Cain's Naughty Heart

[Chris]

Cain's Naughty Heart

Cain's Naughty Heart
By Tom Stephens

Did God Judge Cain For His Sacrifice, Or For The Condition Of His Heart?

A young minister, a guest in our church, taught about the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-8). He stated Cain's sacrifice of "his garden" to the Lord had nothing to do with God's anger toward him (Cain) neither had anything to do with "a blood sacrifice".

To prove his theory, the young minister used two passages: The first was: "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins" (Heb 10:4). In the second, he attempted to show that the Lord was pleased with Cain's fruit offering by going to Deuteronomy 26 concerning "firstfruits". He believed these first-fruits proved Cain's honor before God. So why did God reject Cain's offering?

The young minister believed it had only to do with Cain's attitude. Admittedly Cain had an attitude problem. Genesis 4:4 says Abel brought the "firstling of his flock and of the fat thereof" indicating a fine healthy lamb. Cain, on the other hand, brought "an offering" of the fruit of the ground. There is no indication Cain made any effort to pick the very best of his harvest.

But I believe the most important part had to do with the sacrifice itself. In those very early days of man, there was no instruction for the sacrificial offering so we have to look to God's example. Adam and Eve tried to cover their sin with fig leaves, the fruit of the ground. God Himself, slew an animal, very likely a sheep, and used it's skin to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness, looking forward to the day when the sinless Lamb of God would be slain to cover our sin.

Peter said Jesus, the Lamb of God was without blemish or spot and His blood was precious (1 Pet. 1:19). From the beginning, God saw the necessity of teaching his people the importance of the blood sacrifice. From Eden to the Tabernacle in the wilderness and all the way to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, God continued to show His people a "picture" of Christ's giving of Himself for the sins of the world.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they suddenly realized their nakedness, and God showed them their realization was because they had sinned against Him. They had been disobedient. Realizing their guilt, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves; but God slew an animal and, after discarding the fig leaves, used the animal hides to cover them (a picture of animal sacrifice). God was teaching that only blood could take care of man's sin problems. God could do nothing to cover or forgive sin without the blood. On one occasion, God said, "Not Without Blood'. "But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: .. " (Heb 9:7 - My Italics).

Today it is through the blood of Jesus that man can be saved. It's true that the blood of animals cannot save, but in the Old Testament, it did cover sufficiently for a period of time. Then this rite was to be repeated until Jesus would give Himself. God could do nothing in the Old Testament without blood, just as today He can't. It must be by the blood of the precious Lamb.

Compare that with God's act of substituting the fig leaves for animal skins from the creature God Himself slew. Likely taught by their father, Cain and Abel should have realized that sin sacrifices must be by the blood of animals (a picture of Jesus' shed blood at the Cross), and not by vegetation. Cain must surely have known his sacrifice would displease God. And when God rejected his sacrifice, rather than repent, he killed his own brother.

Cain had a rebellious heart. He rejected God's law and sinned against Him. He wanted to do it his own way, thereby gaining in himself the spirit of antichrist. There's Biblical proof of God's dissatisfaction with the sacrifice of Cain because:

1) His sacrifice did not coincide with God's plan for eternity. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: .. " (Heb 11 :4)

2) He hated his brother because God honored his brother's sacrifice. "Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 John 3:12)

3) He tested the spirit of the enemy, and greedily lusted after the pleasures therein. "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished. .. " (Jude 11).

Furthermore, the "firstfruits" had nothing to do with Cain's sacrifice. The firstfruits was a celebration of God's gracious acts in the deliverance of His people from Egypt, and a tithe to be given to the tribe of the Levites. This tithe was given to minister to the Levite tribe and was administered only after the twelve tribes of lsrael entered into the land of milk and honey (Dent. 26: 1). This tithe was given the Levites because they were not allotted any land to farm, and it became their "substance". Also, the tithe was given for the sake of " ... the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled" (Deuteronomy 26:12).

The firstfruits was a part of God's blessing to His people in deliverance from Egypt, the miraculous keeping of His people during the forty years, and the claim to the land of milk and honey. They now had a nation and God promised His continued blessings if they would consistently harken unto His Word. The 26th chapter of Deuteronomy discusses the "firstfruits" celebration.

Note - If Cain had repented before God instead of murdering his brother, God would have forgiven him concerning his poor quality sacrifice.

