This narrative defines your relationship to Jesus.
If you make the same decision as Abel you will be in relationship with the living Christ and share in the fullness of God. If you choose to follow Cain you will be deprived of the greatness and glory of Jesus.
Cain and Abel were brothers and their parents were Adam and Eve.
We know God was in conversation with this family from the text in the Bible.
Cain was a tiller of the land and Abel was a keeper of the sheep. They spent most every day working in the fields.
Something inspired Cain and Abel to make a sacrifice to God. It might have been God or insight from some other source. We just don’t know.
The Bible says in the process of time they decided to make a sacrifice to God.
Cain was motivated to make the first sacrifice and Abel followed.
God looked at both offerings and accepted Abel’s but rejected Cain’s.
This made Cain very jealous and angry.
God cautioned Cain about his emotions and said “If you do well, will you not be respected?” In other words, ask God to forgive you and learn to respect God by giving Him your very best.
God also told Cain if you do not do well sin lies nears you and its desire is to consume you but you can rule over it. God was warning Cain that if he does not repent he will do evil but there is a way to escape from this trouble.
Cain did not obey God and killed Abel. God was very angry and placed a curse over Cain’s ability to grow crops from the ground.
There is a wealth of wisdom in this story.
God looked at both offerings and saw that Abel offered the very best to God and did not hold anything back for himself. Cain offered a paltry offering. He was not willing to give God the very best.
God saw the reaction from Cain and told Him to repent of his feelings and do right with God and his brother. We all make mistakes but we have Jesus who loves us unconditionally and will forgive all our sins by His blood.
Cain ignored God and allowed Satan to create a stronghold over him. Cain acted out of his feelings in killing Abel. The lesson for believers is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and flee from all evil emotions and thoughts.
God is omniscient and saw this entire incident before it even happened. This is why we must be in prayer, living under the authority of the Holy Spirit and listening for the voice of God. Jesus desires to protect believers and provide a smooth pathway.
God was merciful towards Cain and willing to forgive him. You and I are imperfect human beings and can never match up to the standards of God. We need the blood of Christ and the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives every day.
God told Cain that he could rule over his sin. We all have feelings or actions that can lead us astray but if we turn to God and pray for His covering over us we can be free from the bondage of sin.
This story speaks about your heart commitment to Jesus. Have you given Him the very best or are you holding back what is precious for yourself?
Hal Hollister Ministry 