The story of Cain and Abel begins at their conception when Genesis says that Adam knew his wife Eve. She later had a son named Cain, and again his brother Abel. Some people believe the brothers may have been twins since there is not much of an element of time passing between their births.
Abel became a herdsman and tended the sheep, while Cain became a farmer and worked the ground. Over time, Cain began to bring offerings to God from "fruit of the ground," which is basically just the generic produce. Abel on the other hand, brought choice cuts of meat from the firstborn of his flock as sacrifices to God. The Lord accepted Abel and his offerings, but He had no regard for Cain and his offerings.
Cain became angry and his face was filled with rage toward God and his brother. The Lord asked Cain why he was angry, and explained that if would do good things by God he would be accepted by Him. But if he continued in evil ways that sin was crouching at his door ready to overtake him.
Cain's anger and sin finally took hold of him and he killed his brother Abel out in the field. The Lord then came to Cain and asked, "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain replied to God saying, "I do not know, am I my brother's keeper?" But God continued to question Cain and told him that Abel's blood "is crying to me from the ground," and the Lord cursed the land around Cain making it no longer capable of yielding good crops.
Cain then complains that his punishment is too harsh and that he will be a fugitive in the land and be killed one day. But the Lord said "Not so!" and put a mark on Cain that he should not be attacked, and that anyone who did would be punished for doing by sevenfold. Cain then left from the Lord's presence and settled in the land of Nod.
(Genesis 4:1-16)
Thoughts:
- Honestly, one of the things that first jumped out at me was the first thing, that the story of Cain and Abel begins with their conception, the start of their life. In a world today that is trying to make us believe that life doesn't begin until birth, for God to subtly drop this element into this story in Genesis is just awesome to me. And any non-Christian scientist reveals his hypocritical and/or atheistic views by arguing that a fetus is not living. They get excited about finding a bacteria on Mars and wanting to call it alien life, but don't want to consider the first cells that we know and can witness become human beings life. Conception = life according God. Period.
- God gave Cain and Abel equally viewed professions so that the focus would not be on their jobs, rather on their offerings. Abel's offering to God was acceptable because he gave in loving obedience of his very best. While Cain gave just some of his crop out of disdain for the divine instruction they had received from the Lord. It's not about what job or career path we have in life, it's about what we do with what the Lord has blessed us with. Are you giving to God of your time, talents, and treasures? And if so, are you giving lovingly with a generous heart?
- God told Cain that if he had done well, he would be accepted. God doesn't play favorites, or worry about the quality of our offerings. He expects and wants our very best, whatever that is.
- God is all knowing. He saw the anger Cain had and the thoughts that were resulting from his hatred of his brother. The Lord knew Cain was in danger of allowing sin to overtake him so he warned him to be on the lookout. The same is true today for us. God see and knows when we are tempted or backsliding and he sends peoples, messages, or others things into our lives to warn us that sin is after us and bring us back into fellowship with him.
So what are you giving God? He's not concerned with whether you're mopping floors, taking orders, making sales, or running a corporation. And it doesn't matter if your salary is minimum wage or over a million dollars. He's concerned with your heart, and what you're giving Him and others. Lord, I pray that I will give you my best today, and that I will do generously in response to all you have done for me.
Abel became a herdsman and tended the sheep, while Cain became a farmer and worked the ground. Over time, Cain began to bring offerings to God from "fruit of the ground," which is basically just the generic produce. Abel on the other hand, brought choice cuts of meat from the firstborn of his flock as sacrifices to God. The Lord accepted Abel and his offerings, but He had no regard for Cain and his offerings.
Cain became angry and his face was filled with rage toward God and his brother. The Lord asked Cain why he was angry, and explained that if would do good things by God he would be accepted by Him. But if he continued in evil ways that sin was crouching at his door ready to overtake him.
Cain's anger and sin finally took hold of him and he killed his brother Abel out in the field. The Lord then came to Cain and asked, "Where is Abel your brother?" Cain replied to God saying, "I do not know, am I my brother's keeper?" But God continued to question Cain and told him that Abel's blood "is crying to me from the ground," and the Lord cursed the land around Cain making it no longer capable of yielding good crops.
Cain then complains that his punishment is too harsh and that he will be a fugitive in the land and be killed one day. But the Lord said "Not so!" and put a mark on Cain that he should not be attacked, and that anyone who did would be punished for doing by sevenfold. Cain then left from the Lord's presence and settled in the land of Nod.
(Genesis 4:1-16)
Thoughts:
- Honestly, one of the things that first jumped out at me was the first thing, that the story of Cain and Abel begins with their conception, the start of their life. In a world today that is trying to make us believe that life doesn't begin until birth, for God to subtly drop this element into this story in Genesis is just awesome to me. And any non-Christian scientist reveals his hypocritical and/or atheistic views by arguing that a fetus is not living. They get excited about finding a bacteria on Mars and wanting to call it alien life, but don't want to consider the first cells that we know and can witness become human beings life. Conception = life according God. Period.
- God gave Cain and Abel equally viewed professions so that the focus would not be on their jobs, rather on their offerings. Abel's offering to God was acceptable because he gave in loving obedience of his very best. While Cain gave just some of his crop out of disdain for the divine instruction they had received from the Lord. It's not about what job or career path we have in life, it's about what we do with what the Lord has blessed us with. Are you giving to God of your time, talents, and treasures? And if so, are you giving lovingly with a generous heart?
- God told Cain that if he had done well, he would be accepted. God doesn't play favorites, or worry about the quality of our offerings. He expects and wants our very best, whatever that is.
- God is all knowing. He saw the anger Cain had and the thoughts that were resulting from his hatred of his brother. The Lord knew Cain was in danger of allowing sin to overtake him so he warned him to be on the lookout. The same is true today for us. God see and knows when we are tempted or backsliding and he sends peoples, messages, or others things into our lives to warn us that sin is after us and bring us back into fellowship with him.
So what are you giving God? He's not concerned with whether you're mopping floors, taking orders, making sales, or running a corporation. And it doesn't matter if your salary is minimum wage or over a million dollars. He's concerned with your heart, and what you're giving Him and others. Lord, I pray that I will give you my best today, and that I will do generously in response to all you have done for me.
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