Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!
  • Welcome to Talk Jesus Christian Forums

    Celebrating 20 Years!

    A bible based, Jesus Christ centered community.

    Register Log In

The Way of Cain or the Way of Abel? (Genesis 4)

Jimmie

Active
Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
750
Chapter 4 of Genesis "Cain vs Abel" = "Cain vs God"


We see the birth of Kayin and Hevel (Cain and Abel) They were born with the sin nature, and we see in both boys, the direction of the world that would follow. Some would choose holiness and all that is good and others would choose the unholy and all that is evil.

There came a time when they both had to offer sacrifices (that is why I said that Adam and Eve must have taught them to do the same). Abel chose to obey and Kayin chose to disobey. Kayin offered a sacrifice, but it was not a blood sacrifice, rather it was a “grain offering” nothing wrong with a grain offering, but a blood sacrifice was needed. Therefore, it was rejected. When we see the sacrifices in Exodus, blood sacrifices are often times accompanied by "Minchot" (grain offerings). In this case, God wanted the boys to understand the meaning of "shed blood" on an innocent animal, to cover "Kippur" their sins.

Hebel however, offered the correct sacrifice, a blood sacrifice, and it was accepted. This caused anger and jealousy in Kayin and we know the story, Kayin rose up and murdered his brother Hebel. Yet YHVH Elohim still offers him an opportunity to repent and confess his sin, but Kayin does not. Then YHVH Elohim says;

“The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground” (4:10)

the Hebrew word is “damei” or “bloods” it is written in the plural. But why is this? This is eluded to the idea (which is written in the Talmud) that “he who saves the life of one person is as if he has saved a whole nation, and he who takes a life of another, is as if he has murdered a whole nation.” It is as if the souls of all the “would have been” descendants of Abel were crying out for vengeance because they would not be permitted to be born. “the voice of thy brother’s bloods cries out…” the many “bloods” cry out in “one voice” so it seems. (I know, "bloods" is bad English)

Abel is slain, his blood is sacrificed, and Kayin goes away, runs away to the land of wandering (Nod), and becomes a vagabond, just wandering, living off the fruit of trees and whatever grows of itself. Now his farming days are over, YHVH curses the land he farmed as punishment.

However, God gave Kayin a chance to repent and think over why his offering was rejected. Kayin in sinful pride paid no heed to God. He chose to reject God's voice and carried out his plot of murder. Murder out of jealousy.

We can see here again a shadow of Yom Kippur. In Yom Kippur, two goats were selected, one was sacrificed and the other was “sent away” Here, Innocent and righteous Hebel is sacrificed, and Kayin “goes away” yet this “going away” is in the negative light, he “goes away” from the presence of Adonai, while Abel goes “into the presence of Adonai”

There is a saying that goes like this; “you can mix good apples with bad apples, and the good apples will never correct the bad, rather the bad-rotten apples will corrupt the good ones. Well, that is the way the “world turned” way back then, as the years pass, the descendants of Kayin mixed with the descendants of Seth, (who was born after the death of Abel)

“And it came to be that when men began to increase on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of Elohim saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And YHVH said ‘My Ruach (Spirit) will not strive with mankind forever in his going astray. He is flesh, and his days shall be 120."
There is a great population explosion since the time of Seth. Remember that the longevity of pre-flood mankind was 800-900 years, and they had children throughout those years. can you imagine, let's just say, someone lived for 500 years. If the wife was pregnant every year, or every other year. How many children would that couple have? at least 250. and those would grow and intermarry and so forth.

"The Nephilim (in some translations, the giants) were on the earth in those days and when the sons of Elohim came into the daughters of men, they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men of old, men of name (fame)". 6:1-4

There are two schools of thought when the issue of “B’nei Elohim”(sons of God) comes up. Some believe that it refers to the godly line of Seth mixing with the ungodly line of Kayin. The other school of thought which is more probable is that the “sons of God” refer to the fallen angels that were kicked out of heaven together with HaSatan. These “b’nei Elohim” somehow and transformed themselves into flesh and blood, and the offspring of those “demon-human” relationships were the “giants”. (mutant genes)

The word “Nephilim” means “fallen ones”. It does not mean “giants” …however…those “mighty men of old” may have been those “giants” We have examples; Goliath of Gath, Og, king of Bashan. The Anakim, Zumzumim, of the land of Canaan that the Israelites saw.

There is archeological and paleontological evidence of a race of giants in the pre-diluvian world. Many fossil skeletons have been found some 20 and 30 feet tall. The Indians of the South-West USA claim that there was a race of red-haired giants who were cannibals, they could run after a herd of buffalo, catch one and bite off a leg, and eat it on the run. These giants were destroyed during the flood, however, their DNA still survived. “His days shall be 120”

What is it saying here? YHVH has decided to destroy and cleanse the earth by a universal flood, and Noah and his family were found to be the only righteous people around. Noah will receive instructions to build an ark and the wicked population will have 120 years to repent, which they did not. This was a very short time being that thousands of years ago, people lived 800 or 900 years. 120 years would be like a week in our times. Noah was a “Tzadik” a “righteous person”. He went “against the flow”. Imagine a school of fish going in one direction, and you are going in the opposite direction.

