The Way of Cain... Notes on Genesis, Chapter four

"Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain..." (Jude 11)

Genesis, Chapter Four tells us just about everything we can learn about Cain, the first-born son of Adam and Eve. So the 'way of Cain', Jude mentions, obviously has something to do with the events described in that chapter.
Nothing is written about Cain's childhood or adolescent years.
He is born. His younger brother Abel is born. And the next we know of them, they are grown men with occupations. Cain was a farmer (a 'tiller of the ground'), and Abel raised sheep (Ch. 4 Vs. 2).
They apparently had been doing this for a good while (one cannot raise a 'flock' of sheep overnight) and in the 'process of time' Cain brought an offering of his crops (the 'fruit of the ground') to God. Abel followed suit by bringing a young lamb to the Lord. There is no reason to believe that both men did not bring the very best they had. But God let them know that He appreciated Abel's offering only--not Cain's.
From Scripture, this is all we know... Cain brought an offering of the "fruit of the ground"--grains, vegetables, etc. Abel brought a lamb--a blood sacrifice--and the 'fat' of the lamb--a burnt offering. Another thing we know from Scripture, is that Abel acted in "faith"... "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." (Hebrews 11:4)
With what we know now, concerning the gospel, it's easy to understand why Abel's sacrifice was "more excellent". It was prophetic--a foreshadowing of the 'offering' God Himself would give for the salvation of the world.
But how could Abel have known that?
I really don't think he did. Perhaps he did remember his parent's story, though, of how God had no respect for their hand-sewn, fig leaf, garments, with which they had attempted to cover their nakedness and shame... And how God Himself was the first to spill the blood of animals, then use their skins to make coverings for them instead. Maybe, it was from that little bit of knowledge, that there arose in the heart of Abel, "faith" that the sacrifice he would bring to God would be pleasing.
There is, of course, some speculation in all of that. And speculation, apart from Scriptural evidence, is something we cannot afford to rely on. But many have 'speculated' that there was something wrong with Cain's initial motivation or attitude. And I have been unable to find any Scriptural evidence for that... But the very fact that according to the Bible, Abel was acting in "faith", leads me to believe that Cain, on the other hand, was acting on his own 'reasoning', not necessarily selfish motivation.
I believe Cain brought the very best he had, and 'reasoned' that surely God would appreciate his effort. When it became known to Cain, that God was not pleased with his offering, but with Abel's only... That's when the problem began.
"...Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it' " (Ch. 4 Vs. 5-7).
Oh, the power and wisdom of God! But what a critical moment for Cain! He was faced with such a great opportunity--such a crucial decision.
I'm convinced, God had no problem with Cain's effort, nor did He question his motives. He questioned Cain's reaction to the praise Abel received. He questioned Cain's anger and his sad, whiny expression, over the fact that his act of 'worship' was not what God was interested in... 'After all', Cain must have thought, 'What had Abel done, that was anymore of a sacrifice than his was?'
I believe this was the first case of someone being 'hurt in church'. It's like the lady who works for weeks making a big tapestry or something, that she wants to bring to church and hang on the wall--as her gift to the Lord. Or maybe it's like the man who feels he is to offer a song solo in Sunday morning church. If the tapestry is just plain ugly, and the soloist has absolutely no musical skill, someone is going to have the rather unpleasant task of lovingly and diplomatically as possible, saying 'thanks, but no thanks'. Hopefully, that loving response would be enough, but in spite of everything, there will be times when the person gets 'hurt' and never darkens the church door again. In days to come, the only answer they would offer as to why they no longer attend church?... They were 'hurt'--the 'church hurt them'. But was it the lack of skill in singing or interior decorating that caused the problem? Was it that 'mean spirited' deacon, who would not allow the tapestry to adorn the wall of the sanctuary?
No, it was their 'anger' and 'fallen countenance'--and the 'sin that lay at the door, ultimately ruling over them'.
I'm sure I could have come up with better analogies, and there are much more serious situations than those. But even in the cases of spiritual abuse, religious legalism, obnoxious personalities, etc., there are better ways to deal with it, than to assign blame to 'the church' in general, and allow sin to rule because of your 'hurt'.
Cain was not without God-given options. He was offered the opportunity to "do well" and "be accepted" also. He could have taken some of those good vegetables of his to Abel, purchased a lamb, and made an offering to God, which he now knew would be well received. But he made the wrong choice, thus, inviting sin to rule. His anger grew in him to the point he finally said to his brother, "Meet me in the field" (paraphrased--Ch. 4 Vs. 8), and he murdered him.
The blood of Abel, the Word says, cried out to God from the ground (Vs. 10). God punished Cain by banishing him to the wilderness, to be a "fugitive and a vagabond" for the rest of his days. Cain left, along with his wife, and dwelt in a place called "Nod", east of Eden. (Vs. 16).
[ NOTE: Some have attempted to challenge the integrity of the Word by asking, "Where did Cain get his wife?" The answer to that, is simple... He brought her with him from Eden. Cain's wife was one of his sisters. Cain and Abel were only two of many "sons and daughters" of Adam (Ch. 5 Vs. 4). And incest was not an issue prior to the giving of the law (which forbade it), especially considering that it was also prior to any possible degradation of the human gene pool. Thus no spiritual nor physical ill-effects would have resulted. ]
In the story of Cain and Abel, the disastrous progression from hurt feelings, to sinful, murderous actions, vengeance and misery is told. Yes, the blood of Abel "still speaks" and tells the story...
But now, the blood of Jesus speaks, and tells the rest of the story-- speaking "better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24).
Abel's 'blood' cries out to God for vengeance... The 'blood' of Jesus cries, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".

