- The quality and attitude of offering
- Gen 4:3-4 3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.
- Abel brought the firstlings of the flock which were the most precious of the livestock to the Lord. Out from the firstlings, he had chosen the best portion, which is the fat portion for the Lord. This is the best standard of quality he had chosen for the Creator.
- Cain only offered an ordinary offering of fruit of the ground to the Lord.
- Gen 4:4-8 4 .......And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
- Cain did not offer with a right attitude. That was the reason he did not offer the best and later he was jealous about Abel for offering the best and earned the favour from the Lord.
- The severe jealousy in Cain caused him to get angry and killed Abel.
- Consequences of Sin of Cain grew exponentially in his descendants
- Gen 4:11-12 11 Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.”
- Gen 4:24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
- Cain as a farmer, his workplace was cursed. He had to work extremely hard to earn a living. Meanwhile, he had to avoid the avenge of the people around him.
- Lamech, a direct descendant of Cain repeated the act of murdering and had to bear the consequences of murdering 70 times more than Cain.
- God created people with different skills
- Gen 4:20-22 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 As for Zillah, she also gave birth to Tubal-cain, the forger of all implements of bronze and iron; and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
- Jabal was talented with the skill of management.
- Jubal was talented with the skill of art.
- Tubal-cain was talented with the skill of technology.
- God allowed another family line who are God seeking
- Gen 4:25-26 25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.
- The general character contrast between the descendants of Cain and Seth are:-
- a. Cain's descendants had a murdering nature, started from attitude flaw follow by jealousy.
- b. Seth's descendants had a God seeking attitude.
Reflection:
- Attitude and quality of our giving count.
- Guard our attitude because the consequences of the attitude grows even down to many generations.
- Identify our God gifted talents.
