In Genesis 4:1 it reads, "Adam lay with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain." Later, she gave birth to a son named Abel." ( And even later, Seth.) As written in the bible, Abel was a shepherd, working with the animals. and Cain was a farmer who worked the soil. When it became time to show their thanks to God for their plenty, Cain brought some fruit as an offering to the Lord. When Abel brought a fat portion of some of his flock, God looked with favor on it, but did not look favorably on Cain's offering. Cain felt hurt, but mostly angry.
Cain was the firstborn, but the Word does not tell us how long he had been the ONLY one born. Whatever the time, there is some truth that sometimes the elder son has envy for a second son. First, all alone in the joy of being in a family. Then, suddenly there is another to share with, both what they owned and the love of the parents. Then, all of a sudden, there are comparisons. What one does vs. what the other does. There was no contention before the second son arrived. Now, one might look tall; the other look shorter. One was happier in his work; the other disliked work all together.
Now, God showed favor with Abel; his offering was approved. Cain's was not! How hurt Cain must have been! His suspicions of being poorly treated compared to Abel became magnified by God's favor toward Abel. His hatred toward being "less than," was very likely apparent to God, even before the sons offerings were given. Had Cain's attitude become one of showing up Abel, rather than thanksgiving to God? Very possible; even likely.
So, the Lord asked Cain, "Why are you angry? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" But, Cain didn't look at himself or his own actions. Had he accepted his brother, or his brother's place in the family, or his brother's work? He did not see, because he did not look. In fact, he did not see any wrong that he had done.
Cain questioned God's word and his goodness. Believing he had done everything right and nothing wrong, Cain continued to doubt God's fairness. He became more and more discouraged, crying angry tears of self pity in private, taking his eyes off of God and onto himself. He began to look for a diversion, making wrong ideas attractive and he wanted to have the attractive more than the right.
So, he waited, first and foremost in his heart and mind to do the attractive. (The bible study tells me this is Satan's plan!) And Cain, anger having built up to a momentum, took his anger and his sorrow into his own hands. He asked Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were there, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
God punished Cain. He had continual work within the ground which no longer would yield its crops for him. He was to be "a restless wanderer on the earth." As Cain was afraid of being killed as a wanderer, he was given a "mark" so that no one who discovered him would kill him. Cain then left the Lord's presence and went to the land of Nod, east of Eden.
When we are punished, it is to correct us and restore our fellowship with God, not to hurt our relationship with God. When we are corrected, we must watch out for resentment. We must renew our fellowship with God, looking at the emotions that caused us to fail and hang on to the hurt or hardship they perpetrated in us and our actions with others.
Being caught in a sin can be the best thing that can happen to us. Only better would be to not be involved in sin, at all! But, just not to be caught? Oh, no! Just remember; God is waiting for the admittance of our sin. We must take our punishment and resolve to not sin again. This is the other best thing!
I have followed the study portion of my Bible for this message, and occasionally added my two cents worth. But I have just one more thing to add: a prayer. "God, keep us from sin. And keep us from being involved with the sins of others. Help us to ask for forgiveness--and to be forgiving of others.
Jo INMN
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