Genesis, Chapter 4
Do you know the name of the first child in this world: It was Cain, the oldest child of Adam and Eve. The second child was Abel, his younger brother. When they grew to be men, Cain kept fields and a garden, and Abel was a keeper of sheep.
At that time they were to bring an offering of an animal which, after it was killed, was to be burned on an altar for the Lord above to see, as we believe God had told them. And Abel did this, bringing’ one of the best of his flock, and we read that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice. He owned to God that he was a sinner, and offered a sacrifice for his sins, which spoke to God of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was a sacrifice on Calvary’s cross for all who will receive Him as their own Saviour.
But Cain brought fruit front a cursed earth to give to God, and this did not please Him. Cain did not care to obey what God had said, and did his own way. Yet he was very angry because his fruit did not please God. And although the Lord spoke to him, and told him he could still bring an offering, Cain would not do so.
After that, while the two brothers were in the field, Cain became so angry because Abel’s offering had been accepted and his had not, that he killed his brother, Abel. God saw this terrible deed, and again spoke to Cain. But Cain was not sorry, so the Lord said he must leave his fields and be a wanderer on the earth.
Was it good for Cain to choose his own way, instead of God’s? Surely not.
ML 05/31/1936