Cain and Able: A shepherd and a farmer
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Introduction
There are numerous names mentioned in the Bible. Some are just names written to show the progress of a generation. Others have a little bit more history and meaning. Then there are the great men. Men we know such as Abraham, David, Paul, Jesus. I believe the Lord used human characters for a reason. In it we see their ups and downs. We see their integrity and we see their failures. But God knew the best way to learn is to learn from experience. And in scripture we see experience. This is what makes the Bible so unique in its writing.
Beginning today and going through the next few months or so, I want to look at some of these Characters. The series is called, Post Cards of People. Enough could be written about these people to fill of a post card. But in each one we learn one of two things, 1) characteristics we should imitate or 2) characteristics we shouldn’t.
Pray
Although Adam and Eve had many sons it seems that Cain and Able were the eldest or first born. Some even suggest that they may have been twins. No matter we don’t have to look far to see the sibling rivalry that went on between the two. I don’t believe that the jealously began here with this issue it was something had been building for a long time.
To say the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” would be an understatement in this story. You would think that Adam and Eve learned their lesson with sin and it would be generations from now before sin would be seen again. Oh how important it is that we as parents learn that when we sin we not only affect ourselves but we also affect our children. Sins of the parents on their children.
But as Genesis is the book of firsts, in the firsts brothers we see the first sibling rivalry that turned into the first pre-mediated murder.
God instituted the way in which man was to worship him at that time. Notice it is not given by man but by God and with this man has no right to change it. You know there are some of the things of the church that can change but the things that are God-given the Bible, holiness, prayer, praise, etc. will and should never change. These are God’s.
God instituted a way of worship for Adam and Eve to be taught to their children. And to their credit as parents they did. I would say that at least Cain and Able were giving sacrifices. They were participating. It was not neglected.
Description of story
Some people question the acceptance of the offerings by the Lord. Trying to figure out why the offering of Cain was rejected and the offering of Able was accepted.
The immediate assumption would be the type of offering. Able offered one of his flock while Cain offered from the fruit of the ground. It would seem that God rejected it because it was not a blood sacrifice. Yet as we look into the OT worship system we learn that there were many offerings that God accepted that did not deal with blood. The grain offering mentioned in Leviticus.
The blood is the ultimate sacrifice but God has always made a way in which one could sacrifice to him. It is not about the amount but it is about the attitude in which one gives.
Samuel tried to explain this to Saul when Saul pridefully took the place of the priest and offered the sacrifice. He was worried about what the men thought when he should have worried about what God thought. Samuel said, “ 1 Samuel 15:22 Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
In rebuking Israel for their lack of care for the poor Hosea told them a word from the Lord Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice;
No it is not about what the sacrifice is or the amount but it is about the heart that gives it. This is the reason God respected the sacrifice of Able and rejected that of Cain’s.
There is a noticeable difference between the sacrifice of Cain and Able.
1) It was a matter of faith
Whereas Abel’s sacrifice was a sacrifice of faith Cain’s was not.
The Bible says of Abel’s offering that it was “the firstlings of his flock and the fat thereof.” Abel’s offering was of the first of the flock but not just of the first but it was of the best of the first. It was the best he had. You could say the best of the best. He knew God and wanted to give him his best. The thing about Abel’s sacrifice was that it was something close to his heart. Able had raise this sacrifice since it was a lamb. He had delivered it and watched it grow. This was something close to his heart yet he still gave it up as a sacrifice.
Of Cain’s offering the Bible reads, “Cain brought of the first of the ground and offering unto the Lord.” It would seem as the wording states that Cain brought what he felt to give to the Lord. Maybe he felt the Lord did need his prime tomatoes and potatoes. I mean all he did was burn them anyway. Maybe he felt it would be a waste.
And with this came the loss of respect for his sacrifice.
Some people are like Cain. They don’t trust the Lord enough to give him their best. They figure they could get more for their best than the Lord could.
2) It was a matter of attitude.
Abel’s attitude was, “give his best to the Lord and the Lord will always give his best back”.
With what Cain gave to the Lord we see that his attitude was not right. His attitude was not to the Lord but to himself. I don’t care if he would have given him the best of what he had
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works (actions) were evil, and his brother’s righteous. (1 John 3:12 AV)
We see some more of this attitude shown when God did not respect Cain’s sacrifice. The Bible says that when Cain saw God’s reaction to his sacrifice that he was “very wroth, and his countenance fell”. He was “very angry, and his face was sad.” I think he was mad and he poked his lip out with a frown.
You know adults do this also. They may not show it but boy I believe if you could look on the inside they have that lip poked out.
So God questions him. “Why are you wroth? (or angry)”. I you do right won’t your sacrifice be accepted but if you do wrong sin is waiting at the do desiring to come in.”
The Bible tells us to “be angry and sin not”. When we are angry we are vulnerable to sin. Especially when we are angry for the wrong reasons. When we have a hard time accepting we are wrong.
We easily picture Christ knocking at the door of our heart. A beautiful picture we have in our mind. But yet sin also lurks at the door of the heart. Knocking and waiting for an entrance. And remember just as Christ had to be invited so does sin.
Yes sin is real and waiting to pounce on us but as stated here God gives us the desire and the will to overcome it, it is our choice. “And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him”. Not him over us.
Oh how much Cain missed by allowing anger, jealously, and envy get into his way. We need to watch these tools of Satan he will use them to cloud our judgement so that we can see what is truly going on.
Cain’s judgment is clouded. Now instead of asking for God’s forgiveness he begins to invent a plan in which he could get back at his brother. It is a plan of murder. Not just murder but premeditated. He planned the place. He planned the time. Probably it would not surprise me if he had not already dug the grave. He took him to the field and being the man of strenghth through being a tiller of the ground he easily over powered Abel, killing him.
Oh how quickly anger can change into envy and lead to murder. Maybe this is why the Bible says don’t let the sun go down on your anger.
But yet always remember God never forgets the blood of the innoccent one who was slain as a martyr for the Lord. You must always know that even though that one may have wronged you “Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord”.
So the Lord
In the story of Cain and Abel we mainly learn about the of the plight of anger. How anger will easily lead to more than just and ill feeling but if we are not careful could lead to eternal separation from God. Anger seems to be such a small feeling.
Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
James 1:19 ¶ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Overcome by
1) meekness A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Prov. 15:1
2) wisdom
Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. (Proverbs 29:8 AV)
See Today’s Handbook of Bible Characters pp. 14 on Lamech
It would seem that it would be a while before we would see sin. But like father like son. We see that sin continued. A parent will never truly understand the affect their sin has on their children.
This is shown in the life of Adam and Eve. It is also shown in Cain who would bear who would bear then came Lamech. Lamech it is said was prideful and in mocking of God said in Genesis 4:17-25 “I have slain a man for wounding me, A young man for striking me, If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.
