Relationship 101
Genesis 4 reveals God’s heart and passion to build a relationship with his children perhaps more than any other chapter in the Old Testament. He also reveals his prophecy for every one of us individually and lays the foundation for the coming Christ.
THE STORY
Just prior to Genesis 4, Adam and Eve were given specific details about the consequences of their actions before they were barred from (kicked out of) the garden. Because Adam listened to his wife and did what she said instead of obeying their Creator, God told Adam the ground would now be cursed. Thorns and thistles would be a constant problem and working to provide bread would “cause his face to sweat.”
No doubt Adam and Eve had an attitude problem. No longer in paradise, life was hard. Then they had two sons: Cain and Abel. Cain was the gardener and Abel took care of the sheep.
We’re not told every conversation God had with this family, but he did not abandon them. In his loving passion for them, he continued to try to teach them how important their relationship with God would prove to be. One of those lessons was to honor God with gifts, called offerings. Cain brought veggies from his garden and Abel sacrificed a lamb. While we don’t have written proof of the conversation, we know it took place because both Cain and Abel brought offerings to God. If there had been no conversation, why would Abel think killing a beautiful, one-year-old lamb would please God?
THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND
God had respect for Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. At first glance his disrespect for Cain’s offering might not seem fair, however God did tell Adam that as a result of their disobedience, the ground would be cursed. Maybe Adam forgot to share that piece of information with Cain. Maybe Adam didn’t connect the cursed ground to the offering. Maybe Cain didn’t bring his best fruit. Maybe it wasn’t the offering, but the condition of Cain’s heart. But the resulting message was clear. Cain’s offering did not receive God’s respect.
INSIGHT INTO EVIL
Cain was angry and upset! But God checked in with him to share some insight. God said, “Why are you so angry? If you do well, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do well, sin is crouching behind your door. He is waiting to attack and destroy you, but you can rule over him.”
God was mentoring Cain. He was trying to lead him to victory. It actually looked like Cain was even going to make amends with his brother as later, he was talking with Abel and they went out to the fields. But then suddenly Cain killed his brother. Cain’s anger, jealousy, refusal to listen and obey brought cursing instead of blessing.
God still mentors us. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities, rulers of this dark world and spiritual wickedness in high places.
“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
God revealed his plan with an analogy of spiritual protection using physical elements. You must ‘put on God’s full armor in order to resist the enemy. Stand your ground. Just stand. God has already won the battle. Put on the belt of truth. Walk in peace. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Above all, take up the shield of faith to quench those fiery darts from that stinking, stalking, slimy devil. Put on the helmet of salvation, and take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God and pray.’ From Ephesians 6:12-15
THE LAMB
Abel was a shepherd. Shepherds don’t drive sheep from behind, they lead them. Sheep are not innately intelligent. A shepherd’s hook is a stick with a hook on the end, so that when a lamb would wander off the path, the shepherd would extend the hook around the lamb’s neck and pull him back on the path. Sheep are not smart; they will walk right off a cliff without any thought to the consequences – and other sheep will follow. If a lamb gets his head stuck in a fence, he’s not smart enough to back up, so the shepherd extends the hook around his neck to back him up, rescue him from harm, and bring him back to safety.
But the shepherd doesn’t always stay out in front. When the path becomes a confused trail or steep cliff and the sheep become scared, the shepherd drops back and walks with his sheep. In the darkest shadows or greatest dangers, he is beside them, guiding and protecting.
“All of us have gone astray like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Jesus was led like a lamb to the slaughter. As a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. God laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.”
Isaiah 53:6-7
God had specific reasons for setting up rules for offerings. God had respect for Abel’s offering because it pointed us to his plan to rescue us from sin by the blood of the lamb. From this beginning God painted a clear picture of salvation.
PROPHECY
God has given simple instructions – with analogies for clarity. Abel’s gift was God’s promise to you and me. Our reaction to that promise is a firm prophecy for our future.
“God paid a ransom to save you from the empty manner of life received by tradition from your fathers. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was paid with the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom from evil long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sakes.”
I Peter 1:18-20
“I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
Isaiah 46:4
“Jesus said, I am the good shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” John 10:11
God still mentors today.
“Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7
See Also: Blood
See Also: Accept Christ