Isaiah 28-29
Philippians 3
“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Genesis 4:8
There were two brothers who brought an offering to God. One brought the best and the other brought the bare minimum. When God looked on the one with the best with favour, the other not only felt angry but his displeasure eventually led him to kill his very own brother. This is the story of Cain and Abel. Instead of choosing a pathway back to reconciliation and relationship, Cain decided to kill Abel, despite God’s warning to Cain that sin is like a predator, ready to pounce on him.
The story continues, “Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’” (Genesis 4:9). God, in His mercy, went to Cain in his disobedience, in his sin, to draw the truth out of him. It was not that God did not know where Abel was, He was giving an invitation for Cain to come into the light and confess what he had done. Cain responded, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).
Did we notice the arrogance and the sarcasm behind Cain’s response? There was not a hint of remorse for what he had done, only sarcasm in his feelings towards God. It is sad that sin was ruling Cain’s life. This left God with no other recourse but to pronounce judgment. God confronted Cain: “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” Then, God cursed Cain because Cain forsook the pathway that God laid out for him to come back into His favour: “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground….When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” To this, Cain retorts, “My punishment is more than I can bear” (Genesis 4:10-13).
Did we notice that there was not a hint of repentance towards what Cain had done, the choice he made or his turning back on God, but only self-pity? In fact, Cain went on to blame God and conflate God’s judgment: “You are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from Your presence…” (Genesis 4:14). Even though God did not talk about His presence being absent from Cain’s life, Cain’s reaction tells us how mistaken and twisted his perception of God was. Cain’s true concern was only for himself!
Yet, despite Cain being obviously belligerent, God still mercifully had this confrontation with him. God gave Cain chance after chance to repent and confess even after the severity of what Cain had just done. In fact, Cain’s continual hostility highlighted God’s gracious mercy towards sinners even more.
Gracious Heavenly Father, how undeserving I am of Your mercy towards me. Thank You for not giving up on me as You desire to bring sinners into repentance. Amen.
Philippians 3
“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Genesis 4:8
There were two brothers who brought an offering to God. One brought the best and the other brought the bare minimum. When God looked on the one with the best with favour, the other not only felt angry but his displeasure eventually led him to kill his very own brother. This is the story of Cain and Abel. Instead of choosing a pathway back to reconciliation and relationship, Cain decided to kill Abel, despite God’s warning to Cain that sin is like a predator, ready to pounce on him.
The story continues, “Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’” (Genesis 4:9). God, in His mercy, went to Cain in his disobedience, in his sin, to draw the truth out of him. It was not that God did not know where Abel was, He was giving an invitation for Cain to come into the light and confess what he had done. Cain responded, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).
Did we notice the arrogance and the sarcasm behind Cain’s response? There was not a hint of remorse for what he had done, only sarcasm in his feelings towards God. It is sad that sin was ruling Cain’s life. This left God with no other recourse but to pronounce judgment. God confronted Cain: “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” Then, God cursed Cain because Cain forsook the pathway that God laid out for him to come back into His favour: “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground….When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” To this, Cain retorts, “My punishment is more than I can bear” (Genesis 4:10-13).
Did we notice that there was not a hint of repentance towards what Cain had done, the choice he made or his turning back on God, but only self-pity? In fact, Cain went on to blame God and conflate God’s judgment: “You are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from Your presence…” (Genesis 4:14). Even though God did not talk about His presence being absent from Cain’s life, Cain’s reaction tells us how mistaken and twisted his perception of God was. Cain’s true concern was only for himself!
Yet, despite Cain being obviously belligerent, God still mercifully had this confrontation with him. God gave Cain chance after chance to repent and confess even after the severity of what Cain had just done. In fact, Cain’s continual hostility highlighted God’s gracious mercy towards sinners even more.
Gracious Heavenly Father, how undeserving I am of Your mercy towards me. Thank You for not giving up on me as You desire to bring sinners into repentance. Amen.
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