[321]. A Message From A Poem - Uniquely First In Many Ways - Cain

[321]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - UNIQUELY FIRST IN MANY WAYS - CAIN

Cain is never considered in a good light. He is mentioned three times in the New Testament and this is one of them – {{1 John 3:12 “not as Cain who was of the evil one and slew his brother, and for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.”}}. John said evil deeds led to murder. Evil deeds spring from an evil heart and Cain had the old sinful nature inherited from his parents.

Cain stands for self-will and the flesh. His approach to God was his own way and not the way of faith and obedience that Abel took. Cain tried to sacrifice without the designated sacrifice, which was a blood offering. A life given as a substitutionary offering is God’s way, and any circumvention of that is man’s way.

Jude wrote – {{Jude 1:11 “Woe to them for they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”}}. The way of Cain applies to false teachers, and this is just one of many descriptions Jude gives for these rebellious and wicked false teachers. Cain was rebellious and disobedient and sacrificed his own way.

It is interesting though, that God knew the problem Cain had and he drew alongside to counsel Cain after his offerings of crops and vegetables was refused, saying this, {{Genesis 4:6-7 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry and why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”}}. Cain’s offering was rejected but he could have repented and overcome it by trusting God, but by rejecting that, it became a matter of course that he would kill Abel. Cain rejected God.

I was considering the exceptionality of Cain, that is, he being the first, and therefore the uniqueness of Cain in his time.

This poem is about Cain. The title means all the ways Cain was unique to his time. Being unique for his time meant he was the first person to have racked up a list of firsts and here they are -

Cain was unique in many ways:-

He was the first human being ever conceived.

He was the first human being ever conceived in sin.

He was the first born of Adam and Eve.

He was the first to have brothers and sisters.

He was the first farmer.

He was the first to offer wrong sacrifice.

He was the first to flout God’s advice.

He was the first murderer.

He was the first to be expelled to become a vagabond.

Well, lets move to the poem:-

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UNIQUELY FIRST IN MANY WAYS - CAIN

There was a man of special rank called Cain,

Who was unique amid the human race.

This one was the firstborn son of the earth,

And his origins were easy to trace.

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From Adam and Eve, in time was conceived,

Physically perfect, but with a defect.

He was the first one ever born in sin,

And to a sin nature he was subject.

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Adam and Eve would have been thrilled with him;

Result of “be fruitful and multiply.”

Their sin of disobedience brought death,

But they knew on the Lord God to rely.

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They named him Cain - means “I have gotten” -

A healthy child who grew up, to become

A tiller of the ground, and with hard work,

Crops were abundant and they were wholesome.

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Cain lived with his brother Abel; sisters,

Brothers, all offspring of Adam and Eve.

They knew of the fall and God’s displeasure;

Their offerings, acceptance would achieve.

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The nakedness of Adam and of Eve

Was covered by clothing, by God arranged,

But that meant the life given by a lamb,

For a sinner, who from God is estranged.

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Sacrifice must be by blood. Nothing else

Must replace the righteous way that God showed.

That principle for sacrifice since then,

Has paved the only sacrificial road.

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In the course of time, two sons brought to God

Their offerings, to present to the Lord:

The best of the flock, and best of the earth.

Each one expected his offering’s reward.

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Two sons brought along their sacrifices -

Abel’s sacrifice which was accepted,

Because he understood substitution;

And Cain’s bloodless produce was rejected.

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Cain was downhearted and resentful too.

The Lord warned of sin crouching at the door.

He harboured his malicious intention,

While God’s advice, he wanted to ignore.

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The human nature shows its wickedness

In a multitude of different ways.

Cain was filled with burning wrath and anger -

Slayed his brother, and hid him in earth’s clays.

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Cain was the first farmer who worked the ground;

The first one to offer wrong sacrifice,

And the first one to commit a murder;

The first, who rebelled against God’s advice.

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Sin always pays its wages, and in full.

It will be done in this life or the next.

Some reject the light; others have dim light,

But all sinful acts, God places in context.

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Cain became the first vagabond on earth;

From the face of God, banished, rejected.

Take heed all who live in sin, and repent,

Because through faith, you will be accepted.

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22/23 September 2021 R E Ferguson Metre = 10 throughout