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†. Gen 4:5b . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell.
Cain was a whole lot worse than distressed. He was blazing mad. The word
for "distressed" is from charah (khaw-raw') and means: to glow or grow
warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy. Cain is
actually in a passionate rage over this and certainly in no mood for a lecture.
†. Gen 4:6 . . And The Lord said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and
why is your face fallen?
God made an honest effort to talk things over with Cain and resolve their
differences; but Cain didn't respond; he was too busy sulking in a black
pout.
†. Gen 4:7a . . If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?
That is an irrevocable principle, and comes out very early in the Bible
because it is so foundational to humanity's association with its creator. Well;
Abel did do right and that's why his gift is said to be offered in faith.
Cain's lack of faith is well illustrated at Isa 1:11-20. Yhvh's people were
offering all the required sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and
observing all the required feasts and holy days. But God rejected all of it,
even though He himself required it, because His people's conduct was
unbecoming.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yhvh." (Prv 15:8)
Perhaps the classic example is the one below.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure
in burnt offerings." (Ps 51:16)
When David wrote that; he had only just committed the capital crimes of
adultery and premeditated murder. There was just no way that God was
going to accept his sacrifices and offerings on top of that; and David knew it
too.
The principle didn't go away. It's still the Lord's way of doing business with
people; even with Christians.
"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but
if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another." (1John 1:5-7)
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†. Gen 4:5b . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell.
Cain was a whole lot worse than distressed. He was blazing mad. The word
for "distressed" is from charah (khaw-raw') and means: to glow or grow
warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy. Cain is
actually in a passionate rage over this and certainly in no mood for a lecture.
†. Gen 4:6 . . And The Lord said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and
why is your face fallen?
God made an honest effort to talk things over with Cain and resolve their
differences; but Cain didn't respond; he was too busy sulking in a black
pout.
†. Gen 4:7a . . If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?
That is an irrevocable principle, and comes out very early in the Bible
because it is so foundational to humanity's association with its creator. Well;
Abel did do right and that's why his gift is said to be offered in faith.
Cain's lack of faith is well illustrated at Isa 1:11-20. Yhvh's people were
offering all the required sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and
observing all the required feasts and holy days. But God rejected all of it,
even though He himself required it, because His people's conduct was
unbecoming.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yhvh." (Prv 15:8)
Perhaps the classic example is the one below.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure
in burnt offerings." (Ps 51:16)
When David wrote that; he had only just committed the capital crimes of
adultery and premeditated murder. There was just no way that God was
going to accept his sacrifices and offerings on top of that; and David knew it
too.
The principle didn't go away. It's still the Lord's way of doing business with
people; even with Christians.
"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but
if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another." (1John 1:5-7)
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