The Fall, the Curse, and the Promise... Notes on Genesis, Chapter Three (part 2)

Before Adam and Eve sinned, the Bible says, "...they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." (Ch. 2 Vs. 25). After they sinned, the Word tells us, "...the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings." (Ch. 3 Vs. 7).
I do not believe they suddenly realized they were not wearing clothes. I think the term "naked" has a deeper meaning than that. God had said, that in the day they would disobey, and eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil (blessing and calamity), they would "surely die" (Ch. 2 Vs. 17). Adam did not die physically at the time he ate of the fruit--he died spiritually. Ultimately, this spiritual death would result in his physical death as well. But many other changes took place within the man and the women beginning at the moment of spiritual death. They were suddenly cut off from the source of true life. This is the reason they "knew" they were "naked". The glory and presence of their Creator had been manifest within them prior to this--to the point, they had also been 'clothed' in the same. No one, since that day, has ever seen the appearance of a man in whom was no sin or corruption--whose outward appearance was arrayed in the glory of God from within... That is, until Jesus allowed three of His disciples to see Him on the Mount of Transfiguration--when He literally shone with the brilliance of the sun, allowing the glory within, to adorn Him without (Matt. 17). To some degree at least, I am convinced Adam and Eve had been 'clothed' in similar fashion. And of this glorious 'clothing', they were stripped, and found themselves naked.
Fear, shame, and the vain attempt to hide from God and 'cover' themselves were also immediately manifest. To this day, unregenerate man, those who are lost, without true faith in Jesus Christ; make the same vain attempts to 'hide' from God, or to 'cover' (justify) themselves in their own minds through good works or false religion.
In addition to spiritual death, out of which would eventually come sickness, mental and emotional torment, aging, feebleness, anger, envy, jealousy and every other physical and mental problem--would be the necessity of toil and trouble due to God's curse on the very ground (Ch. 3 Vs. 17, 18). Cursed also, was the woman's general relationship with the man--to whom, apart from the God's blessing and mercy, she would become subservient. In addition, she would be cursed with 'much pain' in childbirth.
[ In Christ, according to her faith, the Christian woman can be free of the effects of that curse. (1 Tim. 2:15). ]
Only through a relationship with Christ and faith in His Word, can we now have victory over the physical, mental, and earthly problems of life. Those problems have not been eliminated, but according to our faith, we can overcome, to the glory of God. The promise of this is revealed in the New Testament, as a result of the finished work of redemption in Jesus Christ, but it was foreshadowed in this prophetic Word, given directly from God to the serpent...
"...and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (Ch. 3 Vs. 15).
It would be through much pain and suffering, endured by Jesus at Calvary, but the 'Seed of the woman' (Christ) would there, 'bruise the head' of the serpent--taking back from him, the authority over mankind he had gained through Adam's treasonous transgression.
Thus, the gospel of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus was actually first proclaimed in God's message to the serpent in the garden of Eden. It would come to fruition when Jesus rose from the dead, having 'spoiled principalities and powers' (Col. 2:15), and declared to His disciples, "..All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth..." (Matt. 28:18). That means Satan no longer has any authority (his head has been crushed). "All authority" now belongs to Christ, in heaven (as the Lord, the Head of the church) and in earth (in His body, who IS the church). It was in this "authority" Jesus then commanded His followers to go into all the earth (until He comes again) and make disciples.

The Serpent, the Lie, and the Sin... Notes on Genesis, Chapter Three

The Serpent...
In the days of creation, there was no fear between man and animals. And since the man and the woman had full use of their mental capacities, they must have been able to communicate with one another, as well as with the animals, through means other than simple, verbal articulation.
The serpent was more cunning and beautiful than other animals, and this particular serpent was invaded by the satanic spirit. Only Adam and Eve was created with, and assigned usage of, authority and dominion over all of God's creation. When the serpent approached Eve with his lying scheme, Adam, who apparently was there with her (Ch. 3 Vs. 6) could have exercised that authority and expelled Satan from their presence. After all, he was trespassing. God gave the earth and everything therein to Adam. But because of Eve's initial response to the serpent (no excuses, here), Adam did not interfere, and eventually came to participate.
Being cunning and under satanic influence, the serpent approached Eve with a question... "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Ch. 3 Vs. 1). Every spiritual deception begins with the questioning of God's Word.
Eve responded with a second-hand version of that which God had originally said to Adam--but she added to it... She said, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die' " (Ch. 3 Vs. 3).
"Nor shall you touch it..." was added by Eve. It was not part of God's command to Adam. And simple and harmless as it may seem, it is nevertheless unwise to add to God's Word. I am of the opinion that this gave the serpent (Satan) a clue that Eve was vulnerable to deception, due to her incomplete understanding of the Lord's instruction. So the temptation was presented...

