ARE YOU CAIN OR ABEL?

Question:

Dear theologians, what was wrong with Cain’s offering? (Genesis 4). Or what did Cain disobey?? Please supply scriptural citations to support your argument. What made Abel’s sacrifice excellent? (Hebrews 11:4)

Answer:

To understand Genesis 4:5, you need to be a good literature analyst before you are a Theologian.

The writer of Genesis, from chapter 2-4:5, has been building a case that explains the following:

1. THE STANDARD (Genesis 2:16-17)
2. THE FALL FROM THE STANDARD (Genesis 3:1-6)
3. THE ADAMIC SOLUTION TO THE FALL (Genesis 3:7-8)
4. THE DIVINE SOLUTION TO THE FALL (a) Genesis 3:15 = longterm permanent anticipated solution (b) Genesis 3:21,24 = Preventive immediate measures)

One of the most interesting things is that the chronicler (writer) of Genesis does not use a specific language like “There was an agreed upon standard of offering” to accuse Cain and his offering, and to commend Abel and his offering. Let me tell you why the book of Genesis raises these controversies to a 21st century person like you and I.

The book of Genesis was written (compiled) after the exile by the Massorets (league of Jewish Scholars) and they had a task to give a rationale for every religious practice of the Jewish religion.

Genesis 2:16-4:5 is the WHY of the Israelite SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM upon which the daily salvation of an individual system depended. The chronicler in Genesis 4, through the mythology of the two boys (Cain and Abel), endeavours to draw two distinctions:

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SYMBOLISM OF A BLEEDING OFFERING IN RELATION TO A BLOOD FREE OFFERING
2. THE REPRESENTATIVE SPIRIT DETERMINED BY THE QUALITY A WORSHIPPER OFFERS

Logically speaking, Cain is demonized Anachronistically (current standards of judgements used to rule an ancient state of affairs). Because, seriously, without a clear list if DOs and DON’Ts in an offering, how do you determine wrong and right!!? What was wrong with agricultural offerings and right with animal sacrifices in the absence of a guide like that in book of Leviticus?

The answer lies in understanding two things I have hinted at in this writeup:

1. THE BOOK OF GENESIS IS A RATIONALIZATION OF EVERYTHING BELIEVED AND PRACTICED IN THE TIMES OF THE REST OF THE BIBLE
2. THE BOOK OF GENESIS IS A BOOK WHOSE MYTHLOGIES HAVE A THEOLOGY TO COMMUNICATE.

Let me dwell on the second point above as I conclude. Genesis 4:5 is a mythology that emphasizes that:

1. YOU CAN EXPLAIN JUDAISM WITHOUT CHRISTIANITY BUT YOU CANNOT EXPLAIN CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT JUDAISM. What am I saying? The faith we have today has its historical events in which both man and God had encounters. It is from these events that we draw our origins and get to understand how authentic our faith is. For while Abel was appreciated and Cain denounced, we know that today both Abel and Cain do not make sense because the blood of lambs and goats did not and do not solve the problem (Hebrews 10) as the solution promised in Genesis 3:15 did.
2. THAT MATTERS CONCERNING FAITH ARE MATTERS OF SIDES NOT NEUTRALITY. Your belief system and the worship you offer to God cannot be a compound of truth and error. You are either right or wrong. There is nothing like standing at ease (with one leg with God and another with Satan). You are saved by GRACE through Faith alone and only or you are not. There is nothing like saved by GRACE through faith BUTor that one is saved by faith that works (James 2:14). The righteousness which solves our problem has nothing to do with the Law (Romans 3:21) and here is the reason: For no human being will be justified in the sight of God by the works of the law and the reason is that through the law, comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20). Cain is the religion of the law, Abel is a FAITH. Cain is a religion and Abel is a faith. Let me tell you why. Cain planted the seeds of his plants and used these very plants that he himself planted to save himself. Now that is not SALVATION but a BUSINESS transaction.

It is an exercise of exploitation and profit generation. It is where each party EARNS it. It is a materialistic venture. Abel, on the other hand, brings an animal whose life he has never begun and has no hand in it, and offers a life for his life. By this sacrifice, his faith intimates that he has offered his LIFE not his possessions and his potential to God. Now this is coherent and corresponding to two things.

(a) Abel understands the problem (sin and death), which Cain mistook for consequences. (b) Abel applied the appropriate solution (a life and a faith) where Cain treated the symptoms.

Friends, God wants and really appreciates our agricultural goods but not for our salvation. The Bible says in Acts 4:12: And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

You can go to church and get all the miracles you want, but given man’s problem, all those agricultural goods solving an entirely different problem and in the end. we will complain thus: Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? And the I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me you evildoers. Can you imagine all these were good agricultural goods…nice produce!!!!??

I look at modern Pentecostalism with its prosperity gossip like a Cain offering to God the magic of his garden at the expense of his life. God does not want our sacrifices anymore, he wants us, our faith,  not our performance. This what the Lord says: FOR I DESIRE STEADFAST LOVE NOT SACRIFICES, THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD RATHER THAN BURNT OFFERINGS (Hosea 6:6)

God continues in Isaiah 1:12-15 with these words: When you come to appear before me, who requires of you this trampling of my courts? Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of Assemblies. I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, Iam weary of bearing them. When you spread forth your hands I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers I will not listen

I wish I could say more.God bless you. I invoke

God bless you. I invoke TRUTH, REASON and FAITH

Am Pr.I.T.WHITE
The Gospel Hawker

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Question:

Thanks @Gospel hawker. Please can you link Jude 11, 1 john 3:12 and Genesis 4:1 specifically answering these:

1. Why is Cain said to be of the wicked/ evil one yet he was from God?
2. Why is Cain referred to a rebel?? Rebelling against what???
3. At what point did Cain sin if after offering displeasing sacrifice, God says “sin lieth at the door” then later Cain kills his brother?? Genesis 4:7-8. Was there sin before Cain killing his brother??
4. Who are the modern day descendants of Cain??

Answer:

Lutoti when reading the Bible, Context is very important if you are to avoid proof-texting or what I call BIBLICAL ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING (BEE). The theme text in the book of Jude is: 3-4 says:

Beloved being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For admission has been secretly gained by some who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly persons who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only master and Lord Jesus Christ

Now it these men that Jude equates to Cain and it fits well with the picture if you read my writing and explanation in (ARE YOU CAIN OR ABEL). Cain perverted the grace if God into the licentousness of agriculture, and denied Jesus Christ of Genesis 3:15 by his offering.

1John 3:12 is not about what Cain offered but what Cain did to his brother. The letter has a context of loving one another and not doing to our brothers what Cain did to his brother Abel. It is not about the offertory that we are taking about – again CONTEXT.

I don’t see anything wrong with Genesis 4:1

Now let me answer your questions

1. We are all fallen sinners yet created by God (Genesis 3:1-6, Romans 3:23)
2. He rebels against what I addressed in my response as a STANDARD
3. Cain had sinned at the point of his birth, sinned at the point of his offering, sinned at the point of his attitude to his brother, practiced it by killing….The phrase ‘sin lieth at the door, means we are sinners by identity not practical sinners just.
4. Cain has no biological descendants he instead has theological descendants and I demonstrated them in the write up…. Please read it again….without the urge to ask.