1-BSG-4A: WORSHIP GUIDE.
Genesis 4: Worship Guide/ 1-BSG-4A, (Genesis 4:1-15)/ Theme: Cain and Abel/ Hymn: I Gave My Life For Thee (SDAH 281)Exploration: Choices & Consequences: “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” — (Gen 4:7; Lev 26:18, 28, 40-42; 1 Sam 12:14-15; 2 Chr. 7:14; Neh. 1:8-9; Is 1:19-20; Jer. 7:5-7)
Reflection: This chapter introduces the theme of conflict between two brothers. This theme will return in the story of Jacob and Esau: the irreconcilable conflict between farmers and herders (Gen 25:19–34; 27:1–45), and again with Joseph and his brothers (37:1–35). In each story an older brother is passed over in favor of the younger. Cain, the eldest son of Adam and Eve –(a “tiller of the ground”) and Abel, their second son –(a “keeper of sheep”). Cain brought whatever was close at hand, while Abel brought the best of the best: “the firstborn of his flock” (Gen 4:4). God did not honor (accept/ bless) Cain’s offering, but He accepted Abel’s. Cain was very angry with his brother, his countenance fell, and he killed Abel—the first recorded murder in the Bible. Abel was an innocent victim; but Cain was a murderer. Abel represents the righteous, the obedient to God’s word; Cain represents the greedy, the disobedient. The Genesis 4 narrative also illustrates the spread of sin, and the deepening effects of sin in the world. Note the progression here, disobedience spreads to sacrilege (Gen. 4:3–7), murder (4:8), perjury (4:9–10), and vengeance (4:23–24). Abel’s name reminds us of the following: Life is brief, it can be taken out anytime. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Secondly, God honors the righteous. Cain’s name reminds us of the following: Life comes from God; God will oversee the sanctity of life, life is precious before Him, “Though shalt not kill” (Ex. 20:13, cf. Gen 1:26-27). Beloved, Scriptures pronounces judgment upon those who act like Cain and lead others into sin (Jude 11). Those who acts like Cain (those who out of envy, seek to revenge and retaliate) belong to “the evil one:” -- “We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.” (1 John 3:12, NLT)
Devotional Implication: What kind of worship is acceptable before a holy God? Here we have Cain’s false worship, and Abel’s true worship. Cain approached the alter and offered produce—the works of his own hands—to God. Abel also approached the alter then offered a sacrifice—a substitute for life—to God. The Scriptures says that “the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” (Gen 4:3-4). “The two brothers erected their altars alike, and each brought an offering. Abel presented a sacrifice from the flock, in accordance with the Lord’s directions. “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” Fire flashed from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. But Cain, disregarding the Lord’s direct and explicit command, presented only an offering of fruit. There was no token from heaven to show that it was accepted. Abel pleaded with his brother to approach God in the divinely prescribed way, but his entreaties only made Cain the more determined to follow his own will. As the eldest, he felt above being admonished by his brother, and despised his counsel.” – (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 71–72).
What went wrong? Why does the LORD respond differently to the two worshippers? Cain decided to worship God in his own way: He did not follow God’s instructions, and thus, he was not blessed. “Abel grasped the great principles of redemption. He saw himself a sinner, and he saw sin and its penalty, death, standing between his soul and communion with God. He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed life, thus acknowledging the claims of the law that had been transgressed. Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice, Christ dying on the cross of Calvary; and trusting in the atonement that was there to be made, he had the witness that he was righteous, and his offering accepted… Cain had the same opportunity of learning and accepting these truths as had Abel. He was not the victim of an arbitrary purpose. One brother was not elected to be accepted of God, and the other to be rejected. Abel chose faith and obedience; Cain, unbelief and rebellion. Here the whole matter rested. – (Ibid p. 72). Note that Cain’s spirit (disobedient) will be seen again in the last days. As Cain had a mark, so people who follow the beast will have a mark (Rev. 13:11-18). Furthermore, God has a sign (a distinguishing mark) for His people, namely, the Sabbath: “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.” (Ezekiel 20:12, NKJV) Also see, Revelation 7:3; 14:6-7, 12; Exodus 20:8-11.
The Gospel’s Voice: This section is written as if God were speaking directly to you—because He does. What does the LORD say to me this morning? My son, Cain was an ungodly, an impenitent and unhumbled man: “he was of the wicked one” (1 Jn 3:12). Abel, on the other hand, was obedient, upright, holy man. Abel’s worship was accepted because he was a true believer in the promised Messiah. Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the close of time. One class avail themselves of the appointed Sacrifice for sin; the other venture to depend upon their own merits. It is only through the merits of Jesus Christ that your transgressions can be pardoned, for “there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, AMP; cf. Jn 14:6; 1 Tim 2:5) Those who feel no need of Jesus Christ (the precious Lamb of God), who think that through the merits of their own righteousness can attain salvation, are making the same mistake as Cain did. No man who comes to Me with the love of sin in his heart shall be accepted for “the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination” (Pr. 21:27) “but the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Prov. 15:8). Those who come to Me must humble themselves, confess and repentant of their sins, and come “with a pure heart” (Heb 10:22). These, I will accept and bless! (Gen 4:7). Would you?
My Desire: By God’s grace, I want to – 1. Have the faith of Abel – (believe that God will accept me through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ)/ 2. Be obedient to God’s Word, Instructions, Law/ 3. Confess and repent of my sins/ 4. Obey God by keeping His Commandments, including the Sabbath.
Have A Blessed Day: “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.” (Hebrews 11:4, NLT)
