Summary (https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com)
"Adam and Eve have two sons: Cain and Abel. Cain became a farmer of the land while Abel became a
shepherd of a flock. Cain and Abel give offerings to the Lord. The
Lord has more regard for Abel's offering than Cain's offering. Cain
becomes furious and he kills his brother Abel. The Lord banishes Cain
from the land, and Cain travels to the land of Nod to live.
Cain marries and fathers a son named
Enoch. He also builds a city in Nod called Enoch. Then, the line of
Cain is written in the scripture.
Cain -- Enoch -- Irad --Mehujael --
Methushael -- Lamech
Lamech has two wives; Adah and
Zillah. Adah bore Jabal and Jubal while Zillah bore Tubal-cain and a
daughter named Naamah.
Adam and Eve have another son after
the death of Abel. This son is named Seth. Seth also has a son
named Enosh."
Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the Lord had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no respect." v. 3-5
- "And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.” v. 6-7
- "Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he [lied and] said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice]." v. 9-10
- "And the Lord set a [protective] mark (sign) on Cain, so that no one who found (met) him would kill him." v.15
- "To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh (mortal man, mankind). At that [same] time men began to call on the name of the Lord [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving]." v.26
My personal observations and reflections...
- Now outside the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve have began to reproduce and multiply their family, as what God has commanded.
- OFFERING / FIRSTBORN. As a form of worship and thanksgiving to God, we see that the brothers Cain and Abel brought an offering. Cain brought fruit/produce of the ground from his farm, but Abel brought the finest firstborn animals from his flock, which the Lord approved or liked more. It seems to me, the act of choosing the FIRSTBORN of Abel's flock echoes God's plan of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, the ULTIMATE OFFERING ("He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Colossians 1:15), as well as the test of God to Abraham to offer/sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22).
- God looked at the heart and saw Abel's desire to greatly honor God by sacrificing the finest firstborns of his flock. Did Cain chose the best produce that he could ever offer? I'm not sure, but this leads me to look at my heart and ask myself about-- how much am I willing to offer and sacrifice to God, knowing that my life, everything I am and everything I have COMES FROM HIM. (?)
- ANGER, etc. Cain and Abel both did a good thing before the Lord, but Abel did a better job than his brother. And this caused negative feelings to Cain. God noticed it, which tells me that God knows everything that is going on with our heart, whether we're happy or sad. He cares for us. He comforts us, but He also disciplines us. God warned Cain about the sin that is trying to overtake or overpower him (because of his anger, maybe jealousy and pride too), and He reminded him that he should rule or master his authority with it.
Some/most of our actions begins first in our thoughts. We see that this angry thoughts have turned into violence. The first murder happened, between brothers. That is really a sad situation :( I guess it is still the same today, when people kill other people (for various reasons), they are actually committing a murder agains their "brother" (as we all came from one God).
- When God first talked to Cain (to warn him), there is no record that Cain talked or answered back. But when God asked “Where is Abel your brother?”, he now answered back by lying. A sin to cover up another sin. This is what sin does to our hearts, if we do not give it immediately to God, it piles up and our hearts get hardened.
- CRYING OUT OUT TO GOD. This touched me, because, the dead cannot do anything anymore to defend themselves from the injustice done, but God knows and recognized it all "The voice of your brother’s [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice]." God is just, and in control, and sovereign over all. I think of cases wherein there are injustices or when innocent people gets harmed/killed by ungodly people (whether intentionally and unintentionally), and it gives me great comfort and assurance that God will be the one to serve justice (even to everyone). All we need to do is forgive (by His grace) and give everything to God.
- MERCY. Sin has consequences, and for Cain, he was driven away from his parents and family. Not only that, but he was cursed. As a farmer, when he cultivate the ground-- "it shall no longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast].” v.12 That is really sad, but God is merciful and even protected Cain and let him have a new beginning.
- The family of Cain grew, as well as Adam and Eve's. And of all the tragedy recorded in Genesis 4 (including Lamech, Cain's descendant), the Chapter ends with hope, "men began to call on the name of the Lord [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving]."
Kansas.
https://throughmyblueeyes2011.blogspot.com
Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=AMP
Photo Editor used to add
texts:
https://www.befunky.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment