Take Two: Genesis 4, Proverbs 25

Gen 4 has a couple of overarching themes. It is still etiological (since it offers an explanation of why things are as they are.)

In Gen 4:1-2, we see that Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. Cain was in agriculture, while Abel raised herds. In Gen 4:3-5 we see that both brothers brought an offering to the Lord. Cain brought from the field and Abel brought from the firstlings and the fat portions from the herd. God considered the offering of Abel acceptable and the offering of Cain unacceptable. There has been a lot of speculation through the years about why one offering was acceptable and the other was not. We can guess...but all we know for certain is that God, the righteous judge, found something lacking in Cain's offering.

[In the same way, God looks upon each individual's life and worship with righteous judgment. What makes an offering acceptable is the position of the heart (obedience, motive, faith). The standard of the acceptable offering rests in the mind of God. He alone determines what is worthy. We can "say" we are doing so and so...but God alone weighs the heart and determines if our worship is acceptable].

Notice that this practice of offering to God from one's produce (income) was in place long before the Mosaic Law. Some today tell me that the practice of tithing is a requirement of the Law...and Jesus fulfilled the Law...so we are no longer required to do so. To this I might say that the practice of worshipping through giving the tithe (evidence to come with Abraham and Melchizedek) was done long before the Law, under the Law, and now after the fulfillment of the Law.

Gen 4:7 gives us insight into our response to temptation to sin. It seeks to devour us, but we must MASTER it. The choice to sin is a willful choice. There is no believer who can ever claim "the devil made me do it." We each yield to sin allowing it to master us...rather than mastering it through an act of discipline.

Cain slew his brother (Gen 4:8-9) and God called him to account. God is the defender of the weak and the judge of all actions. He knew the sin and confronted Cain for it (in the same manner as He did with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Gen 4:10). God pronounced the judgment against Cain, yet showed mercy by protecting him from those who would kill him (Gen 4:11-15).

Cain's line of descendents is listed in Gen 4:16-24 and becomes the representatives of the ungodly line of people. (They lived outside of the presence of God, Gen 4:16). God granted Eve another son, Seth, whose line was a godly line of descendents...as we will discuss further in coming days. The closing sentence, "Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord" is curious (Gen 4:26). It marks the last thought in this section (toledoth), and serves to connect this section to the descendents of Adam (through Seth) which will be rehearsed in Chapter 5 down through the person of Noah. Ultimately we will see why Noah's descendents were saved through the flood (because they called on the name of the Lord) as opposed to the descendents of Cain (who went out from the presence of the Lord).

Proverbs 25:8-10 is the takeaway today. It is best to always seek to settle disputes firsthand. Only after seeking resolution personally should we seek recourse with others. To do so, strengthens relationships and honors God. To not do so, not only dishonors God, but opens us up for great personal humiliation and strife. This principle is seen also in the NT in MT 18 as it relates to church discipline.

To those who read this today, I want to take a moment to wish you the very best this Christmas. May the Lord show kindness, mercy, and grace to you as you celebrate the Savior's birth and make much of God throughout these days.

Grace and Peace.