Saturday, August 10, 2013

Rebellion and Redemption -- Cain and Abel



As we have seen, God punished Adam and Eve for their rebellion, yet He promised their redemption through Eve’s seed, a Descendant Who would bruise Satan’s head and defeat sin and death (Genesis 3:15). 

Eve thought Cain, her firstborn, was the promised seed that would defeat Satan (Genesis 4:1), but unlike his younger brother Abel, Cain rebelled against God’s commandment for blood sacrifice. That commandment was because of the “scarlet thread,” with cleansing from sin, and hence salvation, being possible only through blood sacrifice.

Instead, Cain committed the sins of pride and disobedience, offering a sacrifice of crops he had grown through his own hard work (Genesis 4:2-3). Abel, a shepherd, offered his first sheep to God, honoring Him with obedience and with faith that God would provide other sheep for his own use. The principle of tithing and giving God our first and best thus began before the Mosaic law, suggesting that the faithful should continue to tithe even though we are no longer under the law (Malachi 3:8-10),

God honors obedience and is pleased by faith, which allows us to be clothed in His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Abel’s sacrifice not only pleased God but serves as a testimony to this day (Hebrews 11:4). Even now, we can please God only by having faith in Him and in what He says (Hebrews 11:6). We demonstrate our faith by obeying His commandments. Because of our faith, He no longer sees our sins, but His righteousness and that of His Son (Hebrews 1:8).  We have no righteousness on our own behalf (Isaiah 64:6).

In contrast, Cain was disobedient and wanted to honor God by religious works, not by a true relationship with Him. This was the origin of all false religions, which claim salvation by good works rather than by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). When God calls him out on his disobedience, Cain shows his true colors by getting angry with God, proving that he just wanted to appease God, not to please Him or to have fellowship with Him (Genesis 4:6-7)..

God asks Cain why he is angry, knowing the answer but giving Cain the opportunity to confess his pride and self-righteousness. God is not mysterious or secretive about how we can please Him – He makes it very clear through His Word (Psalm 119:105), and yet we foolishly plead ignorance. God warns Cain that his sin of disobedience and anger (which is the thought equivalent of murder; Matthew 5:22) will lead him into even greater sin (Genesis 4:6-7).

Cain, the firstborn, possessed the birthright and should therefore have been a spiritual mentor and role model for Abel. But we cannot rely on our spiritual heritage or privileged position for our salvation, which comes only through faith in the Lord.

Sadly, Cain ignores God’s warning to flee from sin before it ruins him, as he is envious of God being pleased with Abel (1 John 3: 11-12). That sin of covetousness leads to the sin of anger, which seethes and smoulders within until it erupts in the sin of murder (Genesis 4:8). When we sin, we need to confess our sin to God (1 John 1:9), to listen to His warning not to sin any more, and to remove ourselves from a situation where temptation will overcome us (Genesis 39:12). 

Satan used Cain to kill Abel, fearing that the righteous One Who would destroy Satan would come through Abel’s bloodline (Genesis 3:15). After Cain murders Abel, God again gives Cain the opportunity to confess, but he lies, committing yet another sin (Genesis 4:9). We cannot hide our sins from God – neither our evil deeds nor our evil thoughts (Psalm 139:1-8). Although Cain denies any responsibility for his little brother, we are indeed our brother’s keeper – we need to protect, encourage, and build up one another, not harm those who look to us as an example (Romans 14:13).

Cain had been proud of his ability to farm despite the curse God had placed on the earth (Genesis 3:18-19), not realizing that it was only by God’s grace that he had that ability. But now part of his punishment was that he would have to work even harder to survive by farming. In addition, he would be an outcast from his family and from society (Genesis 4:12).

Sin always has consequences – sorrow in this life, and eternal punishment and separation from God in the next, unless we confess our sins and realize that only the shed blood of His Son has cleansed us from our sin (Romans 3:25). Cain complains and is miserable but shows no sign of remorse. He does not take responsibility, admit his guilt, or ask God to forgive Him (Genesis 4:13).

