What happened to Cain?
July 5, 2016
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived,
and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bore
his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the
ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit
of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 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: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain,
Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well,
shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin
lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
(Genesis 4:1-7)
This is the first
occurrence of the word sin in the
Bible.
H2403 ~ חטּאת
חטּאה ~ chaṭṭâ'âh
chaṭṭâ'th ~ khat-taw-aw', khat-tawth'
From H2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness),
and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender:
- punishment (of sin), purifying (-fication for sin), sin
(-ner, offering).
And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it
came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his
brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast
thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And
now art thou cursed from the earth,
which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When
thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength;
a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the
LORD, My punishment is greater than I
can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth;
and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in
the earth; and it shall come to pass, that
every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore
whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD
set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out
from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land
of Nod , on the east of Eden
To
sin is to become guilty.
Divorce
your past. Marry your future. This will happen. Will I continue to be envious
and a murderer? Or will I rule over sin? We
must choose and act. Not choosing and not acting are choices. Fish, cut bait,
or sit on the dock of the bay. We will make our choices.
God
can be frightening. Why? Because of who He IS! He is the CREATOR. He made all
things from what? We say from nothing. I don’t think we really know much about
nothing. When was I ever nothing and knew I was nothing? But when I was, then I
began to know. God was never nothing, except perhaps in the sense of the
awesome the time when Jesus took on Himself the fashion and form and flesh of
man and the idenity of a servant made Himself of “no” reputation. Yet having
done that, He began on a path that gained Him a Name ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME and
to honor that Name, every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will
bow. Did Jesus “divorce” His past in order to marry His future? No, but He did
submit His future to Father knowing that He would live as a mortal human being
and TASTE DEATH for every other mortal human being. When Jesus went to the
cross having become sin for us did Father forsake Him? For every man, for us
Jesus came to exchange His Perfect Shalom, for our chaotic corruptions. Sin is
chaos and it is corruption which causes living things to die. But God never
sinned. The flood which drowned every living being (nephesh) was not a sinful
act. God ought to frighten us. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Thank You Lord God it is not the end of wisdom.
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let
him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (Isaiah 8:13)
~ but Adonai-Tzva'ot — consecrate him! Let him be the object of your fear and
awe! (Isaiah 8:13)
Some of the children of Israel
“Here is the history of the heavens and the earth
when they were created. On the day when Adonai, God, made earth and heaven, there was as yet
no wild bush on the earth, and no wild plant had as yet sprung up; for Adonai,
God, had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no one to cultivate
the ground. Rather, a mist went up from the earth which watered the entire
surface of the ground. Then Adonai,
God, formed a person [Hebrew:
adam] from the dust of the ground [Hebrew: adamah] and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being.” (Genesis
2:4-7 The Complete Jewish Bible)
And the LORDH3068 GodH430 formedH3335
(H853) manH120
of the dustH6083
ofH4480 the ground,H127 and breathedH5301
into his nostrilsH639 the breathH5397 of life;H2416 and manH120
becameH1961 a livingH2416 soul.H5315 (Genesis 2:7 King James Version +
Strong’s Concordance)
H2416 ~ חי ~ chay ~ khah'ee
From H2421;
alive; hence raw
(flesh); fresh
(plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine
singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally
or figuratively: - + age, alive,
appetite, (wild) beast, company,
congregation, life (-time), live (-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, + merry, multitude, +
(be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
H5315 ~ נפשׁ ~ nephesh ~ neh'-fesh
From H5314;
properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very
widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): -
any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead (-ly), desire, X [dis-]
contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart (-y), (hath, X jeopardy of) life
(X in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortality, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-,
him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, + slay, soul, +
tablet, they, thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
So we ought now to know what we are made by the
hands and breath of the Almighty, of El Shaddai! (for a very interesting
matter, see Genesis 17:1 and Exodus 6:3 !!!!!)
The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his
true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of
God have come down to us. (John 1:14 CEV)
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and
built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught,
abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through
philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all
principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision
of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:6-12)
Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah
[The Christ], he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is
fresh and new! And it is all from God, who through the Messiah
has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, which is that God in the Messiah
was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and
entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors of
the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is
appeal on behalf of the Messiah, "Be
reconciled to God! God
made this sinless man
be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully
share in God's righteousness." (2Corinthians 5:17-21 The Complete Jewish
Bible)
In November 1976 God revealed Jesus to me as His Son. I had lived for 27
years “unchurched.” Yet what does that even mean? The church is the people
called out of the world by God. Am I called? Here I “run into” God’s
sovereignty again! God seems 99% of everything and I seem a spiritual one
percenter! Now I’m 67 and November of 2016 will mark 40 years of living with
the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God. God calls, we answer the call. What
happens on Sunday morning? Church? What ought to happen is worship of God,
praise for God, and thanksgiving to God. AND prayer for His Kingdom and Will to
be ALSO OUR possession and purpose now and forever IN ABUNDANCE! AND NOT only
on Sunday morning! We sing a song now which says in part, “You’re a good, good
Father, that’s who you are… and I’m loved by you, that’s who I am…” AND THAT is
the TRUTH every second of every minute and hour of EVERYDAY!
