Continuing the study of Genesis this week, we move on from Adam and Eve, the first born of creation to their two children, Cain and Abel. Again, a lot of us are familiar with the story of Cain and Abel. In summary, Cain is jealous of Abel because God is pleased with Abel's offering but not his. God confronts Cain about his attitude and Cain goes off and kills Abel. Seems pretty straightforward. At least that's what I thought until this week's study. As we dig a little deeper into the story, we realize that Cain's story is our story in a lot of ways - or it at least has the potential to be. Check this out...
First, let's explore a modern day Cain's story. Here in Sioux Falls, a tragic story unfolded over the past 7 years.
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20121016/NEWS/310160023/Execution-Key-dates-Eric-Robert-s-life
Although some of the information is missing from the above story, the tragedy did not really begin 7 years ago. It had begun long before. It only became something other people were able to visibly see 7 years ago, although his previous wife had seen what no one else was able to see. Eric had a problem of agression toward women. He had grown up in a home with no father and a mother who worked 3 jobs. He took care of his younger sister, worked hard in school and put himself through college. He volunteered to coach little league and was a genuinely nice guy. Somewhere along the line, he began to listen to the temptations and to succumb to the bitterness, frustration and anger that was building up inside for reasons that we don't know or understand. He likely didn't understand them either. However, he fed the frustration, the bitterness and the anger and eventually, he acted that out in a way that landed him in prison. Instead of being remorseful and repentent, he continued to feed the frustration, bitterness and anger to the extent that he murdered a prison guard during a planned escape from prison. If you are like me, when you heard that a man had killed a prison guard, you imagine that this would have been a person that had always been a troublemaker and was likely in and out of prison for many reasons. However, that is not the case. He obviously had some struggles and some issues towards women that went unchecked and untreated. However, he's not that far from the average person. He just fed those sinful desires and behaviors. He did not turn to God, even when he was "caught". He continued to rebel.
This is exactly the story of Cain. Cain was a farmer. He worked the land and produced fruit and vegetables to eat. Because of the curse on the land as a result of Adam's sin, this was hard work. His brother Abel was a shepherd who tended the livestock. When it came time to sacrifice, it was understood that Cain and Abel were to both bring an animal, one of the best of the livestock to sacrifice to the Lord. This meant that Cain would have to exchange some of his crop for Abel's livestock in order to give the sacrifice to God.
At face value, I had always been a bit confused by this story. I did not understand fully why God did not accept Cain's sacrifice. After all, he was giving the first fruits of his labor. A little more in depth study reveals that Cain likely knew full well what he was supposed to do and just refused to do it this particular time. The reasons for this are based on what God had done when Adam and Eve had sinned. He killed an animal and provided the skin for covering for Adam and Eve - the first example of blood atonement. Then, it is likely that Cain and Abel were alive and going about the routine of sacrificing to the Lord for around 129-130 years. During that time, it is implied that Cain must have brought an appropriate sacrifice and knew full well what was expected. It is likely that over the course of those years, he had developed a bitterness toward his brother. He must have been sick and tired of having to go to his younger brother to get an appropriate sacrifice. His crop wasn't "good enough" for God. He finally reached his breaking point and made the decision he was going to just bring his own crop to sacrifice.
Genesis 4:2b-5:
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Now, God's reaction is a bit different then I would expect. He simply asks Cain what happened and gives him some advice/warning about what happens when you don't deal with your sinful attitude.
Genesis 4:6-7:
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain, however, has made up his mind and rejects God's advice, ultimately killing Abel. When God questions Cain about this occurrence, Cain flippantly responds and disrespects God again. This results in God handing out a signficant consequence. Cain's response? Whining that the punishment was too harsh. Not a hint of remorse or shame or repentence at all.
Genesis 4:9-13:
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.
How did God respond? With grace. He still followed through on the punishment, but if you follow the story further, God allowed Cain to build cities, have many descendants and live a full life. He continued to rebel against God, however, as did his descendents.
Conclusion: So, two stories. Two murderers. Two severe punishments. What about you and me? How does this relate? It's simple. Here's the question. What sinful attitude are you feeding that may lead down the slippery slope to distruction for you or your family or your kids or your grandkids? Is it cheating a little bit here and there? Is it laziness? Pornography? Bitterness toward your spouse? Greed? Pride?
The problem is that the sinful behaviors that we all abhor don't start as behaviors. They start as thoughts that over the course of a long time work themselves into behaviors that lead toward destruction.
There are two antedotes to ensure that you don't find yourself sliding down this slippery slope. Repentence and worship. Shine the light on the darkness in your heart and the Lord will be glorified and you will be free from destruction! Be encouraged. Take some time this week to read through Psalm 34.
Psalm 34:15-16:
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
A link to Psalm 34 is below:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034&version=NIV
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