Scripture Passage:  “And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”      Genesis 4:2

 

  Dear Friends,

 

     Two boys.  Same father and same mother.  Same home and same teaching, but different as night and day.  Both had honorable occupations and both jobs were absolutely necessary.  Sheep provided necessary meat and wool for clothing.  Tilling the soil provided the vegetables and crops necessary for sustenance.  Both boys knew of God and the necessity of worship and thankfulness for what He had provided.  Cain brought from the fruit of the ground, while Abel brought an offering of the firstlings of his flock.  Since the Levitical system of offering had not been established yet, Abel’s offering was not accepted simply because it was a blood offering.  Cain’s offering was not rejected simply because it was a grain offering.  Both were legitimate offerings in the Levitical system.  The reason goes much deeper than the type of sacrifice that was offered.  It centers on the condition of the heart.

     Cain was an angry young man.  We do not know anything about his relationship with his father and mother.  Scripture is silent about his relationship with his brother, but it is perfectly clear about his relationship with God.  Cain was disrespectful and uncooperative with God while being deeply resentful toward his brother.  Cain was sulky, explosive, and angry beyond consolation.  His appearance, his attitude and his actions were in complete rebellion against God.  When a man is at odds with his creator, he cannot help but be at odds with his family.  He feels like everyone is out to get him and take advantage of him.  He is the one being done wrong and anything less than everything is not enough to make restitution.  Cain was a miserable man mastered by a sinful heart.

 

     Abel was a patient and contented man.  Tending sheep provides long periods of time to contemplate and meditate.  He, no doubt, had spent much time thinking about and talking to God.  He loved his family and respected their teaching and upbringing.  He was generous and thankful.  He brought God the very best he had and offered it willingly in sacrifice as an act of worship.  Apparently he was a loyal and loving brother because we find him in the field with Cain on the day of his untimely death.  Abel was a happy man because he was obedient unto God and followed His instructions.  Abel had mastered his sinful heart by totally surrendering  his will and his heart to the Father.

 

     Let us look at God’s response to Cain and learn from his instructions as we apply the lessons to our circumstances today.  God ask Cain why he was angry and why his countenance had fallen.  Not only was his heart filled with anger and hate, but his face and body language were impacted by it also.  He had a face that matched his heart.  The second thing God said to Cain was that if he would just do the right thing he would be accepted.  The right thing is never determined by our emotions or what we think about it, but rather by what God says and the standard He has set.  If we will but do the right thing, the bad will eventually turn out well and we will be accepted by God.  The final statement is a declaration of judgment.  If we do not do the right thing, sin is waiting at the door to overtake and destroy us.  Hate, bitterness, resentment and evil will consume out thoughts and eventually our lives.  Cain and Abel could not choose the world they were born in to, but they could choose what they did with it and whom they would serve.  What is your choice today?  You can choose to be angry and resentful, or you can choose to be happy and amiable.  “Choose you this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

 

In Christ, Pastor Johnny