But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Moses 3:17)
I am intrigued by that phrase “It is given unto thee,” specifically because of that IT. What does “it” refer to?
The meaning that I originally ascribed to that “it” was that it referred to agency, as though it were saying, “thou mayest choose for thyself, for choice is given unto thee.” This reading reinforces the principle that the Lord gives us our agency to choose, even to choose things that He forbids.
Another different meaning has come to me in the last year, one that says, “thou shalt not eat of it, nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for the tree [of knowledge of good and evil] is given unto thee.” This reading shows us that Heavenly Father provides us with circumstances where both good and evil are present, and He warns us where the evil is so that we can make informed choices that have real consequences. Our God is a God of good gifts, powerful gifts, sometimes dangerous gifts. There is righteousness not just in choosing good, but refraining from the bad.
Do you see any additional ways to read it that you can share?
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🌿 “It Is Given Unto Thee” — A Reflection on Choice
Michaela’s thoughts on “it is given unto thee” really stirred something in me. That single phrase carries so much weight — the power of choice, the presence of consequence, and the quiet courage it takes to listen to the Spirit over every other voice. Her words made me reflect on what it truly means to choose for ourselves in a world — and sometimes even in families — that prefer we let others decide for us.
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We are told that we may choose for ourselves, for it is given unto us.
But what is it?
Sometimes it is the tree — the place where good and evil stand side by side, waiting for us to learn discernment.
Sometimes it is agency — the sacred power to act and not be acted upon.
And sometimes it is the quiet invitation to trust God more than the voices that echo around us.
Our Father in Heaven gave us the ability to choose for ourselves — to be happy or to be miserable — and He never asked us to hand that gift back to anyone, even those who love us.
Love can counsel, but it was never meant to command.
Even the best intentions can become chains when they take away the right to listen to the Spirit for ourselves.
I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t come from doing what others insist is right — or from living in a way that helps others save face while we silently lose our own.
True peace comes from hearing that still, small voice and daring to follow it, even when it hurts, even when it’s lonely, even when it’s misunderstood.
A friend once told me, “You’re not stubborn, you’re steadfast.”
That’s stayed with me, because the Lord doesn’t give us multiple-choice answers.
He gives us truth, and then He gives us freedom.
And freedom, by its very nature, will sometimes offend those who prefer control.
There comes a time in every life when we must decide whether we’re following the Lord’s will or simply living someone else’s fear.
For me, I choose to follow the voice that brings peace — not the one that brings pressure.
Because it is given unto thee — not to them, not to family, not to fear — but to you.
To choose.
To feel.
To live.
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