THAT WASN'T CAIN'S BEST

 Tuesday, January 24, 2023 7:29:47 PM

GENESIS 4:10-12 ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

I was reading the story of Cain and Able in the ESV translation and I was thinking how “they”, various church leaders, talked about how Cain’s offering was not good because Able offered a blood sacrifice. What I now believe: Cain offered God a fruit basket and Able did not just give God a lamb. 

GENESIS 4:3-4  KING JAMES VERSION

3  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 

Able actually slaughtered and prepared his offering whereas Cain just picked a few things and gave it to God. Had Cain gathered wheat, processed it and made cake and / or bread it would have been an acceptable offering.

To make matters worst Cain became angry because God appreciated Ables efforts. His solution was to eliminate the competition, he killed his brother. 

God asked Cain: “What have you done?” It was not just killing his brother but blood spilled on the very dirt that he needed to farm. Anger, jealousy, pride, strife and even hate are emotions that will cause a person to respond irrationally. Cain’s curse did not come from God but from the ground that he just contaminated. Adam was cursed with hard labor but Cain not only had to work hard but he was not guaranteed a crop.

No one taught me this in the churches I was a part of because the church leaders were focused on me giving the right offering, the right amount of money. A message about blood sacrifices was more intimidating than one of a fruit basket, or even a loaf of bread. Yet, the message that would have and does help me the most is how I go to God. 

Able took what he had and prepared it to the best of his ability, that is what God received. Able took what he had and gave it to God because he was supposed to give something. Furthermore, Cains reaction to Able being blessed and him not is a lesson we all need to learn. We have young people and adults steeling and even killing to get what they do not deserve. 

LUKE 6:35-38KING JAMES VERSION

35  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 

36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 

37   Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 

38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 

If you take Luke 6:38 and read it in conjunction with verses 35-37 do you see how your behavior affects your blessings? Your life? Are you walking in love, forgiveness and showing mercy to your family, friends and even your enemies? Are you giving people the benefit of the doubt? I was taught that Luke 6:38 was about money, I stopped thinking that a long time ago but now I am convinced it is not.

The story of Cain and Able is about doing your best and giving your best. We need to stop trying to do just enough to get by.          Written by Marsha L Floyd