He realizes that he will be ostracized from society and separated from God, yet he still blames God instead of asking for forgiveness. Cain seems to take pride even in his rebellion (Genesis 4:14). Pride is worse than a terminal illness because it results in eternal death (Proverbs 16:18). Vengeance belongs to God (Romans 12:19), and He does not want us to take it into our own hands (Genesis 4:15).

Cain began a new life isolated from his family, his society, and from any pretense of attempting to please God. He lived in the land of Nod, which means “shaking” or “trembling,” as he would experience great turmoil and dissatisfaction in his spirit, which always happens when men defy God (Genesis 4:16).

Cain had no desire to follow God and live with Him in Paradise, so he attempted to build his own heaven on earth (Genesis 4:17). For those who are never saved, earthly life is the only heaven they will ever know.

Through Cain’s descendants came the first sin of polygamy (v. 19), going against God’s plan of marriage between one man and one woman for life (Matthew 19:3-9), the first musician (Genesis 4: 21) and the first metal smith (v. 22). Even though God gave us music to worship Him (Psalm 150:3-5), Satan can use music for idol worship or to arouse evil passions and thoughts (Daniel 3:5) and he could use the skill of metal working to make idols (Exodus 32:1-5) and instruments of warfare. Sadly, Cain’s legacy also included the sin of pride. His descendant Lamech killed a man in self-defense, and like Cain, he showed no remorse (Genesis 4: 23-24).

But God, in His mercy, had promised that Eve’s seed would give rise to One Who would crush the serpent’s head – to defeat Satan (Genesis 3:15). She now realized that promise was not through Cain or Abel, but through her son Seth. Two lines were born to Adam and Eve – the evil line, or children of the devil, through Cain, and the good line – first Abel, then Seth, which would be the lineage of Jesus Christ the Messiah. “Seth” means “set,” “fixed,” or “placed,” as he was placed on the solid foundation of faith in God. In contrast, Cain was a wanderer.

The line of Seth feared God and prayed to Him, and became known as His people (v. 26), most likely mockingly by the seed of Satan. Despite the ongoing rebellion of Cain and his blood line, God would fulfill His promise of a Deliverer Who would conquer death, sin and Satan, and that Saviour would come through the blood line of Seth. Praise God that despite our rebellious nature, He offers through His Son redemption for all who would accept this freely given gift!


© 2013 Laurie Collett
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29 comments:

Denise said...

Bless you faithful one.

Nadwrażliwiec said...

Everyone has heart full of rebellion. Last time I thought about murders, who killed their own child in the UK last week. And I thought, that everyone can be murder - from the times of Cain and Abel. Greetings for You from finally cooler Cracow :)

Laurie Collett said...

And you, Denise, for your sweet spirit.

Laurie Collett said...

So true, Zim. Our hearts are wicked, and as Jesus said, whenever we react in anger, we commit murder in our heart. Praise God for His saving grace and forgiveness through the perfect and complete sacrifice of His Son.
Glad the weather in Cracow is cooler now! Blessings and greetings to you,
Laurie

Ceil said...

HI Laurie! I had no idea that the land of Nod meant shaking or trembling. What a great insight into the fate of Cain. Like you said, he was the one who chose the isolation.

Great insights here!
Ceil

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks Ceil! Glad you enjoyed the post! It is sad but true that given a choice, so many choose to be isolated from God and His blessing.
Love in Him,
Laurie

Brenda said...

Hi Laurie,
that is right, as you say, even now, we can please God only by having faith in Him and in what He says (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus says 'If you love me keep my commands'.We demonstrate our faith by obeying His commandments.
God bless you Laurie.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Brenda -- without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Since His perfect and complete sacrifice to pay for the sins of all the world, that faith must be in His death, burial and resurrection as the only Way to Heaven.
Love in Him,
Laurie

Frank E. Blasi said...

