Road to the Cross, Part 2
By Colleen Witter Nieman
When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, everything was easy. They didn’t have to worry about planting and weeding and watering the ground, until they sinned. Soon they relied on animals not only for clothing but also sacrifice and atonement for sin.
The first discussion about making sacrifices was with Cain and Abel in Genesis Chapter 4:2-7 (NIV) “Now Abel kept the flocks, and Cain worked the soil. (3) In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. (4) But Abel brought fat portions from some of the first born of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, (5) but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (6) Then the Lord said to Cain “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? (7) If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it”.
Abel brought his first and best newborn flocks to the Lord. He was giving the Lord his best, and at a banquet table would be the most coveted meat on the table. Abel’s heart was to please God and he did. It says Cain brought some of the fruits as offering to the Lord. It makes me wonder what was wrong with it. Were the fruit old, spotted, getting rotten? Was his attitude of one going through the motions of doing what is expected of them? It really doesn’t say what Cain did to make the Lord reject the offering.
Take a look at verse 7 again “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it”. Wow – the Lord was trying to get his attention…SIN IS CROUCHING AT YOUR DOOR…. IT DESIRES TO HAVE YOU…. YOU MUST MASTER IT! Talk about having a Frying pan hit your head. Sadly Cain does not listen and commits the first “recorded” murder out of jealousy and envy, instead of doing what he knew he should do.
Reading this makes me want to check and recheck my attitude to ensure I am in the Lord’s will.
