Relationship with God would be easier if He just did it on our terms. Cain felt the same way. When you read his story in the Bible, it’s easy to look at him as evil, decide that you are a far better person, and then go from there feeling far refreshed about your life. And happy that you aren’t wearing a loincloth, either.
If only it were that simple. What was the sin that first led Cain to the murder of Abel? Not giving to God in the manner God had prescribed. Abel brought to God His firstborn of the flock, the choicest lamb, and sacrificed it to the LORD. Cain brought some of his vegetables that he grew. The Bible doesn’t make them sound special or anything, so it probably wasn’t special. All of that added up to God not accepting Cain’s sacrifice, which led to anger, jealousy, and eventually murder.
Cain was not willing to give his best to God, or even his obedience. His desire was relationship on his own terms. God wants relationship on His terms, because He knows what is best for us and is ever willing to extend His good graces to us, provided that we are willing to accept His terms of relationship. The next time you have a chance to make an offering to God, make it your choicest, fattest offering, and give with a gracious heart, knowing well that God rewards those who seek His fellowship by giving them what they sought.
Hello Don. My name is Jack M Silverstein, and I found your blog today. I am beginning a project to read the Bible straight through, (twill be a long project…), starting with the Torah and running through to the Christian Bible. After that…we shall see.
I am contacting you because you clearly have a handle on the scriptures. I am inviting others to comment on my project, to correct me, to point me towards other texts, to throw ideas at me that I might not have or questions that I might not have considered. As a Jew, the majority of the people known to me personally who I will contact will also be Jewish, so I’d love to get some other perspectives whenever possible. I hope to hear your thoughts as I pursue this project.
PEACE
sincerely, Jack M Silverstein
DO YOU READ JACK?
readjack.com
Jack,
I would be thrilled to comment on your work, and praise G-d for your desire to read through the scriptures. I am greatly looking forward to studying the Tanakh with someone who is Jewish, delving into it and working through the Bible together. Peace to you, my friend.
Don
Also, I did not mention this earlier. If you would like, you could follow the Legacy Bible Study Plan at http://www.equip.org. This is the plan I am following, and it gives you the opportunity to read the Bible in books rather than snippets. It makes the bible really come alive!
I will keep you up to date as I proceed. As I describe in my intro, here in the early going I will just be posting my initial yellow pad notes. Full essays and “conclusions” will come later. We’ll be in touch!
PEACE
JACK