Abel was a shepherd.
Cain was a farmer. With God’s enabling, both were successful at what
they did. At some point each chose to bring an offering to God.
Abel offered to God the very first lamb that was born.
This was an act of faith. Though he expected more lambs, this one was all he
had with no guarantee of others. This one and only represented all God was, did
and would do for him, and Abel gave it back to Him in worship. Furthermore, whenever
he slaughtered one of his flock, he made sure God was given the best part. It was all about God, and He was pleased with
Abel’s offerings.
Cain gave of his produce. As a farmer, “fruit of the ground” was what he had to
give. However, much to his chagrin, he immediately knew God was not pleased
with his offering. It made him very angry. Cain’s outrage over God not being
impressed is a pretty good indicator as to why God wasn’t pleased. There was a
definite heart problem. This offering was about him, not God. He expected God
to appreciate the quantity and quality of his work. He failed to
remember that though he planted, watered and tended, it was God who gave the
growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6) This offering was supposed to be an expression of
heartfelt gratitude, not a glorified “show and tell” – look at what I have –
what I can do – who I am. His entire identity was wrapped up in what he did and
to have it rejected infuriated him.
God gave him an opportunity to fix it and do the right
thing. Obviously he knew what that was, because God didn’t have to spell it
out. He simply told him that if he
wanted to feel the joy of God’s pleasure, he needed to change either what he
did or why he did it. He could choose willingness or throw open wide the door
for willfulness to take over. However, instead of immediately responding with
contrition and submission, “Cain told
Abel his brother,” assumedly looking for support and consolation. Apparently Abel agreed with God and Cain lost
it! He took his fury at God out on his brother. In a horrifying turn of event
his willfulness resulted in killing Abel. God had given him an opportunity to
make it right. Instead, he made it worse.
The blood had barely soaked into the ground, when God
confronted Cain. “What have you done?”
This convicting question was an opportunity to confess as well as an open a door to grace. God’s way of
handling sin hasn’t changed. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) was available to Cain just as it is to us. Cain
had to willingly admit his willfulness, take ownership of his actions and accept
the consequences. Consequences for his willful choices were in God’s hands. It
was within His authority to demand life for a life. He also could have banished
Cain from His presence forever - the very definition of hell. Instead, the consequences would fit the
cause: Cain’s misconstrued identity.
His identity had become so caught up in what he did that
farming became his religion and what he grew had become his god. God took his
god away from him. “When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to
you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” Failure as a farmer meant becoming a hunter
and gatherer. Instead putting down deep roots in the soil he loved, he would
wander. He couldn’t imagine being or
doing anything else. It was who he thought he was. Cain was faced with an
identity crisis. For Cain that was unimaginable. “My
punishment is too great too bear! Behold, You have driven me this day from the
face of the ground; and from your face I will be hidden.” God didn’t say He was going to hide His face
from Cain. That was Cain’s deduction. Cain had a spiritual connection to the
ground. Before growing things became his god, it was how he felt connected to
God.
It wasn’t too late to change his heart. He could still confess his sin without
excuses, accepted the just do consequences of his actions, and willingly seek a
new identity in the Lord where He alone is God.
Instead, he resigned in hopelessness. “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.” God didn’t cut
Himself off from Cain; Cain cut himself off from God. It was Cain who turned
his back on God and walked away from His presence.
Making It
Personal
What is it that you truly enjoy doing?
Do you recognize God’s gifting in this ability and
passion?
Have you felt spiritually connected with God or
experienced His presence while pursuing this activity?
Has your sense of self-identity become entwined with
your doing this particular thing? How would you be impacted if you suddenly
could not do that anymore?
Do you see any warning signs that this could be
becoming a god in your life?
When it comes to time, energy, money and enthusiasm,
which receives the “fat portion:”
your passion or God?
What does God really want according to 1 Samuel 15:22;
Psalm 51:16-17; Micah 6:6-8; Hosea 6:6; and Mark 12:33?
Are the choices you are making, especially regarding what
you do and what shapes your identity, drawing you deeper into the presence of
God or forcing you to turn and walk away?
Cain was give the opportunity to change his attitude and
actions, but it required making a choice. Proverbs 20:5 in The Message says, “Knowing what is right is like deep water in
the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.” Do you need to dig
deep to do the right thing? What is
holding you back?
