In Genesis 2:16-17, God gives Adam the command to eat from every tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:

"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 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.'"

This command is given by God not out of sympathy or love (though those attributes are certainly present), but to demonstrate His lordship and authority over creation. By giving a command, God establishes His rightful authority over man, providing a test of obedience and a clear boundary. The command underscores the relationship between Creator and created being, where man is expected to follow God's directives.