Two brothers, two offerings, and two responses from God.
Good day to everyone.
Spring is in the air in Northeast Ohio. Songbirds are coming back and the robins returned a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate the cycle of seasons we enjoy because it is a reminder of how God graciously incorporated these times into His creation. We can plan things to be done in an effective manner because of the predictability He built into the time, space and matter continuum where we live.
So far, we have looked at answering the questions "How did everything get here?" and "How did I get here?" from the perspective of God's word, the Bible.
God created all things, including this vast space, time and matter continuum where you and I live.
God set in place the complex systems necessary to sustain life, like the water cycle. God gives life to everything on this earth. However, man was given life and a soul in order to have communion with God and to worship Him.
We also looked at what happened after Adam & Eve were created and how their sin continues to impact the world today. From God's perspective all humans are born with a sin nature. The Puritans and Founders of America and of Western civilization understood this truth. We have laws in place because people are inherently evil and tend do do bad things.
People and governments seem to recognize that their citizens have problems and many social programs have attempted to help mankind become better. The problem is that such programs, while well intentioned, fail to address the root cause of all the vast forms of dysfunction, depravity and destruction that we witness in our culture.
The real issue is an issue of the human heart. We are born into this world as sinners and we need to have a new heart in order to live a radically different life marked by seeking to honor and glorify God in all that we say, think and do. We cannot make ourselves better nor can programs or education change who we are at our core. Only God can change the human heart. The good news is that is exactly what He wants to do for you and me!
I would like to look with you at Genesis chapter 4. We begin to see the outworking of Adam & Eve's sin in the lives of their two sons. It is striking to note that one son approached Holy God with the appropriate sacrifice while the other son did not. What transpired between them is instructive to you and me.
Gen 4:1-5 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
You see two brothers, two different offerings, two responses from God and a different outcome for each brother. Cain was the older brother and Abel, the younger. Adam and Eve evidently told their sons what God said was the acceptable way to approach Him.
Cain was a farmer and worked the ground. This is a perfectly acceptable occupation and he probably learned this trade from his father. There is nothing wrong about Cain being a farmer. Abel was a keeper of sheep and he probably was motivated by the need to have sheep on hand to offer in sacrifice to God.
There was apparently an appointed time that they would draw near to God and they needed to bring the proper offering. Abel brought a lamb as God had instructed and his offering was accepted by God. He acted in faith and obeyed what God said.
Cain brought an offering of fruit of the ground. We do not know what fruit it was, but this type of offering was not commanded by God and it was rejected. Why did God reject Cain's offering? First, the ground was under a curse and the fruit or vegetable offered would have been unacceptable for that reason. Second, it was not an offering of blood by the sacrifice of an innocent substitute. He acted in disobedience to what God commanded. We could really say that Cain did not have respect for God.
Notice the two different outcomes of the offerings. Abel's offering was accepted by God because it was made by faith in complying with His revealed will. Cain's offering was rejected and he had a very negative reaction to God's dismissal of his offering. He was angry, and yet, he only had himself to blame because he knew what God required.
What happened next gives us a glimpse into the heart of God toward us.
Genesis 4:6-7 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Spring is in the air in Northeast Ohio. Songbirds are coming back and the robins returned a couple of weeks ago. I appreciate the cycle of seasons we enjoy because it is a reminder of how God graciously incorporated these times into His creation. We can plan things to be done in an effective manner because of the predictability He built into the time, space and matter continuum where we live.
So far, we have looked at answering the questions "How did everything get here?" and "How did I get here?" from the perspective of God's word, the Bible.
God created all things, including this vast space, time and matter continuum where you and I live.
God set in place the complex systems necessary to sustain life, like the water cycle. God gives life to everything on this earth. However, man was given life and a soul in order to have communion with God and to worship Him.
We also looked at what happened after Adam & Eve were created and how their sin continues to impact the world today. From God's perspective all humans are born with a sin nature. The Puritans and Founders of America and of Western civilization understood this truth. We have laws in place because people are inherently evil and tend do do bad things.
People and governments seem to recognize that their citizens have problems and many social programs have attempted to help mankind become better. The problem is that such programs, while well intentioned, fail to address the root cause of all the vast forms of dysfunction, depravity and destruction that we witness in our culture.
The real issue is an issue of the human heart. We are born into this world as sinners and we need to have a new heart in order to live a radically different life marked by seeking to honor and glorify God in all that we say, think and do. We cannot make ourselves better nor can programs or education change who we are at our core. Only God can change the human heart. The good news is that is exactly what He wants to do for you and me!
