquity. Their explanation is the clearest that I have seen in print. They are right in saying, "A careful reading of selected scriptures reveals that sin is committed and iniquity is 'passed down' to the children, to the third and fourth generation."1 = (see notes at end of book). They further state, "When a person transgresses the law, iniquity is created in him and that iniquity is passed to his children. The offspring will be weak to temptation to the same kind of sin."2 = (see notes at end of book).
The Scripture also clearly gives the fulfillment of iniquity. "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward" (Isaiah 1:4). Isaiah is saying that one can trace the sins of the children back to the iniquity of the forefathers. The authors of No Longer A Victim state, "If the father commits certain kinds of sin, his offspring are prone to the same kinds of sin, regardless of their training, or the social, cultural, and environmental influences on them."3 = (see notes at the end of the book). Daniel affirms this reality by writing, "...because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people become a reproach to all that are about us" (Daniel 9:16). The iniquities of the fathers had opened the door for the people to commit sin.
We don't have to look too hard to find an example of iniquity in the lives of Biblical characters. In Genesis Chapter Twenty we find that Abraham declared that Sarah was his sister for fear that the Pharaoh might kill him for his wife. The truth was that Sarah was his half sister. Abraham had told a half truth. However, when Isaac, Abraham's son, was in a similar situation, he said that Rebekah, his wife, was his sister. Rebekah was his wife only. Isaac told a whole lie. In brief, Abraham sinned by telling a half truth which set up iniquity within him. He then passed that iniquity along to his son Isaac. Isaac was born with a weakness toward telling a half truth. David declared, "... I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalms 51:5). When temptation came, Isaac gave in to the iniquity. However, he went one step further. Iniquity usually increases from generation to the next generation.
We find a vivid example of iniquity being passed from generation to generation in the life of David. David first married Michal the daughter of Saul (I Samuel 18:27). However, David was not satisfied with just one wife. He looked with lust upon Bathsheba and had her husband, Uriah, killed that he might take her to be his wife (II Samuel 11:1-27). Most of us, however, have never stopped to realize that David also had other wives: Ahinoam (I Samuel 14:50), Abigail (I Samuel 25:39), Maachah, Haggith, Abita, and Egalah (I Chronicles 3:2-3). David also had ten concubines (II Samuel 19:5). We also see this iniquity of lust being passed on to the next generation. Amnon, the son of David, raped his sister, Tamar (II Samuel 13:1-15). Solomon, the son of David, had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, which led him into further sin of worshiping other gods (I Kings 11:3-4).
Solomon's son, Rehoboam, was unable to resist the children of Belial who worshiped pagan gods (II Chronicles 13:7). Concerning the reign of Rehoboam, the Word says, "And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. And there was also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel" (I Kings 14:22-24).
The son of Rehoboam, Abijam, was the great grandson of David. He picked up the iniquity of his father. "And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father" (I Kings 15:3). We can clearly see that the iniquity is passed from generation to generation and also increases in intensity.
There is some GOOD NEWS! The chain can be broken. We don't have to live with the iniquity of our forefathers. "In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days come saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant..." (Jeremiah 31:29-31). We don't have to be in bondage to sin just because our forefathers were! How, then, does one escape the curse of the iniquity that was passed along to him?
In brief, one must see that Jesus Christ took the curse upon himself. "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for out iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:5-6). Just as Jesus became a sin substitute for us, he also became an iniquity substitute. The curse is broken by a declaration of faith in what Christ has already done.
Click here to look at a second graphic illustration of the evil tree with addictions and tendencies before going to Chapter Four.
Go to Chapter Four or return to Evil Tree Menu.
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