Dear Laurie,
The contest between Cain and Abel reminds me of the anger the Pharisees had towards first, Jesus Christ himself, who they had crucified, then their anger towards Stephen, who was stoned to death, and towards Paul, who they pledged not to eat anything until he was killed. And the Pharisees, like Cain, were religious, trusting in their own works in attempting to please God. Then not to mention the persecution of the Reformers, who believed that salvation was through faith in Christ alone, by the works-based Roman Catholic Church - and at present any Christian in the Middle East, e.g. Saudi Arabia, who would be killed by any Muslim activist, who believes in a works-based salvation. Cain and Abel certainly lives on to the present day.
An excellent post.

mail4rosey said...

It's good to be able to relate stories we know to things that are still relevant/present today, and that's always easy to do when using scripture. Never has there been more of a living/breathing book than the Bible. Happy to be visiting, today I'm here from Super Sunday Sync.

Laurie Collett said...

Dear Frank,
Thanks for your kind words and thought-provoking insights. Great parallels that you point out, and the connection between works-based religion and anger (often poorly suppressed until it erupts in overt aggression) persists even to the present day.
God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Rosey, His Word is alive and has something fresh for each of us every day!
Many blessings to you and your ministry,
Laurie

Michell Pulliam said...

Yes, Laurie...thank God for His grace and mercy towards us! The redemptive blood of Jesus the Christ...wow, I can't imagine where we'd be without it! Thanks for sharing and thanks for linking up...have a blessed week!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your enlightening post Laurie! It certainly makes us think of the things that are really important in life. God Bless.

Donald Fishgrab said...

Great post. Laurie.

It is interesting that although Cain's descendants were wiped out by the flood, his attitude of refusal to accept the blood sacrifice persists to this day. Mankind is still trying to obtain God's blessing another way.

Laurie Collett said...

Amen, Michell -- praise God for His amazing grace and for the power in the blood!
Thanks for your comment and for hosting, & God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Judy, for your sweet comment & for hosting! If we seek Him first, all else will fall into place.
Blessings to you and your ministry,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks, Donald!
Our rebellious nature always tempts us to seek other ways to please God, while rejecting the way He has clearly defined for us.
God bless,
Laurie

Janis Cox said...

Zim
Found you again. We will be in Krakow on the Sunday Sept 8 until Tuesday Sept. 10 - we are staying at a B & B Astor. ul. Krowoderska 70/3, stare Miasto, phone is 48122949144. I hope we can find it - the map looks confusing. I hope you read this reply to Laurie as I don't know how to connect with you. God just keeps bringing you up to my computer.
Blessings,
Janis

Janis Cox said...

Following you from playdates. Once again a great lesson.
Blessings,
Janis www.janiscox.com

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much, Janis! May you have a blessed week in Him,
Laurie

Unknown said...

Another, wonderful in-depth study full of truth - I always learn so much when I drop by here. Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays, Laurie. Blessings, Mel from Essential Thing Devotions.

Unknown said...

Another fabulous in-depth post full of truth - I always learn so much when I drop by here. Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays. Blessings, Mel from Essential Thing Devotions

Laurie Collett said...

Mel, I really appreciate your sweet words of encouragement. Thanks so much for your comment and for hosting, & God bless,
Laurie

Laurie Collett said...

Hope you had a great vacation, Jennifer! Thanks for your comment, & I'm looking forward to the party!
Blessings,
Laurie

Unknown said...

Our levels so beautiful. Set in time. We go and go. To each his own perfect timing of understandings to be received :)

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks for your comment, Carolina G. May you have the peace that passes all understanding, and the joy that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
God bless,
Laurie

Phantomlord said...

What if Cain today decides to redeem himself? Would God forgive him?

Laurie Collett said...

Thanks so much for your visit and comment. I'm not sure I understand your question, as Cain is now in hell. Once a living soul passes into eternity, he is either in heaven if he has trusted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, or in hell if he has rejected God. Once the soul and spirit leave their earthly body, the decision is final and there is no going back or changing one's destiny. Man cannot redeem himself, for we are not saved by works, but by faith. Man can only be redeemed by realizing he is a sinner in need of a Savior, and by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the only Way to Heaven. But even if that belief occurs only moments before death, that person becomes a sinner saved by grace, all his sins forgiven, and will spend eternity with Jesus Christ in Heaven.
Thanks again for your question, and may God bless you,
Laurie