Friday, February 13, 2009

God Loved Cain

I was reading in Genesis the other day, and I saw something I've never noticed before.  

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

I have always thought of Abel as the one God loved and Cain as the one that God was mad at. But then I saw this:

 6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

This was a huge shock to me.  Look at it again.  God was telling Cain that it was his offering and his attitude the was being rejected, NOT Cain himself.  In fact, God was pleading with Cain to be careful. because
"Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you."  

Cain didn't listen and he fell vitim to Sin.  Then when God punished Cain, Cain complained that the punishment was too hard, and that anyone who saw him would kill him.  So, God put a mark on Cain so that no-one would harm him.
God made sure that Cain could live long enough to have a chance to learn to trust God.  There is no evidence that he did, but God made sure he had the chance.

GOD LOVED CAIN!  He punished Cain because He is Just.  He Loved Cain because He is GOD.

THAT'S JUST COOOL!!!

1 comment:

  1. I have never read it that way before. That was a great insight Benjamin!!
    B

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