The word of the Lord tells us "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). The fact is, we don't even come close to God's omniscience. There are many things God tells us that, in our tiny minds, seem strange, and even contrary to our very nature.
The tree of knowledge is an excellent example. Not only is it the first example, but it's also a very good picture of it. Adam and Eve were clearly told that the tree of knowledge was bad news. Yet, apparently, that tree just happened to look like the best tree to eat from. It was good for food, it was pleasant to the sight, it was desirable for wisdom. Why wouldn't Eve heed the serpent and disobey God?
Correct answer: Because there is a way that seems right to man, but that way brings death. This kind of thing continues today, especially in our culture. Sadly, we have become all too comfortable with the idea that feelings trump facts. We are even discouraged from civil discussion, lest we "offend" someone. And my brethren, there is nothing more offensive to a perishing world than the Holy Gospel!
And so we operate on feelings. We support sexual immorality because it feels good. We support abortion because we can sympathise more with the mother than with the child. We tend towards Socialism because it feels compassionate, at least on paper. We don't discuss religion or politics lest we offend someone. But all of this, and the stuff I didn't mention, might well seem right to us. That tree may well be "good" for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable for wisdom, but its end is death.
The wisest thing Eve could have done in that garden is trust God. The tree looked good, but God had warned her "in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." This same God warns us against the things we find righteous, yet will cause us to perish. Using His word, we will learn to crucify our flesh, dying to the self every day. The sinful tendencies we enjoy, we will learn to resist. But only if we lean on Him. Trust in Him, for His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways.