Godly fathers-ungodly sons-4

We extended our trip and wasn’t able to post last week.

Of course, this study could just as easily been named, ungodly fathers-godly sons, as this is also the case. We will go thru both as we try and learn why fathers are so important, especially in raising sons. So how far into the Bible must we go to see our first example?

Genesis 4:1  Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." 4:2  Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 

4:3  So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 

4:4  Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 4:5  but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

We only have to go to the first boys born in the world. The first two brothers had different vocations. Cain tilled the soil and Abel herded sheep.

As a note, most of today’s pastors are very ignorant of the truth contained in the Old Testament. The most celebrated Reformed pastor in the world is undeniably John MacArthur. Yet, he preached that there was no Law before Sinai. If that was true, which it is not, how did Cain and Able both know about offering to the LORD? There are more examples of this which we will review as they come up.

Hebrews 9:22  And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 

As we know, true forgiveness requires the shedding of blood.Eventually Jesus ended all animal sacrifices by the shedding of His divine blood. He only had to die once for the forgiveness of sin for everyone who would come to Him until the end of this world.

Abel offered a lamb which is the principal animal in sin and thanksgiving sacrifices. Cain created his own religion and offered produce. God had not included produce as an alternative to an animal, but instead of accepting the Lord’s denial of his sacrifice, Cain got angry at the Lord and Abel.

4:6  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 4:7  "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." 

4:8  Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. 

Gen 4:9  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 4:10  He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. 4:11  "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 

The Lord spoke directly to Cain but this didn’t seem to have the rational outcome we would expect. Sin is crouching at your door, would mean that all of them understood offerings and sin. Sin is lawlessness. You can’t be sinful without a Law.

Since Cain would not listen to the Lord, we find him doing the unimaginable, he murdered his brother. This clearly violates God’s Laws and should require the death penalty. Why God did not kill him is unknown. All sin has a penalty.

Adam had to be the one who instructed both Cain and Abel on the Law. Cain spoke directly to the Lord, but still disobeyed. He murdered his only brother out of anger over an offering. How could two brothers be so different?

There is no clear answer to that question.

More next Saturday.