We read in Genesis 4:1, Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.” (NKJV)
When the first man Adam and his wife Eve had a baby boy, the words of Eve were, ‘I have acquired a man from the Lord.’ Children are given to us by the Lord, and oftentimes we fail to remember that our children are a great blessing to us from the Lord. Those who are searching for a bride or a groom painstakingly do so. A person I met recently mentioned to me that they had seen over sixty brides for their son, and nothing had worked out for him. However, when it comes to having children, parents don’t decide, but the Lord makes that decision, and so also children cannot choose who their parents will be.
Children therefore are God’s greatest gifts and blessings given to parents.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 127:3, “Children are a gift from the LORD; a productive womb, the LORD's reward.” (ISV)
We observe that the word “Lord” is mentioned twice to emphasize that God is the giver of children, and we also take special note that they are a gift and reward from the Lord. God also has a purpose for every single baby born into this world. There are many who think that they are here on earth by mistake, and hence have to merely exist, and survive on this earth.
Every person on earth is God’s masterpiece
We read in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (ESV)
Remember that God has a wonderful plan for each one of us, and no one should go on in life without a purpose. We are God’s workmanship or His masterpiece, created to do good works and His desire is that we should walk in them. All this has been ordained by God even before we came into being. Isn’t it an awesome thought to know that God has a way planned for every one of us to follow? Nonetheless, since God is a good God, He has entrusted us with the free will to make our own choices, and does not force anyone to follow in His ways.
Just imagine the scene when Eve took her baby boy in her arms, The question on her mind could be put this way, ‘Will my son be able to overcome evil or will he allow evil to overcome him?’
This is the question that fits every one of us as we too must examine our lives to check if we are able to conquer evil with good, or if we are allowing evil to defeat us all the time.
Do not let evil overcome you
Paul says it this way in Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (ESV)
There is a constant conflict between good and evil, and the question is, Are we are going to be overcome with evil or will we permit good to conquer evil?’
Cain presented an offering unto the Lord
One day Cain decided that he wanted to honor God in some way.
We read in Genesis 4:3, “After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the LORD.” (GNB)
From the above mentioned verse we infer that Adam and Eve had brought up their son well, had taught him who God was, and had instilled in him the fact that God was worthy of worship and reverence.
Many parents take much effort to help their children excel in their studies, and also in other extra-curricular activities like music, sport, dance and various other pursuits. Sadly, these same parents fail to show that same zeal in teaching their children about God, His Kingdom and hesitate to share spiritual truths with them. It is important that we give the best of education to our children, do all that is necessary for them, and endeavor to develop their talents. However, it is our primary responsibility to teach our children who God is, to know their creator and to enable them to realize that God has a specific plan for each one of them. Only when these things are taught while they are really young, will they be able to comprehend the true meaning and purpose as to why God created them. If not, they will be well educated, but will not exhibit godly character.
The mother who influenced her baby boy
The bible talks about a baby who was separated from his mother, and then handed over to her for only a few years until he was weaned. God had a major plan for this baby boy. This baby was Moses whose mother made use of the few years he spent with her to impress upon him as to who he was, and the purpose for which God had chosen him. No wonder then that after many years even after being disconnected from his mother, Moses never forgot who he was, and what he was chosen to do. Moses became a great blessing to the entire nation of Israel because of this awareness that his mother had instilled in him.
The plans that God has for us are not after we were born, but much before we were conceived in our mother’s womb. We must impress on our children that God has a specific plan for their lives, and we must teach them to discover this for themselves. As we teach the word of God to our children, they will become wise, and will revere the Lord. If our children honor God, the generations to come will be blessed by the Lord.
Cain wanted to honor God with his produce from the land, and so he brought some of the harvest and offered it to the Lord as an offering.
God is worthy of all our honor and reverence
We read in Revelation 4:11, "Our Lord and God! You are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were given existence and life." (GNB)
We must understand that God is worthy of all our honor. With everything that God has given to us, our talents and our lives we must revere the Lord. May be you feel your life is not that impressive, but truly desire and ask the Lord to use you, and your life will definitely become a blessing to many.
