Thursday, March 8, 2007

Genesis 4 - Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel

Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

Their age was unknown when they had a son. Eve thought that this was the seed mentioned earlier. The name Cain, meant "here he is." Eve thought that her son was the Messiah, the savior of the world. Cain was the first baby human.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

Some think that they may have been twins, but, it appears that she took time to name Cain and said "I have begotten a man". If another baby was still to be born, the thoughts would be towards the delivery. Abel was a keeper of sheep and Cain was a farmer of produce. Both occupations were from the beginning, they did not evolve into these duties. Adam was a tiller of soil.

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

This is an acceptable offering, the firstfruits under the law. It was a thank offering. Yet sin had to be covered, so Abel's offering was better, as a sin offering.

Gen 4:4 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:

The lamb pointed to the Lamb of God, a type of the atonement for sins. The fat made a sweet smell unto the LORD. Both offered to God, believing that he was God and required an offering. Cain apparently did not think that he needed to be cleansed of sin. He may have been self reliant and self righteous. Did not his mother think he was something special? Mother's cannot forgive sins; God does.

Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

He was self willed and angry at God.

Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

What's the matter with you Cain? Do you lack wisdom?

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Cain did not want wisdom, he wanted his own way.

Gen 4:7 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.

God offers Cain the solution; obey and all will be well. God let's us know what is required of us. And if you do not well, if you willfully disobey, sin lies at the door of your heart. Disobedience allows sin to enter. It is best to take control before it enters. The devil desires to control you, it is your choice.

Gen 4:8 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.

The devil had entered Cain, because of pride and hypocrisy; as the devil would later enter into Judas.

John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
John 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

We are accountable to our brother and also to the LORD. Cain had killed his brother, then he lied, and tried to cover it up. This is the first example of a "religious" person being jealous of a spiritual person, so jealous and envious that he killed the true worshipper, in spirit and in truth. Later the leaders would do this to Jesus.

Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Life is in the blood. Abel's blood cried out from the ground. He cried to God for justice, as did the martyrs in Revelation.

Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

God does not usually step in to prevent murder, but he is the avenger of the evil and the rewarder of the iust.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

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