Week 2 – Cain and Abel
Genesis 4
Introduction:
I start a series of teaching from the Book of Genesis this morning I’m calling the ‘great deceptions in Genesis.
Key here as to why Abel’s sacrifice accepted and Cain’s not has much more to do with reason, motive, purpose and heart, than it does ground or flesh.
Abel brought the ‘firstlings’ and their ‘fat’ portions.
God tells Cain, why are you mad? If you had done the right thing (the right way, with the right heart) yours would have been acceptable too!
Malachi 1:6-8
“A son honors
his
father, And a servant
his
master. If then I am the Father, Where
is
My honor? And if I
am
a Master, Where
is
My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say,`In what way have we despised Your name?’
7
“
You
offer defiled food on My altar. But say,`In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying,`The table of the LORD is contemptible.’
8
And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice,
Is it
not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick,
Is it
not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the LORD of hosts.” (NKJ)
Giving is about
Honor
, about
Respect
, about
Trust
, about what is
Right
?
Application
: Not same amount but same sacrifice.
It can’t be about the 20% carrying the load for the other 80%.
Sin is not a Genealogical Problem
Genealogical
– a record or account of the ancestry and descendants of a person, family, group; the study of family ancestries and histories.
Etiological
– of or relating to causes or origins.
Pathology
– the science or the study of the origin, nature, and the course of diseases; any deviation from a healthy, normal, or efficient condition.
Application
: Here are two brothers from the same parents. No mention is made as to any ‘parenting’ issues.
Jam 1:13-15
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
(NKJ)
Generational Curses
– (Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9)
Exodus 20:5
,
“you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me.”,
(NKJ)
III.
Conflict is not merely found among Enemies.
Application
: If anything, it is often harder within family than without! Why?
Greatest House Dividers:
Family Fracture Factors
TRIGGERS FOR FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS
SIGNS OF FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS
Transition
: The last significant thought stemming from this text has to do with how Cain responds and his subsequent punishment.
Aggression
and
Violence
are terms often used interchangeably; however, the two differ. Violence can be defined as the use of physical force with the intent to injure another person or destroy property, while aggression is generally defined as
angry
or violent feelings or behavior. A person who is aggressive does not necessarily act out with violence.
Then there is
Anger
.
“You’re brothers blood cries out to me from the ground!”
“You are cursed, your toil will no longer produce or yield its strength to you.”
Conclusion
:
Great Deceptions from Cain and Abel Narrative
:
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