How about you? If the world is going down the tubes, headed for destruction, will you follow the world? Or will you remain with Yeshua and go HIS way? The choice is yours. The only way we can be a true “Tzadik Ben Elohim” (a righteous child of God) is through faith in Yeshua HaMashiach/ Jesus the Christ, through faith in HIM trusting in HIS one-time atonement for sin.

We can choose to follow Cain or Abel, Cain or Noah, Cain or righteous Enoch, Cain or Abraham. The world led by Satan or "The WAY" Wide is the road that leads to destruction but narrow is the road to Salvation (Yeshuah) and eternal life. Because there is only "One Way" the "Way of the Master" the Way of the Living Torah. We all have a choice. Make the right choice before it is too late. Too late is a few seconds after your heart quits beating.

shalom

Ben Avraham
 
Gen 4:3-4a . . It came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering
to The Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the
firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.

There's no indication in this scene suggesting their oblations were sacrifices for sin.
The Hebrew word for their offerings is from minchah (min-khaw') and means: to
apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial
offering (usually bloodless and voluntary). In other words: this is an act of sharing
one's blessings.

Since the offerings were minchah type offerings-- essentially gifts and/or tributes
rather than atonements --it would be unwise to insist Abel slew his firstling and/or
burned it to ashes. In point of fact, holocaust offerings go by the name of 'olah (o
law') instead of minchah; for example Gen 22:2.

Ancient rabbis understood the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.

T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain brought of
the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation of first things
before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the flock. (Targum Jonathan)


Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce was the
appropriate first fruits offering, and seeing as how Abel was an animal
husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was appropriate.

I think it's safe to assume the brothers were no longer boys, but rather, responsible
men in this particular scene because God is going to treat them that way.

This incident is not said to be the very first time they brought gifts to God. The
brothers (and very likely their parents too), probably had been bringing gifts for
many years; ever since they were kids. And up to this point, apparently both men
were doing everything right and God was just as much pleased with Cain and his
gifts as He was with Abel and his gifts.
_
 
I would guess that Cain didnt really love his brother Abel for reasons only guessed at (jealousy or envy, or arguements). And either it was that his offering wasnt accepted till he made his heart right with Abel, or that a blood offering was prefered and he didnt want to trade farmed goods with his brother to get the prefered sacrifice, or even a combination of both.
 
Gen 4:4b-5a . .The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain
and his offering He did not look with favor.

Regardless of whether their offerings were correct, the first thing The Lord did was
look upon the men themselves. He looked with favor upon Abel but not with favor
upon Cain. In other words; Abel was the kind of man whom God approves whereas
Cain was the kind of man whom God disapproves

Gen 4:6-7 . . And The Lord said to Cain:
If you do what is right, will you not be
accepted?

Cain believed in the existence of a supreme being; that was good, and his ritual
was correct and timely; that was good too. But Cain's piety was flawed, i.e. his
personal conduct didn't satisfy God's expectations, ergo: it was Cain himself that
made his offering unacceptable.

Cain's situation is well illustrated at Isa 1:11-20. Moses' people were offering all the
covenanted sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and observing all the God
given feasts and holy days. He rejected all of it, even though He himself required it,
because the people's personal conduct was unbecoming.

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to The Lord." (Prv 15:8)

FAQ: In what area might Cain's piety have been lacking?


REPLY: Well, my first guess would be bad blood between him and his younger
sibling. (Matt 5:23-24)

And his attitude was deplorable; Cain was insolent and rude; even to his maker.
(Gen 4:9)

Gen 4:7b . . But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;

This is the very first instance in the Bible of the word "sin". The Hebrew word
basically means an offense; as in repeat offender. In other words; not just an
occasional slip-up, but a life style.

Gen 4:7c . . it desires to have you, but you must master it.

This is the first mention of self control in the Bible. In other words: God created
humanity with the capability to choose bad ways for itself; but that's only half the
story. God also created humanity with the capability to choose good ways for itself;
so He wasn't requiring something impossible from Cain like touching his right elbow
with the thumb of his right hand.

Christians are not exempt from self control.

"Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not
offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer
yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer
the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Rom 6:12-13)

"If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not
live by the truth." (1John 1:6)

* So; in view of this post, and post No.2, what might we conclude was the way of
Cain? Well; I'd say that his way was that of religious folks who assume liturgical
rites and rituals suffice to compensate for one's conduct. (cf. Matt 23:27)
_
 
Yes, many people are attached to rituals and think that through "rituals" and "traditions" will gain themselves acceptance by God, while all along, it is their personal relationship which counts.
Now, there is something to say about rituals, traditions, if we understand the meaning behind said rituals and traditions, they might take on a different light. But as we know, traditions and rituals (some or many) have their basis in the Torah, but they don't give us more or less righteousness.
 
Back
Top