Knowing Jesus as the Son of
God ought (yes? no?) to direct us to His Father, He who by faith and salvation
is OUR Father. My prayer today is that God quickly lift off me all the
confusion that having a human “father” has allowed. What happened to Cain?
This is a
true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A
bishop then must be
blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to
hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy
lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection
with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall
he take care of the church of God?) (1Timothy 3:1-5) [Not a novice, lest
being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover
he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into
reproach and the snare of the devil. (1Timothy 3:6-7)]
I don’t condemn anyone, human condemnation is almost
without exception hypocrisy (see Romans Ch. 2), but there seem to be very few MEN in leadership who are what Paul says they MUST BE! In particular, should we not be troubled that some
have lost the rule of their own children? And I fear they have lost the rule
over their own wives as well! What
happened to Cain? Cain and Abel were the children of Adam and Eve.
This is an observation, not a condemnation.
The subject of the roles of men and women is today a
very touchy subject IN THE CHURCHES. And is it not in the churches by the
Spirit and Counsel of God, that we should have “a handle on,” a FIRM handle on those
roles? The mixing of those roles brings problems. Ultimately forgetting God and
His ways leads men and women to the most disgusting confusions of heterosexual
and homosexual sins. I believe the advent of feminism springing out of
liberalism and higher criticism has infected women and men with things not
commanded or intended by God. I see that the fear of being politically
incorrect is no new “force of nature.” “Correctness” IS a necessity for those
given authority. satan subtly challenged God’s TRUE correctness by asking Eve:
“Did God
really say, 'You are not to eat from any tree in the garden'?”
I will boldly say that I believe women need to stop
teaching men. Men do not need to learn how to think like women think. That they
have already is apparent. satan found his way through to Adam via Eve:
To Adam he GOD said, "Because
you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I
gave you the order, 'You are not to eat from it,' the ground cursed on your
account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. (Genesis 3:17)
We don’t know what Eve said, but she said something. We
say he “dropped the ball” and did not save Eve from satan. We say Adam sinned
and he did. How did that happen? Because: Adam listened to his wife and ate
from the forbidden tree. If THAT is so, why do we balk today when we read
Paul’s admonition that only men should lead as teachers in the congregations? I
believe teaching requires skill. Women are not without skill. But they are not made
or equipped as men are; men and women are different. It is God’s doing. Men are
given authority. Jesus chose 12 disciples and 11 were made apostles for the
church! How many were men? Jesus chose another, Saul of Tarsus who became known
as Paul an Apostle of the Messiah by the will of God. Jesus taught Paul for 14
years! Paul was already a tremendously accomplished “Old” Testament scholar,
and Jesus for 14 years corrected all the Pharisaic errors he had been taught.
It is he and Peter who speak to us about the God ordained Messianic
distinctions between men and women. They are not onerous. Women are not to
usurp the authority of men. God’s inspired word via Paul’s letters in the Bible
places teaching that inspired word under male authority.
I fear most men do not want to rock the boat that was
launched in the garden. Most women want to steer the boat. And many men do not
want to steer it, for then they could not blame WHOEVER is steering it when it
runs onto the rocks. That is the tension and crisis of Genesis 3: 16.
To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pain in
childbirth. You will bring forth children in pain. Your desire will be toward your husband, but he will rule over you." (Genesis 3:16) To Adam he GOD
said, "Because you listened to what
your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, 'You
are not to eat from it,' the ground cursed on your account; you will work hard
to eat from it as long as you live. (Genesis 3:17)
We live with the fullest revelation of God ever. But
nowhere do I find a release from the instructions of the New Covenant
Scriptures in this or any other matter. The same ignorance of Scripture
accounts for some TEACHING the prohibition of speaking in unknown tongues, and
prophesy and even knowledge! When women
teach they usurp male authority. We are under attack by a world led and taught
by a devil whose aim it is to usurp God’s authority, and the authority God give
to those He ordains. What is the answer? Much of the “controversial” scriptures
are in 1Corinthians 11 and 14. But Paul did show us a more excellent way in
Chapter 13! So whatever you dear reader may believe, be it (or I) wrong or
right, we do have charity as our teacher, as charity is love and God is love. I
will only note that to love God we are charged holily to obey God’s
commandments and taught that they are not grievous.
