Habits are to the soul
what the veins and arteries are to the blood,
the courses in which it moves.
Horace Bushnell
what the veins and arteries are to the blood,
the courses in which it moves.
Horace Bushnell
The Best of the Firstborn Lambs:
You will be accepted if you do what is right.
But if you refuse to do what is right,
then watch out!
Sin is crouching at the door,
eager to control you.
But you must subdue it and be its master.
Genesis 4:7 NLT
This verse of Scripture is God’s response to Cain after he became angry because his offering of “some of his crops” were rejected by God, while his brother Abel’s offering “the best of the firstborn lambs” was accepted by God.
It is interesting to note that Abel offered “the best” while Cain offered “some of,” which would indicate that it was most likely not the “best” part of his crop.
Another quite obvious thing is that Abel’s offering of “the best of his firstborn lambs,” is symbolic of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, an act that would later become a part of the Mosaic Law for sacrificing to God.
This leads me to believe that God had given Adam and Eve some instruction about the need and proper way of sacrificing to Him; which would have been passed on to Abel and Cain. Why else would God say to Cain: “You will be accepted if you do what is right.”? This seems to indicate that Cain had knowledge of what was a proper sacrifice to God, and that he chose to disobey and offer his own inappropriate sacrifice. He chose to “do it his way” rather that “God’s way.” This attitude is abundantly obvious in our own culture today; people choosing what is convenient or expedient to give to God, rather than what is required by God.
The principle of the text is clear and exemplifies God’s heart. Following the ways of God leads one to acceptance in His sight and following our own ways leads to sin and captivity.
You will be accepted if you do what is right.
But if you refuse to do what is right,
then watch out!
Sin is crouching at the door,
eager to control you.
But you must subdue it and be its master.
Genesis 4:7 NLT
This verse of Scripture is God’s response to Cain after he became angry because his offering of “some of his crops” were rejected by God, while his brother Abel’s offering “the best of the firstborn lambs” was accepted by God.
It is interesting to note that Abel offered “the best” while Cain offered “some of,” which would indicate that it was most likely not the “best” part of his crop.
Another quite obvious thing is that Abel’s offering of “the best of his firstborn lambs,” is symbolic of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, an act that would later become a part of the Mosaic Law for sacrificing to God.
This leads me to believe that God had given Adam and Eve some instruction about the need and proper way of sacrificing to Him; which would have been passed on to Abel and Cain. Why else would God say to Cain: “You will be accepted if you do what is right.”? This seems to indicate that Cain had knowledge of what was a proper sacrifice to God, and that he chose to disobey and offer his own inappropriate sacrifice. He chose to “do it his way” rather that “God’s way.” This attitude is abundantly obvious in our own culture today; people choosing what is convenient or expedient to give to God, rather than what is required by God.
The principle of the text is clear and exemplifies God’s heart. Following the ways of God leads one to acceptance in His sight and following our own ways leads to sin and captivity.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12 NAS
The choice is ours to make, just as it was for Adam and Eve in the garden. The enemy of our souls is still asking: “Did God really say…?”
Sin desires to control us, as Satan’s agenda continues to be to ‘kill, steal and destroy’ all that is holy and righteous – (John 10:10a)
God has given us authority over all the enemies tactics and lies; but it is up to us to subdue them and be masters over them.
God’s heart is that we follow His ways, because His desire for us is that we would be free from every obstacle of sin, so that we may glorify Him fully and be lights in the darkness. He desires us to enjoy, and become, life and life abundant in Christ Jesus. (John 10:10b)
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