Why Worship a God Who (Supposedly) Wants to Keep Us Ignorant?

Unveiling the Ancient Lie

The question of why someone would choose to worship a Creator God who forbade man to eat from the tree of knowledge — a tree from which we have obviously "eaten," judging by our accumulated knowledge — is profound and provocative. It echoes with the suspicion that perhaps this God wanted to keep us "dumb," or at least limited. As is insightfully noted, this question, in its essence, was originally posed by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. But does God truly desire our ignorance? Reformed theology, standing firmly on the biblical text, offers a categorical answer: the assertion that God wants to keep us in ignorance is the original lie.

"The Original Lie" and the Nature of the Prohibition

Let us return to the account in Genesis. God places Adam and Eve in the garden and gives them a command:

¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

The serpent, however, presents things quite differently:

⁴ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

Here is the key: the serpent insinuates that God is hiding something good from humans, that He wants to deprive them of higher knowledge and status ("you will be like God"). This is an attack on God's character — presenting Him as selfish and restrictive.

From a Reformed perspective, the prohibition was not intended to keep humanity in intellectual darkness. On the contrary, God created humans in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27), which includes reason, the capacity for learning, and creativity.

God gave Adam the task of naming all the animals (Genesis 2:19-20). This requires observation, understanding, and intellectual abilities, not "dullness."

The prohibition was a test of trust and obedience. "Knowing good and evil" in this context does not simply mean intellectual awareness, but rather experiential knowledge of evil through disobedience and the arrogation of the divine prerogative to determine what is good and evil, independent of God. This is a rebellion against God's sovereignty.

God Who Reveals, Not Hides

The idea that God wants to keep us in ignorance is in complete contradiction to the way He reveals Himself in Scripture.

1. Created in His Image: As mentioned, God created us with the ability to know, understand, and commune with Him. He gave us reason and free will (in the pre-fallen state).
2. God's Word: The entire Bible is a revelation from God — He speaks to His people, gives them laws, wisdom (the book of Proverbs is full of calls to seek wisdom and knowledge), and reveals His plans.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 instructs the Israelites to constantly speak of God's commandments and teach them to their children—this is a call to knowledge, not ignorance.

3. The Incarnation of Christ: God's ultimate revelation is in the person of Jesus Christ.

¹ Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Christ is "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and "the radiance of His glory and the exact imprint of His nature" (Hebrews 1:3). He came to reveal the Father to us (John 1:18) and to teach us the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

God Who Makes Us "Sons of God"

Central to the Christian faith is that God not only created us intelligent but, through the work of Christ, offers us something far greater: to become His children, "sons of God."

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)

¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:14-15).

This adoption is possible thanks to the redemptive work of Christ — His death and resurrection. He "encoded Himself into humanity," becoming human so that we, who are of flesh and blood, could be elevated to a status we did not have by birth — children of the Almighty God.
This adoption brings with it true, transformative knowledge:

• Knowledge of God: Not just intellectual knowledge about God, but personal, relational knowledge of God.
• Knowledge of His Will: Through the Holy Spirit, believers receive understanding and wisdom to live according to God's commandments (Ephesians 1:17-19).
• Knowledge of Ourselves in Christ: We understand who we truly are—not just creatures, but redeemed, loved, and called children of the King.

The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, was a highly educated Pharisee, but his knowledge lacked true understanding of the Messiah. After his encounter with the risen Christ, he received revelation and knowledge that surpassed all previous learning, and he dedicated his life to "… know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" (Philippians 3:10). He did not become "dumber," but acquired the highest wisdom.

Therefore, the idea that God wants to keep us "dumb" or in ignorance is a distortion of His character and purposes. It is the ancient lie of Satan, aiming to separate us from the Source of all truth and wisdom. The God of the Bible is a God who created us with the capacity for knowledge, who reveals Himself generously in His Word, and above all, in His Son, Jesus Christ. Not only does He not want to keep us in darkness, but He calls us to the light of true knowledge—the knowledge of Him, which leads to eternal life (John 17:3) and to our transformation into His sons and daughters. To choose to serve such a God is not a choice for ignorance, but for the deepest and most liberating knowledge that exists.