Friday, September 23, 2005
Genesis 4
Genesis 4
“How We Worship God Matters”
In this chapter, Humanity has been restored to God and worship of God continues. Our ancient parents have their first two children (verses 1-2), and the family unit begins to grow. Cain and Abel are born.
Genesis 4:2-5
“…Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”
So many times I have heard it was what Abel brought that was better than what Cain brought. People have said that it was supposed to be a living animal offered to God, not “fruits of the soil”. Both are untrue.
Vs. 4 “offering”
What Cain and Abel were both doing was worshipping God with “offering”. This was not a sin sacrifice. This was an act of worship. Cain worked the ground, and Abel kept the flocks. That is what they did. Neither one was better than the other they were just simply different.
Vs. 3-4 “some verses best”
These verse shed light on the true issue at hand. Cain brings some, while it says that Abel brought the fat portions. Able knew what it was to worship the God who created the universe, and he was honored by God. Cain, brought what he thought was ok.
The eventual outcome is tragic. Cain becomes jealous of God’s approval of Abel, and kills him because of it. When, the entire time, it is an issue of Cain’s heart towards God that needs to be fixed.
We in the Church in America have much the same problem, if not worse. We believe that if we go to church, maybe put some money in the basket, and say our prayers we are ok. We bring some, most often very little or nothing. Cain brought some. He just didn’t bring his best. Abel brought his beast to God and was honored for it.
What do you bring to God?
Do you bring some?
Or, do you bring all?
1 Samuel 15:22“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
“How We Worship God Matters”
In this chapter, Humanity has been restored to God and worship of God continues. Our ancient parents have their first two children (verses 1-2), and the family unit begins to grow. Cain and Abel are born.
Genesis 4:2-5
“…Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”
So many times I have heard it was what Abel brought that was better than what Cain brought. People have said that it was supposed to be a living animal offered to God, not “fruits of the soil”. Both are untrue.
Vs. 4 “offering”
What Cain and Abel were both doing was worshipping God with “offering”. This was not a sin sacrifice. This was an act of worship. Cain worked the ground, and Abel kept the flocks. That is what they did. Neither one was better than the other they were just simply different.
Vs. 3-4 “some verses best”
These verse shed light on the true issue at hand. Cain brings some, while it says that Abel brought the fat portions. Able knew what it was to worship the God who created the universe, and he was honored by God. Cain, brought what he thought was ok.
The eventual outcome is tragic. Cain becomes jealous of God’s approval of Abel, and kills him because of it. When, the entire time, it is an issue of Cain’s heart towards God that needs to be fixed.
We in the Church in America have much the same problem, if not worse. We believe that if we go to church, maybe put some money in the basket, and say our prayers we are ok. We bring some, most often very little or nothing. Cain brought some. He just didn’t bring his best. Abel brought his beast to God and was honored for it.
What do you bring to God?
Do you bring some?
Or, do you bring all?
1 Samuel 15:22“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
