Last week, I was amazed by the love and care our father has for his creation. My heart filled with joy as I read how God affirms everything he creates. From the separating of light from darkness to creating seasons, land, vegetation, and more. If you missed last week’s post, be sure to check it out. This week, I want to focus on the grace our father has shown since the day he created mankind.
We are truly made in the image of God. Even choosing, through free will, not to serve Him or acknowledge Him as Creator doesn’t change the fact that everything we see today is inspired by or built upon His original design. The structure of the parent and child relationship being one of them.
What really stands out in the first few chapters is the fatherly love and mercy God shows to his children. While some might view his punishment of Adam and Eve as harsh, I wanted to see it from God the father perspective. Even then, there was grace and mercy, which comes through clearly in Genesis chapter 4. This chapter tells the story of the brothers Cain and Abel. We often focus on their offerings. Cain held back his best, while Abel gave his finest and first. Take a look at Genesis chapter 4:3-5 amplified version.
3 And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. 4 But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the [b]fat portions. And the Lord had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and his offering He had no respect. So Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and [c]he looked annoyed and hostile.
Zoom in on Cains disposition here. It just sounds way too familiar to me. In many ways, we can relate to Cain in this situation. We don’t always give God our best, even when we know he deserves it. Like starting the day, he gave us without him. Or maybe not showing up as the best wife/husband to our mate that he has joined us together with. Not cultivating our gifts and talents or performing our best at work. Whoa!! let me slow down. LOL. Kinda telling on myself here.
Nonetheless, I’m not here to focus on the offering, but just to share the verses that has had me reflecting over the past few days. Take a look at Genesis Chapter 4:6-7 amplified version.
6 And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? 7 If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”
Let’s be honest, His tone screamed Father. A MERCIFUL FATHER. Who saw the heart of his son was filled with anger with a little drizzle of jealousy, trying to steer him into the right direction with desire for him not to take the sin route. Weren’t our parents or guardians the same way? Aren’t we this way with our children, today?
Funny story: One day, my child ignored my instruction to clean the toys from under his bed. In true millennial parent fashion, I said, “If you don’t put those toys in your toy box, I’m going to give you a whoop whoop.” He replied, “No, Mommy, I love you. Don’t whoop whoop me!” I told him, “If you love me, then do what I tell you to do.” In that moment, I couldn’t help but laugh at the realization. The thought popped into my head: “You treat me the same way.” And I was like, God, it’s true. I often ignore your warnings and then cry when I end up with an outcome that’s not in my favor. Just like Cain did.
Cain was graced with a warning from God, and he even talked over the word from God with Abel and still made the decision to Murder his brother. When the act was done, he was so filled with pride that he even tried to get smart with Omniscient. Then expressed the punishment was too much for him to bear, and in that moment, God showed him grace again by lighting it just a little by placing a mark on him to not be killed found in Genesis Ch. 4:15 amplified version.
15 And the Lord said to him, “[e]Therefore, whoever kills Cain, a sevenfold vengeance [that is, punishment seven times worse] shall be taken on him [by Me].” And the Lord set a [protective] [f]mark (sign) on Cain, so that no one who found (met) him would kill him.
A warning always comes before destruction, and in its own way, it might be a beautiful expression of grace to experience. See, this chapter helped me understand Grace isn’t only about the comfort or forgiveness we receive through Jesus; it’s also about protection, guidance, and love that intervenes before harm happens, and an opportunity to choose God’s way. Let’s choose to yield to the will of God for our lives. So, we could end the Cain cycles.
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