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Through the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we have a helper and an advocate who is ready to work when repentance feels too hard. The painting is now in the church of Santa Maria della Salute in Venice. The effects of the dark sky and the threatening Cain are emphasized by the perspective, which suggests a low point of view. Thankfully, we have something that Cain didn’t have: the Holy Spirit. Abels leg, his left arm and Cains curved body form part of a circle that makes the picture very dynamic. It’s about sin, and what it does to the human heart. This, we must remember, is not about us or our shortcomings or how we could have said it better. Sometimes, we bring truth to light and then, just like God does in this story, have to watch as a loved one hardens their heart all the more. How we respond to sin sets our feet on one of two paths: back to God, or further away from Him.īut here is what else this story reminds us, and I hope this sets you free: sometimes we are the ones being confronted, but sometimes we are the ones doing the confronting. When accountability comes our way, even if it comes harshly or imperfectly, our response determines the course of our lives.
![cain and abel bible cain and abel bible](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Edx3DRRWNMU/maxresdefault.jpg)
It will run, hide, make excuses, and lash out before taking responsibility and repenting, and this is an important thing to know about ourselves. Human sin is so utterly broken that it will even deny its brokenness. In these early chapters of Genesis, we are learning about the ways of God, but we are also learning about the ways of sin, and here we observe a major hallmark. He nurses his bitterness until it culminates in murder, and even after all that he continues to play the victim: “My punishment is too great to bear” (v.13). Abel is enthusiastic about worship, while Cain is basically disinterested.”Ĭain is caught doing the bare minimum, but rather than humble himself, admit his spiritual apathy, and ask how he can do better, Cain digs in. In their commentary on this passage, Tremper Longman and Scot McKnight explain the difference in their gifts: “Cain offered the ordinary and Abel the best, and of course the quality of their offering reflects the condition of their hearts. God looks with favor on Abel’s offering, but he withholds favor from Cain. At first glance, it would appear that each brother brought what he had, but God does not see it this way. Cain brings the fruits of his soil, and Abel brings fat portions from the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4:3–4). Two competitive brothers-one a farmer, one a shepherd-bring offerings to God. Here in this story of the very first murder, we see where this blame-shifting began. And sometimes, they dig in their heels even deeper. Rather than repent and ask forgiveness, they make excuses. Like generations of children before them-including myself!-my kids are gifted at playing the martyr. On a daily basis, usually multiple times a day, I dispense consequences for bad behavior, which are then met with responses of total shock and horror. My children are currently in a difficult season of discipline.