I would like to look with you at Genesis chapter 4. We begin to see the outworking of Adam & Eve's sin in the lives of their two sons. It is striking to note that one son approached Holy God with the appropriate sacrifice while the other son did not. What transpired between them is instructive to you and me.
Gen 4:1-5 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
You see two brothers, two different offerings, two responses from God and a different outcome for each brother. Cain was the older brother and Abel, the younger. Adam and Eve evidently told their sons what God said was the acceptable way to approach Him.
Cain was a farmer and worked the ground. This is a perfectly acceptable occupation and he probably learned this trade from his father. There is nothing wrong about Cain being a farmer. Abel was a keeper of sheep and he probably was motivated by the need to have sheep on hand to offer in sacrifice to God.
There was apparently an appointed time that they would draw near to God and they needed to bring the proper offering. Abel brought a lamb as God had instructed and his offering was accepted by God. He acted in faith and obeyed what God said.
Cain brought an offering of fruit of the ground. We do not know what fruit it was, but this type of offering was not commanded by God and it was rejected. Why did God reject Cain's offering? First, the ground was under a curse and the fruit or vegetable offered would have been unacceptable for that reason. Second, it was not an offering of blood by the sacrifice of an innocent substitute. He acted in disobedience to what God commanded. We could really say that Cain did not have respect for God.
Notice the two different outcomes of the offerings. Abel's offering was accepted by God because it was made by faith in complying with His revealed will. Cain's offering was rejected and he had a very negative reaction to God's dismissal of his offering. He was angry, and yet, he only had himself to blame because he knew what God required.
What happened next gives us a glimpse into the heart of God toward us.
Genesis 4:6-7 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Despite the temper tantrum of Cain, God displayed patience and extended grace. He reminded Cain that he would be accepted if he brought the proper offering and that he still had time to do so. He also warned Cain that there would be consequences to his disobedience, namely that sin would begin to dominate him.
Today, God graciously extends the gospel of Jesus Christ into the world because He wants all people to repent and be saved. Yet, there are consequences if we choose to reject or ignore the gospel. Those who reject salvation by Jesus Christ, will die in their sins and live in hell for eternity. It seems harsh perhaps, but God provided the way of salvation so that we can enjoy a relationship with Him.
He is sovereign and is the sole moral authority. Only God can determine what is the appropriate remedy for our sinfulness. Please do not spurn the call of Christ upon your life.
This account ends on a violent and sad note. The two brothers were walking in the fields and Cain murdered Abel. God called Cain and confronted him about his sin. God pronounced judgment upon Cain for his sin.
Genesis 4:8-12 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in
the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
The human tendency is that we attempt to work our way into good standing with God, as Cain did. However, in every age, those who stand justified before God are those who live by faith and obey His word.
Two brothers. One murdered and one a murderer. One stood justified before God and the other stood condemned. I am sure that Adam and Eve must have been severely grieved by all that happened between their sons and no doubt, they felt responsible. Their own failure to live in obedience to God opened the door for sin to enter into the world, and death by sin.
Notice the impact of all this from a New Testament viewpoint.The depravity of sin in human hearts is a universal truth we must be aware of. It is the fundamental reason why we need to be saved, or in Jesus' words, "born again."
Romans 5:12-14 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
By listening to the devil, Adam and Eve unwittingly allowed sin and death to hold sway in the world. But, God promised to send a perfect redeemer into the world to counteract the sin of Adam. He did this in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the church at Rome.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
Do you struggle with anger or jealousy today, as Cain did? Are you trying to work your way to heaven, as Cain did? Please consider the spiritual reality Cain experienced. His ways were rejected by God. He became jealous and murdered his own brother. He lived out his life under a cloud of condemnation and judgment. He was unable to enjoy a relationship with God and to happily experience all the good things that God made for us to enjoy.
Seek God with all your heart. Open His word and search the scriptures. You will not be disappointed by the greatness of our God.
Bob
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
By listening to the devil, Adam and Eve unwittingly allowed sin and death to hold sway in the world. But, God promised to send a perfect redeemer into the world to counteract the sin of Adam. He did this in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul wrote about this in his letter to the church at Rome.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
Do you struggle with anger or jealousy today, as Cain did? Are you trying to work your way to heaven, as Cain did? Please consider the spiritual reality Cain experienced. His ways were rejected by God. He became jealous and murdered his own brother. He lived out his life under a cloud of condemnation and judgment. He was unable to enjoy a relationship with God and to happily experience all the good things that God made for us to enjoy.
Seek God with all your heart. Open His word and search the scriptures. You will not be disappointed by the greatness of our God.
Bob
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