The Lie...
The serpent said (this time not in the form of a question), "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
The first part of the lie, "You will not surely die", has been, and is today, repeatedly communicated to the minds of people all over the world. Every major non-Christian cult has based its diabolical philosophy on this lie. Only the Bible, and those who preach it, proclaim the pending judgment of God against the sinfulness of any who fail to believe the gospel and recognize Jesus Christ, and Him alone, as Lord and Savior. Only true Christian doctrine teaches the finality and eternal aspects of that judgment--the consequence of spiritual death, referred to Scripturally, as "The second death" (Rev. 20:14,15).
Oh sinner... Thou shalt indeed, surely die.
The second part of the serpent's lie, is that which took advantage of Eve's lack of understanding of God's Word...
"For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Ch. 3 Vs. 5).
The 'lie' was so cleverly disguised as truth, that even many Christians today are confused about it. I've heard it taught a thousand times... "Satan tempted Eve with the false idea, that she could become 'like God' ".
I don't think so.
In the first place, the serpent did not end with the claim that Eve could 'become like God'--he said she could 'become like God, knowing good and evil'. That part of the serpent's statement, verbally, was accurate. When Adam and Eve ultimately ate of the fruit, it is God Himself who would say... "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil" (Ch. 3 Vs. 22).
Hidden within the serpent's accurate claim that Eve would become 'like God' was the deceptive notion that, in some significantly desireable way, Adam and Eve were not already 'like God'. Did Eve not know that God had made them in His "likeness"--to be 'like Him'? Had God not said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to Our 'likeness'..." (Gen. 1:26)? Not His 'equal' by any means, but in every way important to the well-being, authority, and perfection of man--Adam and Eve were already 'like' God.
It was not some inherent, sinful, pride which rose to the surface in Eve and caused her to sin. Her 'desire' to which she succumbed was actually based on two ideas--truth, and a lie. The truth was in the fact that the fruit of this tree was "pleasant to the eyes" (Ch. 3 Vs. 6), which was true. And there was nothing wrong with that--everything God made was good and undoubtedly 'pleasing' to look upon. But her wrongful desire was also based on the lie, that the fruit would make her 'wise'... That it would give her something good--something she needed, that she did not already have. Eve believed the serpent's lie--she was deceived.
Eve ate of the fruit and gave to Adam, who was 'with her'. "Adam was not deceived" (1 Tim. 2:14). He knew what he was doing. His overwhelming desire was not for the fruit, nor was he persuaded that any good would come of it. His desire was for the woman--to please her--again, not a wrong desire, by any means. But the fact that Eve's desire was based on deception, Adam's decision to please her resulted in his sin.

Adam and Eve... Notes on Genesis, Chapter Two

Their Creation...
In the summary of the creation of all things, in Chapter 1, the first man and woman are mentioned as well (vs. 26-30). More detail concerning their creation, however, is revealed in Chapter 2. Adam was "formed" of the dust of the earth (vs. 7), received the 'breath of life' directly from God, and became a living (life-having) soul. Unlike the animals, which had only natural 'breath', Adam's vital force--his spirit--was more than that which his lungs inhaled and exhaled... It was his inner man, through which he was able to communicate and fellowship with his Creator... It was the connection between God's immortal life and the man's mortal body. Through that connection, Adam would have lived pain-free, disease-free, and would have never known mental or emotional weakness. He was made to have domion over all of God's creation.
The only thing Adam was missing, was a 'mate', fit for him. So in God's amazing wisdom, He chose not to 'form' another human from dust... He chose to remove something from the man's perfect and complete being and made him temporarily 'incomplete'. Then from that which He took from Adam (the rib), God made a woman, gave her back to the man, thus, making him 'complete' once again.

The Tree...
The instruction from God, given directly to Adam (prior to the creation of Eve) was to freely eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil"... "for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (Ch. 2:16-17). That 'vital connection' to the continual flow of God's life, in the spirit of man, would be 'cut off'--Adam would die spiritually, in other words, 'in the day' that he ate of that forbidden fruit.
This is not some kind of fairy tale... The forbidden fruit was not an 'apple'. It was literal 'fruit' on a literal 'tree', however, that would give the partaker thereof, an experience with, and an understanding of good and evil. By that, the Scripture is not referring to a knowledge of 'right and wrong'... The words 'good' and 'evil' are translated from two Hebrew words that mean 'blessing' and 'calamity'. In this paradise world, where Adam and Eve enjoyed dominion and freedom from all woe, there would be no need for 'blessing'--that is, of course, unless they were to experience 'calamity' and trouble. But it was the expressed will of their Creator, for them to never experience 'calamity', and thus, never be in need of 'blessing'.