Christians today also have attitude problems. Hopefully, they have nothing to do with the precious blood of Christ in their lives. Sacrifices were used all through the Old Testament to honor God; to show the Israelites of old the perfect picture of a coming Peace-Jesus Christ; and a prophetic standard which links the Old Covenant God made with Israel, with the New Covenant which absolutely saves to the uttermost!

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebrews 9:11-12-my bold).

Blessings from: www.christsbondservants.org

[mikhen7]

I think Bro. Tom is quite right. I wrote about this in my book and thought I would share that section with you all, if you have some time. :LOL! Her is an excerpt from Chapter 3

Mercy Enacted, Mercy Remembered

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
Hebrews 11:4

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews 12:22-24


Murder and the Sacrifice of Remembrance

A couple of questions that have often piqued my interest relate to the perpetuation of Adam and Eve’s redemption. Was the sacrifice effectual for all humanity or would it need to be repeated in some way? Those questions lead us into the next part of history. Shortly after the expulsion from the garden, we are told that Eve bore two sons, Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-2). Cain, the firstborn, we are told was a tiller of the ground, while Abel was a keeper of sheep. Most likely Adam imposed the two chores upon them according to their innate abilities. Because of the curse from sin, the Lord had imposed upon Adam, extra care would be necessary for the crops and animals to be sustained (Gen. 3:17-19). Day after day Cain would till the soil until it brought a harvest, while Abel would tend his sheep.
The Bible goes on to tell us that a day came when both Cain and Abel offered a sacrifice to the Lord:

And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. (Gen. 4:3-5)

This event is one of the most important happenings in the post-fall era. I cannot underscore its importance enough. This event is the “pivotal anchor” in correctly determining the direction the Lord was moving with respect to His perfect plan of redemption. Wars and huge religious power struggles would be fought over this direction of God. And why? Because its end, or what it leads to, would be heralded and practiced for generations to come culminating in its perfect fulfillment through the birth, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.


The Sacrifices of Cain and Abel

In the text we are told, that in the process of time Cain and Abel made sacrifices to the Lord. The Lord did not respect Cain’s sacrifice, but Abel’s He approved. The word respect or respected comes from the Hebrew, sha’ah, which means to look upon or to gaze at. It can also be used in the negative, to look away from or to be dismayed causing one to turn and look away. Literally, God gazed at Abel’s sacrifice but turned away from Cain’s. Usually when we gaze at something, we are uniquely interested in some property of what we see. What Abel had offered uniquely enamored the Lord. He saw something in it that was well pleasing, something that was not present in Cain’s offering. Cain reacted at first with sorrow and his countenance fell. He was hurt and it showed. This prompted the Lord to appear and speak with Cain much as He had to Adam after he had fallen:

So the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. (Gen. 4:6-7)

Years ago, a very nice elderly woman was doing her best to mentor me, just as obedient Christians should when new believers cross our path. Her name was Uintah Russell. It was her perseverance, her faith, and her gentle way of exhorting me in the right direction that helped me take the correct steps in my walk with God. One night I questioned her on why God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice yet displeased with the sacrifice of Cain. She simply said, “Because Cain offered up of the curse and Abel offered up of the blessing.” Simple words, yet fraught with even a deeper meaning. Years have passed since that conversation with Uintah and she has since gone to be with the Lord; yet her simple reply is still with me to this day.
In the text we just read, the Lord had given a simple exhortation to Cain, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” This exhortation presupposes there must be something Cain knew of that was “well” but he did not do it. He ignored it. What was it that was well? All we need do is look at Abel’s sacrifice. The scripture says he offered of the firstborn of his flock and its fat. What is plain to see, if you too can gaze upon Abel’s sacrifice as the Lord did, is that Abel’s sacrifice mirrored the very act of redemption that the Lord had performed in His most graceful act of reconciliation when Adam and Eve had fallen in garden. God had offered an innocent animal, most likely a lamb, and so did Abel. God offered and substituted innocence in place of guilt. Abel remembered this and his sacrifice, memorialized, and symbolized that graceful moment. Abel was offering to God his thankfulness and regard for what He had done for his parents and he was doing it in obedience. It was the “well” sacrifice. It would pave the way for the perpetuation of redemption. Cain, on the other hand, was simply disobedient. Maybe, he thought God would not be so particular in what he offered; after all, he made an attempt. Maybe sin had already made a foothold into his life effectively distracting him from humbly participating with Abel in the correct offering. Maybe this was his way of showing God he did not have much regard for the act of redemption in the garden. Then again, maybe he was just trying to show God that by offering up of the fruit of the ground that the curse really was not much of one after all. The fact that he had conquered the ground was on full display, so maybe he did it in arrogance. Whatever the case may be, what Uintah was trying to tell me so long ago is that when the Lord saw the two offerings Cain’s was not “well” and Abel’s was.
God was not finished with Cain. He offered him a way out. He offered Him His grace. Remember He said, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” Cain could have admitted he was wrong and simply asked Abel for a lamb in order that he too might memorialize the same act of redemption that Abel had. Yet, the Bible does not tell us of any remorse on Cain’s part; possibly, his pride stood in the way. God went on to say, “And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” As a father would speak to his children so the Lord spoke to Cain telling him in a simple yet direct way, “You have an opportunity to do the right thing, but sin is lying at the door. Opening that door will lead you into so many things that are not good for you. You know what is right, I have explained it and you have seen it, but you have chosen to do what is wrong. You must rule over the temptation to do wrong and turn back to do what is right.” It is a decision Cain needed to make that day and every day after. We too face this decision, every morning as the sun first appears, and we rise to take that first deep breath of the new day.
The resentment by Cain and his subsequent disobedience to God led to him murdering his younger brother in cold blood (Gen. 4:8). We could stop there and continue on to the next topic but we would be missing some important information that sheds light on our two original questions. Before we go there, let us consider why they both decided to offer a sacrifice in the first place. The text does not tell us directly, but the fact that they ventured to do it seems to mean that it was at least, if not planned, something they had previously intended to do. I believe it was in obedience to God whether by instruction from Adam or the Lord Himself. Furthermore, consider this, why the specificity of Abel’s, firstborn of the flock? Cain seems to have offered whatever he had harvested at the time. Abel’s action seems to infer that by making a memorial of thanksgiving and remembrance in recognition of the Lord’s limitless mercy, intimate involvement, and direction in the life of their family that he was declaring his desire to live in obedience. More importantly, he wanted to memorialize it by symbolizing the sacrificial act of an innocent life shedding its life giving blood to provide a substitutionary covering, something that is “well” or “pleasing,” in place of that which is not. Cain’s offering does not carry the same symbolism.
Some may say, “I’m confused. In the Old Testament, under the law, the Bible says God allowed grain offerings and grain does come from the ground. Isn’t that what Cain offered?” It was not that God did not find acceptable a grain offering for a special occasion, such as thankfulness for the harvest, or being too poor to own a lamb—things declared in the mosaic law, it’s just that it is not the type of offering that memorialized the true act of redemption. Remember God gazed or looked intently with interest upon Abel’s offering; however, He looked away from Cain’s. That act alone tells us where the Lord’s acceptance lies in relation to this particular offering.


Effectual or Repeated…The Answers Are…

So was the sacrifice God made for Adam and Eve effectual for all of humanity? Would it need to be perpetuated in some way? Because Abel received God’s favor in making the offering and because God told Cain he too had the opportunity to do what is “well” it is safe to say that the act of redemption, even as early as the antediluvian days, was only effective for the ones who memorialized, held in high regard, or perpetuated its memory. Each generation must continue to do the same. So no, it was not automatically effectual for the saving of all humanity it would still have need to be perpetuated by one that possessed an obedient, thankful, and loving heart. Moreover, it needed to be repeated, and that, as often as they would.
Giving careful thought to the text, we can surmise with certainty that they both knew or knew of God. Since they were born after the expulsion from the garden, the chances are highly unlikely that Adam refused to explain to them the circumstance that surrounded the events that had occurred there. They surely knew of Adam’s perfect fellowship with the Lord, his subsequent fall, and the perpetrator of the fall, Satan. There is also little doubt they were unaware of the curse from sin, which led to why they had to labor in tending the sheep and tilling the soil. However, most importantly, I believe they were well aware of the reconciliatory move on God’s part to cover the sin of their parents. The sacrifice of the animal(s) and its subsequent giving up of its innocence as a substitutionary sacrifice for their sin must have been a story that they would never forget, at least not in their generation.

God Bless

[mattfivefour]

Excellent thread, that reveals the very heart of God's solution to fallen man's problem.