God’s response to two offerings
We read in Genesis 4:4-5, “Abel also brought some choice parts of the firstborn animals from his flock. The LORD approved of Abel and his offering, but he didn't approve of Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry and was disappointed.” (GW)
I guess when Abel saw his elder brother presenting an offering to the Lord, he followed his good example and brought his offering to the Lord. Since Abel was a shepherd, he decided to give the first born of his flock and their fattened portions as an offering to the Lord. When both Cain and Abel presented their offerings to the Lord, the Lord approved of Abel and his offerings. However, God did not approve of the offering that Cain presented, simply because God did not approve of Cain.
Like Cain we too must be good examples that others will be prompted to follow the Lord. Our lives must be a witness that others will come to know the Lord Jesus through our lives.
Whenever we come to worship God, there are some who wrongly believe that they can win God’s favor by giving to him their money and gifts, and thereby think that they honor God this way. Let me remind you that God does not look at what is in our hands as much as what is in our hearts. Only when God accepts us, God will approve of what we offer unto Him. Those who have misunderstood this make numerous plans to win God’s favor, and imagine that God will be pleased with what they offer unto Him. Sadly, there are those who misuse the ignorance of such people, and make them feel obliged to support the plans that they have crafted for their own benefit. Let us seek to have our hearts to be set right in the presence of God who sees it all and truly examine our hearts, so that we can honor the Lord the way that He wants us to.
When Cain realized that God did not approve of his offering, he was disappointed and angry. There was an option for Cain to choose good or evil and woefully Cain chose evil.
Often when our brothers or sisters are elevated or honored in some way, do we rejoice over it and do all we can to follow their way of life? If we have a mind to learn from such people it is a good thing.
God observed the change of countenance
God noticed this change of expression in Cain and these were His words to Cain as found in Genesis 4:6, Then the LORD asked Cain, "Why are you angry, and why do you look disappointed? (GW)
When I read this verse, there was a sense of astonishment, but also caution to heed the warnings of God. I was amazed that God was so mindful of Cain that He actually noticed a slight change in his facial expression. On the other hand it also cautions us to realize that God is so close to us, that He can notice a slight change in our countenance.
God spoke to Cain like a father would speak to his son. He asked Cain as to why he was so upset and angry.
Even today when we do those things that are displeasing to God, His heart is grieved. If each one of us understand the plan of God for our lives and live accordingly, we will sure have victory in our lives. We will always have good and evil before us, and it is up to us to either do good, or to let evil prevail over us.
Jesus was grieved over evil
Jesus said in Luke 13:34, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing! (GW)
We find that Jesus was troubled that the people of Israel were choosing evil, in that they killed the prophets of God, and had them stoned to death. Jesus shares a beautiful picture of a hen gathering her chicks under her wings in the midst of grave danger. Once under the wing of the mother hen no harm will come to those chicks. So also, the Lord was always willing to be that shield and protector, but sadly the people were unwilling to come under God’s protective cover.
Whenever our hearts are distant from God then the Lord is saddened. May we never distress the heart of God by choosing to do evil. Let us ask God to give us wisdom, strength and help us to choose the right path, and to do good. Come back to God no matter how far you have walked away from Him. God’s plans for our lives are always higher and only for our good.
God’s warning to Cain
These are the words of God to Cain in Genesis 4:7, “If you do well, won't you be accepted? But if you don't do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it."(GW)
God cautioned Cain, and was beseeching him to give heed, because God knew that sin was at Cain’s door ready to attack him. The Lord admonished Cain that if he could choose to do good, it would be well with him, and thereby overcome the sin that was lurking at his door.
God’s cleansing power
In Isaiah 1:18 we read, “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”(ESV)
Here again the Lord is beckoning people so that He can reason together with them. An example that comes to my mind is when someone is negotiating a land deal, and when the person feels that the rates are too high, the realtor or owner might call back to say, ‘Let us sit down and discuss this deal together.’ This would imply that the deal is negotiable, and can be settled favorably. So also, the Lord is calling out to us as we keep running away from him, that it would be good to sit down and reason together, so that we can be cleansed of our sins, no matter how bad and overwhelming they may seem to us.
Turn away from evil and do good
We read in Psalm 34:14, “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (ESV)
Whenever we are challenged with evil that upsets us, if it not handled aright we will miss out on God’s will, we will lose out on our blessings, and we will also not be able to be a blessing to others.
Cain did not heed the warning of the Lord, and he had to encounter so many hardships and harm because of his decision. The Lord is inviting us to reason with us. If we choose to do good, we will be those who will certainly overcome evil with good.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
