The Bloodline Pt. I

Wednesday 03/01/17

Message – The Bloodlines Part I

Series: Thru the Bible – Genesis 4

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Chapter 4B: The Bloodline

Two men, two offerings, two responses…

Last week we addressed what the scriptures reveal was the difference between these two men’s sacrifice – and we used the words of Jesus, John, Jude and the writer of Hebrews to do it. But before we go further this week, I want us to look HOW they knew what they did. How did Jesus, John, Jude and the writer of Hebrews KNOW what they did about these two men and their offering when all they had to go on was the same evidence we do – given in Genesis 4?

Let’s read the passage and then work through what these New Testament writers said about these men based upon this passage.

Gen 4:3-7,

“(3) And in the process of time = means at the end of days. This could mean the Sabbath day of the week OR the end of a year. It is most likely that the later is intended and if so, could have represented a yearly offering for sin. it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. (4) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. – This tells us what KIND of offerings were given. The word “OFFERING” is a general word and cannot be directly connected to an offering for sin or thanksgiving or any other specific offering. The only clue of what type this may have been was which one was accepted. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,

(5) but He did not respect Cain and his offering. = Here we have God’s approval of one and rejection of the other.”

1st – There is a grammatical question about in or unto.

Does this passage say “God did not respect Cain AND his offering” or “God did not respect Cain concerning his offering.”? I could not tell, but I bet Jesus, John, Jude and the writer of Hebrews knew!

What do we know? Well, God does not respect one person above another, but judges people based upon their knowledge and their actions equally…so we can know that Cain had at very least, a vague awareness that at least his offering was not the one God required or desired and it is POSSIBLE that Cain knew that the condition of his heart was wrong as well.

We know this NOT because God rejected it, but because God later said, “If you do well” & “if you do not do well…SIN lies at the door”. These words make it clear that Cain did not only what was wrong, but that on some level he had prior knowledge of it.

“And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”

“And God said, Why are you angry, and why is your countenance fallen?”

The answer to this is given in the further question, which in English is translated as “If you do good, won’t you be accepted” but the Hebrew says, “If you are good, is there not a lifting up”?

What is this “lifting up” God is mentioning here?

Well, the context reveals a comparison given between a countenance which is fallen and that which is lifted up. God was explaining to Cain that his look was indicative of evil thoughts and intentions and therefore of a bad conscience; because by contrast, the lifting up of the countenance, is the mark of a good conscience.

This may have been as simple a matter as Cain hanging his head – not willing to look God in the eye – as it were, during this confrontation.

So IN THE TEXT is a clue to the heart of Cain in his offering. It was an offering given in pride – making his heart united with satan’s.

So what do we do with the phrase “if you do well”.

It can mean one of the following:

(1) If you were innocent and sinless, or

(2) If you, like Abel, were to present a right offering in a right spirit, or

(3) If you where to retrace your steps and amend your offering and intention.

Shalt thou not be accepted? Literally, Is there not lifting up? (to raise up).

So it would seem that the BULK of the evidence points to Cain’s heart being prideful and his offering being something it should not have been.

So let’s look at what Jesus, John, Jude and the writer of Hebrews said and see if we reached the same conclusions based SOLELY upon the text.

Jesus in Matt. 23:35 say that Abel was righteous and Cain was not.
The writer of Hebrews says in Heb. 11:4 that Abel’s offering was offered in faith and Cain’s wasn’t. (faith comes from hearing – which means they KNEW what to bring)
John tells us in 1Jn. 3:12 that Cain’s works were evil and that his heart was of the wicked one.
Jude in verses 10-13 said, Cain destroyed himself by following his base instincts without fear and in rebellion. He was serving himself and NOT God.

Additionally…

Abel’s offering of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat shows consistency with God’s requirements in the Law. – Lev. 3:16-17; 7:23-25; 17:6. At very least this SUGGESTS that such requirements had already been established by God – though no record is offered one way or the other.

Verses 17-24 -The ungodly line of Cain

Cain has a son and built a city naming both Enoch (This “could mean” that he established a family township) which he named in honor of his first born son.
- This is the beginning of a quick departure from honoring God. The city was build and named to honor his son – not God.
- Enoch (initiated) = Irad (fugitive) = Mehujael (smitten of God) = Lamech (meaning is unknown)
- Lamech – first recorded to take two wives.
  - Adah bore
    - Jabal = Father of all a nomadic herders
    - Jubal = Father of all musicians (harp and flute)
  - Zillah bore
    - Tubal-cain (meaning offspring of Cain) = Father of all metallurgists.
      - Had a sister named Naamah (pleasant) (some identify her as Noah’s wife)
- Lamech killed a young man for bruising him and not only bragged about it, but took it upon himself to take Cain’s protective announcement from God and multiply it tenfold and seven as if he himself were God.

Verses 25-26 – The beginning of the Godly line of Seth

Eve conceives Seth with Adam
Seth means = substituted since he was the replacement or substitute for Abel.
Seth = Enos and thus men began to call upon the name of the Lord (in Faith).

…Blessings!

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Neither money nor attendance at our church will be mentioned.

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Blessings!

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!