Cain and Abel: Right Product/Wrong Time

2nd in a series on how men and women in the Bible

deal with waiting, disappointment and unemployment

 

Cain and Abel: Right Product/Wrong Time

In 1940, Henry Ford famously predicted: "Mark my word: a combination airplane and motorcar is coming. You may smile, but it will come.”  In 1957, Popular Mechanics reported that Hiller Helicopters was developing a ducted-fan aircraft that would be easier to fly than helicopters, and should cost a lot less. Hiller engineers expected that this type of an aircraft would become the basis for a whole family of special-purpose aircraft. And 60 years later, we’re still waiting.  

Maybe it is the car of the future but the timing has to be right doesn’t it?  Well, let’s go back 6000 years, a time way before automation, before infomercials to the first market economy, two competitors: Cain and Abel.  Two sons who had legitimate occupations marketing legitimate products.   Genesis 4 says “Cain worked the soil and Abel kept flocks.”  They must have traded and benefitted from each other’s businesses over the years.  But businesses affected by the nature of sin because Cain and Abel were born into a world that was distorted and damaged by their parent’s disobedience.  They didn’t know any different. Surely, Adam and Eve told them stories of the garden and what it used to be like in the good ‘ole days.  

This is the same world into which you and I were born.  People, made in the image of God, born with a disease…a propensity toward selfishness and rebellion.  Cain and Abel must have also grown up regularly sacrificing animals, shedding their blood as a reminder of the seriousness of their sin.  A precursor to the perfect blood sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.  What a scene to envision: Adam and Eve, the ones responsible for the sin in the world, shedding the blood of a perfect lamb as a reminder of their sin and a sign that God’s love covers their guilt.  

When it comes time for the boys to offer their own sacrifices, Cain must have thought that a few things from the field, in which he had been working by the sweat of his brow, were surely worthy of an offering to God.  Completely ignoring what he had learned from his parents…that a blood sacrifice was required for the forgiveness of sins.  Hebrews 9:22 tells us, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

The result is that God rejects Cain’s sacrifice and gives him a chance to correct his mistake.  Genesis 4:7 “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”  And then this terrible warning, “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  

Aren’t vegetables are good for us?  A meat-only diet wouldn’t be healthy.  The first jobs that Adam and Eve had were tending the Garden of Eden.  It was an honored profession….it still is.  But the rule was that a blood sacrifice was required.  No amount of whining, cajoling, manipulation or self-justification is going to change God’s mind.  

Cain would have none of it.  James, the brother of Jesus wrote about this 4000 years later in the New Testament,   “…but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

So Cain commits the first murder, the first corporate cover-up.  His own brother Abel, who had done nothing to offend him except doing the right thing is killed by his jealous brother.  So God punishes Cain by cursing the ground again and forces Cain to wander the earth.  He whines to God that he is afraid but even here God affirms his love for this selfish murderer by putting a protective mark on him.

As I began this blog, timing is everything.  We live in a world ordered by a loving creator, but all the same…a world with rules.  Some day we might have flying cars but if the market doesn’t support it, it won’t fly…so to speak.  

What can we learn from this ancient story?  

1. Do the right thing from the beginning.  Examine your motives.  Recognize the benefit of working with a clear conscience.  
2. Avoid jealousy. It leads to foolishness.  
3. Deal with your anger - it can make us insane.  James 1:20 …anger does not make us good.”
4. Avoid self-justification - ‘If I murder Abel my problems will be solved.’  It seems like we can convince ourselves of anything when we are desperate and deluded enough.
5. Consider alternative solutions: What could Cain have done?  Humble himself.  Purchased an animal from Abel.  
6. Are you living under a curse = Do you have a tainted record, received negative reviews, have you tried to play cover-up for your deceit?  Come clean today.  As hard as it is, you will be greatly relieved.    
7. “Don’t burn your bridges” - Your reputation will always follow you.  
8. Be aware of how easy it is to sin - “Sin crouches at your door”.  Seek accountability.  Take the high road.  Look at the long-term affects of your actions rather than acting in the moment.  

Are we acting with integrity?  Does my behavior reflect an attitude of self-control and pure motives?  Let’s learn from Cain’s mistake.  1 John 3:12  says, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,  and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3