Cain and Abel

These two were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain's name meant 'to acquire, to get', and Abel's name meant 'breath' or 'temporary'. I believe names say a lot about a person, especially in biblical times. It is interesting that Abel's life was so 'temporary, just like a breath' and Cain's desire was 'to get, to acquire'.

They both brought a sacrifice to the Lord. God was pleased with Abel's sacrifice and displeased with Cain's. Why God was displeased with Cain's sacrifice is a mystery. It is certain that from the time they were born until now in their adult lives that God had told them how to sacrifice. It could have been that Cain did not bring the right sacrifice, or that his sacrifice was given with the wrong attitude. His desire is 'to get, to acquire' and thus, giving it to the Lord may have been a difficult thing for him, because it meant being giving away what he had 'acquired'. I personally believe that he gave with the wrong attitude. That he came to God with his sacrifice in order to give it to God, but really came with arms closed, desiring to keep what he had acquired and to keep it for himself.

God is very gracious in the next few verses. God is gracious to ask Cain 'Why are you angry?' God knows why he is angry, but he desires that Cain talk to him...freely...openly...honestly. Wow, the creator of the world just wants his creation coming to Him with honesty, even though what we might be feeling are feelings against Him. We don't know if Cain said anything to God, it pretty much sounds like he just sulked. God then says, 'If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it.' God knows Cain's tendency to give into sin. God desires that Cain rise up an gain mastery over sin. How God words sin here really freeks me out...'sin is crouching at the door and its desire is for you.' eek, 'its desire is for you'. That is a new way to think about sin. Sin wants to have mastery over us, its desire is US. Cain, unfortunately gave into that sin that was crouching at the door, for he killed his brother Abel and disobeyed God.

His curse was to be a wanderer. Cain did not like this, of course, and feared being killed. Even after all his disobedience God is tender and graceful and places on him a mark so that no one will kill him.

I believe I learned a lot about God today. His desire for us to listen to Him. That when He does not accept something of us, it is not for us to sulk, it is for us to get honest before God and then listen to what He wants and then to do it. The commentary I read said this, 'God's Word whether satisfying to us or not, is still the authoritative Word of God and is to be obeyed.' and it said 'Be careful of your reaction to God's blessing on others. Abel's blessing didn't take anything away from Cain. Don't let pride prevent you from obeying God.'

I struggle a lot with seeing others blessed with losing weight. I have struggled with this for a long time and it is really beginning to get me down. I try and I try to lose weight and I have weeks where it comes off and then I have weeks where it comes back. I have not been able to break 140 for 2 years now. I get to 141 and I get so excited and then the next week comes and I am 142, or 143 and I am like, give me a break! Everyone around me seems to be blessed with the losing weight blessing and here I stand getting no where. Today's messsage is really showing me, that I just need to get open and honest before God about my anger, disappointment, frustration. I need to stop looking at others and sulking and I need to just do what God wants me to do: Love Him and trust Him for help.

Be praying for me in this specific area, it has been a thorn in my side for 2 years now and I am ready to start loving myself(even though I only see myself in very negative ways right now) and my body(curves and all). This is going to take a long time, but I don't want to sulk like Cain did and let all that bitterness create a crazy person underneath. No thanks!

How can I be praying for you this weekend??

NChrist, Susan