In the Beginning - Unit 12

[Greg, TheNET Coordinator]

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[Roz]

Cain, Adam and Eve's first born became a farmer (tiller of the soil). Abel, his younger brother was a shepherd. Cain offered his produce to God but it was rejected. Abel offered the first born of his flock to God, which was accepted. I'm not exactly sure why this was but it seems that possibly Cain did not offer the first of his crops.

Whatever the reason, Cain was angry at the rejection and planned to murder his brother. This he did and the blood of Abel stained the ground. God's punishment of Cain was to ensure that he could not produce any crops and he would have to become a 'wanderer throughout the land'. Cain accepted this punishment and said to the God ... anyone who meets me can kill me. God's reply was that if anyone should kill Cain he would be avenged seven fold, thereby ensuring that God's plan for Cain was fulfilled and though he would be a nomad he would be fruitful and produce sons.

This story helps us to understand that no matter how great our sin, if we truly repent and ask for God's forgiveness, his abiding love will prevail and we can be restored

[Fig]

Cain was firstborn & a farmer. Abel was a shepherd. Abel offered the firstborn and "choicest" of his flock. Cain offered the "works" of his hands from cursed ground. Only Abel's offering was acceptable in the sight of the Lord. God will supply all the needs of those who seek Him first. Cain's offering was rejected because it was of cursed ground and from the toil of his own hands (he approached God based on his own worthiness & his offering was rejected as a result). Because Cain took offense to God's unnacceptance of his own works, he allowed offense to set in (a trap of the devil) and murdered his brother, probably out of jealousy. Cain spilled his brother's innocent blood on a cursed ground, and is now cursed by means of it. God could have destroyed Cain, an eye for an eye, but instead the Lord made it so that Cain can no longer till from the ground (the works of his hands) and he was exiled out of the land and the presence of God. But in mercy, even though Cain did not ask for forgiveness & repent, the Lord has placed a "mark" on Cain so that none would hurt him (the mark may have even been striking enough to make people avoid him and/or be afraid of him- perhaps an obviouse mark from God). It appears that Cain never repented for his sins, never realizing his own sinful nature, he never asked for forgiveness and never offered God an acceptable offering. He was sorry for having to receive punishment, but it doesn't even appear that he was sorry for killing his brother, only his own calamity. God's Word repeatedly tells us to repent, from Genesis to Revelation..and if we are truly sincere, turning from sin, we will always be forgiven. Here in lies the mysterious and wonderful and awesome love and mercy of God.