What is the first command of God in the Bible?

Well, it's on page one, after God creates life and orders the cosmos.

He creates humans and he points them to be his image, and he instructs them this way.

Be fruitful, multiply, subdue the earth, and rule it.

In other words, carry forward God's authority and rule over what he began.

The first directives God gives to the humans are essentially imitate the divine life.

So the first time God tells anybody what to do, it's a blessing.

While the first command in the Bible is called a blessing, the second command in the Bible is

straight up called a command. And it has two parts. The first part of the command reminds us of the

blessing. Eat of every tree in the garden. The good that you see out there

is real and when you find the good, enjoy it. And when I am enjoying the good, what I am enjoying

is God. The second part of the command is about how there's one tree that will look good, but will actually lead to death.

So, don't eat from that tree.

There are apparently some things that look good, but that won't be good for me, at least not now.

And these two parts of the command work together.

God's command is twofold. One, have life, enjoy good. The second

part of the command is don't die. Now, all the trees in the garden look good for eating. But not every

tree is wise to eat from. You can appreciate goodness, but not have to take it into yourself and make yourself become one with it.

You can just see and be like, that's good.

And isn't that what God's asking them to do with this one particular tree?

So how can we learn to discern between what looks good and what is truly good?

How can you know?

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