How much do I love the
Lord? It will be shown by my obedience. That is why I can’t ignore what
the Bible teaches about men and women. I was in a home meeting once and the
word “obey” came up “on the radar screen.” One woman and wife responded: “uggh.”
And that is the attitude that the flesh, flesh male and female, and MY MALE
flesh too, will always take! The flesh wants its own way, EVERY TIME and ALL
THE TIME!
What happened to Cain?
Cain was gently and clearly
counseled by the Almighty (Jesus?) to rule over sin, and in particular to rule
over his corrupted flesh’s strong desire to murder Abel. Yet he was coming
quickly into agreement with sin. Sin desired Cain. (Where was Adam? Or Eve?) Cain
was infected and sin was beginning to
rule over him! satan’s desire was to rule as God over heaven. His
sin was the pride which presumed he was God’s equal or even greater! Cain
walked away from God deceived by sin that somehow the wrong thing, murder, was
the right thing and acceptable. THAT deceit has corrupted every man and woman
that ever lived…. EXCEPT JESUS !!!!
Sin is the “problem” that
required Jesus to die on that cross. It is a wonder that all the testimony of
sinners who suffered horrible consequences and great punishment for choosing to
sin that we who confess Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts God raised Him
from the dead still at times choose to sin. I told a friend once: “I’m not
saying I will never sin again, but I will say I do not want to sin again.” At
this moment I want to say “I will never sin again.” What I hear God encouraging
me to do is to align my will with His. God’s will is ALWAYS sinless. It is not
possible fro God to sin. Is God choosing not to sin? Is it impossible for Him
to choose to sin? We as sinners being saved everyday and sanctified on (in)
this earth have a future that escapes our limited ability to define and
describe. Yet we can enjoy the process and progress of our pilgrimage (journey)
from out of the land of destruction to the Celestial City
In my 67th year,
40 knowing Jesus as the Son of God and those 40 years adjusting my ear to His
Voice I find the JOY OF THE LORD IS UNDOUBTEDLY MY STRENGTH as it is the ONLY TRUE
STRENGTH THERE IS OR EVER WILL BE and it is the ONLY STRENGTH I DESIRE!!!! The
JOY of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, the King of the Jews, The Soveriegn Son of
God Almighty, the Son of Him who is also MY OWN ABBA! “You’re a good, good
Father, that’s who You are… and I’m loved by You, that’s who I am…”
Oh MY! God IS Love, and what
has happened to me ????? !!!!!
.Woo Hoo!.
.Hallelu Yah!!!.
.Thank YOU Lord Jesus.
.Abba.
.Holy Spirit!!!!!.
These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your joy
might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants;
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These
things I command you, that ye love one another. John
15:11-17
What happened to Cain? Did
his ears fail him? God Almighty SPEAKING TO HIM said to him:
"Why are you angry? Why so downcast? If you
are doing what is good, shouldn't you hold your head high? And if you don't do
what is good, sin is crouching at the door — it wants you, but you can rule
over it." (The Complete Jewish Bible) [these
might be better printed in red letters!]
The Contemporary English
Version states it addressing what Cain had already done, he had become envious
and covetous. It reads:
If you had done the right thing, [then]
you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and [so]
now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but
don't let it!
Cain was not joyful. He
might have made it an “aha moment” and said “Now I know what offering God
accepts. I will obtain a flock from which to bring offerings.” Cain chose another path. Sin wanted him and
sin got him because he did not pursue right the right thing. In God’s Kingdom
everything is a right thing. We need to adjust our ears to that. Faith comes by
hearing and by hearing WHAT? By HEARING THE WORD of God. Cain didn’t hear.
Certainly he was one who did not have understanding ears.
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. Mark
4:4
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. Mark 4:15
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it
not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown
in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Matthew
13:19
We are living in a time
when almost everything but the Bible is being read and studied. Many judge “the”
church as that of Laodicea
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
God's power has given us everything we need for
life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to his own glory
and goodness. (2Peter 1:3)
For all God would and does
say and has had written to human beings:
He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Revelation 2:29)
These things I have spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my
friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants;
for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends;
for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye
have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These
things I command you, that ye love one another. John
15:11-17
What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you
come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a
revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but
let everything be for edification. (1Corinthians 14:26)
<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>
“Context Context
Context, a verse taken out of context becomes a pretext,” thus saith the…
Some (much?) I write
does not exposit fully, and fuller contexts ALWAYS attend verses in writings of
this “nature.” So if you find any eisegesis offensive, a personal response
would be greatly appreciated. David B.
Severy
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