Monday, March 24, 2008
Genesis 4:1-7 (NIV)
1 Adam [a] lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. [b] She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth [c] a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. 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 But Abel brought 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.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 master it.
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While the Lord looked on Abel's offering with favor, He did not accept Cain's offering. I guess it's because Abel brought the best product of his labor (firstborn of his flock), while Cain just brought "some of the fruits of his soil" to Him. This passage shows how God looks at the heart of each one of us. He wants to be lifted up and glorified through our lives, and He deserves only the best of our offerings.
Sin "desires to have you, but you must master it." This is very powerful statement from God. Indeed sin is always crouching at my door and it desires to have me. In addition it wants to completely consume me. The last verse gives me hope that God wants us to master it.
In other words, not become a slave of sin but be free of it.
With this I pray that He'll give me the wisdom so that I cam master it.
Where does sin come into play for Cain in this episdoe? Is it when he decides to offer God only "some of the fruits" rather than "all of the best fruits"? Does it come from his "very angry" reaction to not receiving God's favor? Does it occur when he feels jealous and envious of Abel? In verse 7, God tells Cain "if you do what is right" so at this point in the Bible it seems God is pointing out sin that results from ACTIONS (rather than THOUGHTS). Also, verse 7 makes clear that God is patient in allowing us the opportunity to correct/improve our sinful behavior. He is kind and loving enough not enforce a one-strike-and-you're-out system.
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