We read from Genesis 4:1-16 that Cain was the senior brother of Abel. Both were farmers. Cain was into crop farming whilst Abel was into animal husbandry. Both made an offering to the Lord in appreciation for the fruits of their hands and labour. Cain’s offering did not please God but Abel’s did. In rage or anger, Cain killed his brother Abel. Why did Cain kill his brother Abel? Was it because he was not his brother’s keeper?
What was the law of the Jews?
The law of the Jews was that the first of the first fruits of their land belonged to God. This law was subsequently codified in Exodus 23:19 which reads, the first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. God required strict compliance, obedience and respect. Non compliance amounted to stealing from God; a breach of trust; and showed dishonesty to God. It ruined an existing relationship with God. With this background, we pray that the Holy Spirit should guide us with divine knowledge and understanding to examine his word of life.
Did Cain and Abel comply with the law?
In Genesis 4:3-4 it is clear, specific or emphatic that Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. An animal for an offering included its fat for the Lord. The Torah (Jewish Bible) forbids Jews from eating the fat, Leviticus 7:23, 25. Abel strictly complied with the law so God recognized his offering.
In the cited Genesis reference, it is also clear that Cain brought an offering to the Lord. It is however not clear whether Cain did comply with the requirement of firstlings of his fruit. Cain was older than Abel so it was expected that he perhaps started farming earlier than Abel did. Had that been so, his first fruits would mature before that of Abel unless Cain started farming so late and almost close to when Abel’s flock was to mature so they could present their firstlings to the Lord at the same time. However, if Cain started farming earlier, then what happened to his firstlings which belonged to God?
Crops also yield faster than animals so presumably Cain’s fruits were first in time. What happened to Cain’s firstlings of crops prior to Abel’s firstlings of flock? Did Cain keep them till Abel was ready with his offering and if so, on whose instructions? There is no record of Cain’s prior compliance with the law. Conclusively, Cain substituted God’s firstlings with another or later crops without God’s consent and or approval. Cain’s non-compliance with the law was a grave sin with consequences so God rejected his offering which was not what God requested and befitting of God. we cannot choose for God.
Results of Cain’s non-compliance
Cain’s failure to comply with the law made him a cheat on God through disobedience. He substituted what belonged to God. We cannot decide or choose for God what belongs to him. Acts 5:29 says we must obey God rather than men. 1 Samuel 15:22 also says to obey is better than to sacrifice. Cain’s conduct in killing Abel therefore arose from his guilt of sin. He knew he had cheated on God. He had been greedy against God and he had stolen from God.
What Cain should have brought to God is described as the first of the first fruits of your ground. Firstlings was qualified as none other but the first among the first produce. The first of the first produce represents one’s recognition for God’s blessings. Cain therefore did not recognize God but his own strength. James 4:17 says whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Cain therefore misconceived the cause of God’s rejection of his offering so he lost God’s grace and favour. Cain’s anger was a misdirected one at Abel under the false guise of either vocational rivalry or that God’s unjust discrimination against him. Ours is simply to obey God rather than to sacrifice.
Cain’s baggage of guilt
Cain’s baggage starts with his guilt of breach. It continued with his guilt of cheating; guilt of dishonesty; guilt of lawlessness and murder; guilt of envy and pride; guilt of presumed invincibility; and guilt of denigrating God as discriminating against him in favour of Abel or God’s preference for an animal offering against crop offering. God was rather interested in the state of the heart, obedience to God, humility to accept guilt, and to ask for pardon. Proverbs 4:23 says keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life. Matthew 15:8 says we must not honour God with the lip but the heart. Mark 12:42-43 cites an example of the widow’s mite. What baggage are we hiding from Jesus Christ?
Are we different from Cain or Abel?
God will accept our offering if we take a cue from Abel’s conduct of obedience, humility and reverence to him but will reject us if we behave like Cain. What we need is what Cain failed to do, to possess a clean heart; to be obedient to God’s instructions; to have humility to accept guilt and sin; and to ask for pardon through Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 John 1:8-9 say if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is not too late to surrender to Jesus Christ to set us free.
Why did God inquire of Abel from Cain?
God is a responsible keeper himself so he was dutiful as a supervisor of life to question Cain about his duty of care for Abel. God wanted Cain to answer if he had been a responsible keeper on his duty of care which duty he was presumed to understand. God’s query was to further demand accountability from Cain of his duty and to put him on notice that he, God, had foreknowledge of events or happenings concerning Abel.
Are we responsible or dutiful keepers of one another as God required of Cain? If Psalms 121:5 says the Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand, then we must also be one another’s keeper. God is questioning us now of our stewardship just as he demanded from Cain. Jesus said in John 14:15 that if you love me, you will keep my commandments. Jesus’ commandment in John 21:15-16 is if you love me, feed my lambs/sheep. Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27 also referred to in Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8 say love your neighbour as yourself.
God is equally putting us on notice that he has foreknowledge of all our events or happenings even if under the cover of darkness or unbeknown to man. God does not slumber nor sleep, Psalms 121:3-4. Ezekiel 17:15 says can a man break the covenant and yet escape? We must take every golden opportunity to show remorse and to ask God for forgiveness through Christ Jesus our blessed Lord. Where do we stand with Christ Jesus on our duty of care?
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we have been evasive for so long to your calls to duty. We are tired of our heavy burdens of sin. Now at the cross, wash us in your blood, renew our hearts afresh by your grace. Restore us in your love and humble us in our duty as keepers. Please hear us for your name sake, Amen!!
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