Symbols in the Bible

The Bible languages are very colourful and it is essential to take note of it in order to understand its content Our preconceives ideas can also stop us from understanding the Word of God for example many still believe that the wise men visited baby Jesus in the manger as the Bible clearly states that there visit was in a home  Matthew 2:10-11 (NIV)
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Let's look at one the image that the Bible uses for prosperity Psalm 1:1-3
(NIV)
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers.
We can therefore deduct that a tree might represent a person Let's look at the fruits Matthew 7:15-18 (NIV)
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Matthew 12:34 (NIV)
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
We can therefore deduct that he fruits are a picture of our speech and behaviour Let's look at the tree of good and evil in the garden of Eden Genesis 3:3-6 (NIV)
3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
4 "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
We can therefore deduct that fruit of that tree was the serpent teaching and his character and that Adam and Eve rejected Gods teaching and character for the one of the serpent Remember you cannot serve 2 masters Let's look at the names in the Bible God for example has many names in the O T everyone describing His character or what He represented to His people in the circumstances that they were in at the time For a long time even in the English language name represented the persona trade such as Smith or Baker Let's look at the Serpent or also known as whisperer Revelation 12:9 (NIV)
9 The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Here the enemy is called dragon, serpent, devil, Satan however no one here picture him as a dragon or a serpent Before going to the conclusion we need to note that one of the insult given to one who is despise is sow in the following verses Micah 7:16-17  (NIV)
16 Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power.
They will put their hands over their mouths
    and their ears will become deaf.
17 They will lick dust like a snake,
    like creatures that crawl on the ground.
They will come trembling out of their dens;
    they will turn in fear to the LORD our God
    and will be afraid of you.
I think it is fair to conclude that the tree of good and evil portrayed in so ,many books as a tree in which the serpent  lives and talk to Eves leads us to a false conclusion I like to suggest that the tree of good and evil in the garden was simply the devil The challenge for us is to be able to read and study the Bible without preconceive idea and an open mind that allows the Holy Spirit to renew our mind