Murderous Heart

Next up in The Bible, Adam and Eve lay together and Eve becomes pregnant and gives birth to Cain. Eve declares "With the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a man." Now this statement is intriguing to me~something magical happens to Eve, a first of firsts and without a biology lesson, Eve knows that her baby making abilities are well, limited as it were. While Adam & Eve shared the intimacy of intercourse, I'm pretty confident that the end result, a baby, was an interesting surprise...the imagery delights the imagination. Back to the story. Later, she gave birth to Cains brother, Abel. The two brothers had different pass times or occupations. Abel kept flocks while Cain worked the soil. Over the course of time, Cain brought fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. Theses are gestures of appreciation, a form of giving thanks to God for His provisions, an acknowledgement that what was produced for human consumption had been first provided by the Hand of God. The reception Abel and Cain received proved to be quite different and the natural dispositions of each of these men becomes apparent as God points out to each what He reads in their hearts. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. This angered Cain and his face was downcast. Cains downcast disposition is challenged by God who asks "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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." This admonishment from God is a foreshadowing, a warning about actions and intentions being praiseworthy and alternatively, reproachable. God is a hungry God, not for field produce and animal fats, He is hungry for man to honour Him. There was clearly something reprehensible in Cains offering, a withholding of gratitude and perhaps some pride in having worked the field and owing no one, including God, for what the earth had yielded him, that threatened to become his master, leading him in the direction of sin. Anger at Gods lack of appreciation for his offering coupled with jealousy over Gods favour being directed toward his younger brother made for an ugly concoction and stirred up hatred and murder in Cains heart. The reprove from God went unheeded and instead, Cain says to his brother "Let's go out into the  field". While in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Thusly we leave off, Until next time in Bible Understanding, when we learn what becomes of Cain, notoriously known as the first murderer. 

Come, follow Me

Is it in our human nature to hedge our bets, take the path of least resistance, make life easier on ourselves in the moment without a view for long range impact? This is for me to ask myself, for you to ask yourself, can you see the horizon from your view point, or is the tip of your nose getting in the way. Fear, that dubious not to be trusted ever present companion, has its way with many of us that live in the here and now and the temptations that present themselves to endulge in immediate gratification. Fear has a way of saying if not now, then when? What if this opportunity never comes back my way and it was my ONLY chance? Take what you can get and you only live once are the short legged lies that fear can use to ensnare its victim. Shortsightedness can shortchange and the price for indulgence can be hefty monetarily and in all ways of the pysche and soul. Angry words, reactionary responses, doing what feels good rather than what is honourable and just, white lies that take on shades of grey turning to black...traps, all of them. My mind, it is occupied with One Man, the perfect Lamb of God. I persue Him, the image of Truth, Light, Love. He is my example, my measuring stick. Seeing with the eyes of love, that is my ultimate goal and my Teacher takes me by the hand and is leading me there. He has His hand extended to you too, with the welcome of "Come, follow Me". Will you accept His invitation?