Genesis 4
(read Monica's comments here)
The first thing that caught my eye in the story of Cain and Abel was it's lesson about pluralism. Cain and Abel both brought similar offerings (they were both the first fruits of their labor), but because Cain's was not a blood offering it was not acceptable. God doesn't punish Cain for his inadequate offering but instead encourages him to do better, and warns him against sin. But Cain's anger allows sin to get the better of him and he pays a dear price. This is anything but consistent with the concept that there are multiple ways to God. Instead we learn that God can be pretty particular about what he accepts from us.
In some ways, it's after Cain has killed Abel that his life gets most interesting. He is cursed to be a fugitive and a wanderer, yet he seems almost immediately to have built and settled in the first city mentioned in the bible. It's in the land of Nod that he fathers what might have been an entire line that remained hidden from the face of God. Yet despite this seeming lack of devotion to God, scripture almost implies that it was the descendant's of Cain that pioneered the technological and cultural developments of the time.
I think that the significance of Lamech's proclamation in verses 23-24 is possibly that this was the first time man decided to play god, or is at least an example that the practice was common. Lamech tried to promise himself what God promised Cain, and the result is more bloodshed. It was a classic instance of man trying to develop his own law without God's guidance, and violence ensuing. These verses work with verse 26 to establish the contrasting cultures of Seth's descendant's who called upon "the name of the LORD" and Cain's descendant's who developed their own man-made system.
The only problem I have with this chapter is that it's an all too brief window into what must have been a fascinating world. I have so many questions that are left unanswered. What were the nature of Cain and Abel's sacrifices? How did the the "mark" God gave to Cain manifest itself? What was it like living in the first human civilization EVER, when all the different technologies mentioned were developed for the first time? If I could go back and live in any period of history, the time of this antediluvian civilization might just be the one I'd pick. For the sake of curiosity if nothing else.
As always, please expound with your comments.
God bless,
Zach
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Hi Zach,
ReplyDeleteIt was great to see you again, at the wedding. You've grown into such a wise young man! You have some great insights here.
My comments:
For years I struggled over that passage. It seemed so unfair to me that God would reject Cain and seemed so readily accepting of Abel. I also didn't like the explanation that so many preachers had given that God required a blood sacrifice. I didn't see where He had yet set forth that requirement. I also knew that many other times in the OT he accepted grain offerings. And, of course, what did that say about what I had to offer him - not much blood, mostly cash, or time.
But, one day, after much prayer, God revealed something to me I hadn't seen before. Cain offered "some of the fruits of the soil," but Abel brought his FIRST fruits. Abel gave his best, knowing it would set him back. Cain gave his leftovers, not a sacrifice.
just something to think about.
Keep up the good work!
Love and Blessings,
Valerie