4:1 Now the man had marital relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. Then she said, “I have created a man just as the Lord did!” 4:2 Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.
4:3 At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the Lord. 4:4 But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock – even the fattest of them. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, 4:5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast.
4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? 4:7 Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”
4:8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he replied, “I don’t know! Am I my brother’s guardian?” 4:10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 4:11 So now, you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 4:12 When you try to cultivate the
ground it will no longer yield its best for you. You will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.” 4:13 Then Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to endure! 4:14 Look! You are driving me off the land today, and I must hide from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me.” 4:15 But the Lord said to him, “All right then, if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.” Then the Lord put a special mark on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down. 4:16 So Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
4:17 Cain had marital relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch. 4:18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
4:19 Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first of those who live in tents and keep livestock. 4:21 The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute. 4:22 Now Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who heated metal and shaped all kinds of tools made of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
4:23 Lamech said to his wives,
“Adah and Zillah! Listen to me!
You wives of Lamech, hear my words!
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for hurting me.
4:24 If Cain is to be avenged seven times as much,
then Lamech seventy-seven times!”
NET
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Two thoughts. First, Eve makes comment that she is like God in that she too was able to create man. That made me think, "no she was able to reproduce man, not create." Lately we (humans) have been trying to create life in various forms and through various avenues. We have been successful in cloning and selectively fostering specific genes in crops but all in all that has been simply reproducing. We still cannot create yet we maintain the arrogance that we have matched God.
ReplyDeleteSecond thought, if Genesis 2 supplied us with the first victims then Genesis 4 provides us with the first "back-talker." Cain not only killed his brother after God warned him of sin but then he back talked God's question. That is guts (or stupidity).
Okay three thoughts. Third, God warns us to be on guard against sin which is ... crouching at the door desiring to dominate us. Wow, still true today. Wisdom and examples from the beginning that are still applicable today.
Why wasn't Cain's offering of fruit to the Lord not acceptable? Abel brought some of his flock, but Cain brought fruit. Cain wasn't a shepherd; he was a farmer. He brought what he had grown - why wasn't that good enough? This may be a place in the Bible where wording causes confusion. When the Bible reads, "At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the Lord," does it mean Cain brought fruit he had cultivated? Or does it mean he brought fruit he had picked up off the ground? If it is the latter, I can understand why God was upset. if it is the former, I'm lost.
ReplyDeleteAs a Christian, it is difficult for me to understand these things sometimes. I give what I can to God, which is nowhere near what He desires from me, but I do what I can. Is that not good enough? If I don't bring 100% all of the time (the fattest from my flock), am I a failure?
Jackie's question inspired me to do some more thinking and research. My first thought was of a comment my mentor Paul always makes. To paraphrase him, when he comes to a difficult or obscure passage in the Bible he tries to find a different passage that is more clear but related in theme. From the clear passage he can better infer the meaning or intent of the original passage.
ReplyDeleteHaving written all that... here are is a more clear passage. Luke 21 1-4 1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." NIV
Based on that passage and some other commentaries here are my thoughts. God was not pleased with Cain (not Cain's offering) and God was pleased with Abel (and as a result his offering). Cain later showed his evil heart by murdering his brother. God sees hearts not deeds. Granted our deeds are important (and recognized) but only if they are done with the right motives and desires. So it doesn't matter if we give the fattest from our wealth or all we have in poverty. God wants our heart not our goods (Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings).
Yes...I agree...God does want our hearts. But, this story is the first story of tithing. Giving up your wealth, things you have made/grown to God for his blessing. I think this is an important lesson that many church people miss and do not do. If God has given us so much to be thankful for, how can we not give him a little in return???
ReplyDeleteWhew...this is a deep one. And now my 2 cents. Here comes a shot of ignorance for you, if Adam/Eve were the first 2 humans, and their offspring are accounted for, where are all these women/wives of the men coming from?
ReplyDeleteThis is precisely why this discussion is good for me. This detail is not important yet I obsessed on it for a while.
I guess it could be said that we should not miss the beautful view of the ocean because we're worried about one grain of sand...
I love the other commentary as well. A final word about the offering, along with Stefan's point, my source says it is not the content of the offering, but they way in which it was given (Careless/thoughtless of Cain, vs choice/generous of Abel). This is the point.
Lesson for me, as I give (prayers/service/resources/etc.), be sure it is for the right reasons, not selfish promotion. He knows the difference...