Worship from the Heart - Treasures of Faith - Week 2 Day 2

TODAY'S TREASURE

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11:1-3

Transcript

Worship From the Heart

Chuck and Sharon Betters

Today’s Treasure

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11:1-3

Cain and Abel, like all of humanity to follow, were the products of sinful parents. Adam and Eve had once been in close fellowship with God. When they doubted their Creator and went on to disobey God, they brought the curse of death upon themselves and their children. As a result, Adam and Eve and their children after them lived in a broken world, under the curse of God (Genesis 3:17–19). Yet God’s eternal redemptive plan was already in place, wrapped in grace, and buoyed with the promise that God would one day provide salvation through a descendant of Eve (Genesis 3:14–15). 

Eve’s words at the time of Cain’s birth reflected her reliance upon God for his birth but also a hint of her independence: “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man” (Genesis 4:1). Eve’s second son, Abel, was born not long afterward. 

Though the Scriptures give few details about life in Adam’s family, we do know that although they worked hard in the fields, they regularly set aside time to worship God.

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:3–5)

We know this religious observation was a common event because the Septuagint, or Greek translation of the Old Testament, renders the phrase “In the course of time” (Genesis 4:3) to mean “at the end of the Sabbath,” indicating a regularly scheduled time for family worship. 

Why was God pleased with Abel’s offering but not with Cain’s? It is generally believed Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable because an appropriate sacrifice required the shedding of blood (see Hebrews 9:22). Yet, since Cain did not have the benefit of the directives regarding animal sacrifice God gave His people in Numbers, Deuteronomy, and elsewhere, it is unfair to assert Cain’s offering was unacceptable because he did not adhere to practices that were only spelled out clearly many centuries later. We believe God was concerned with much more here—the motivation behind Cain and Abel’s choices. Outwardly, both men offered sacrifices produced from their respective occupations—gardener and shepherd. However, the issue here is internal, involving the hearts of the two men. We know this is the case from Hebrews 11:4: “By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did” (emphasis added). What made the sacrifice “better”, what made it, indeed, acceptable to God at all, was the faith of the one who gave it. Abel’s faith had produced right worship.

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

God, of course, sees past all artifice. He knows and cares deeply about what is in the innermost recesses of our hearts, beyond the view of all others. While we tend to consider only outward appearances, the Lord looks, always, into the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). When God looked into Abel’s heart, He saw trust, He saw faith. When He looked into Cain’s heart, He saw anger.

God confronted Cain:

“Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:6–7

Cain’s anger here is an indication of a defiant soul, one hot with displeasure against God. We don’t know the reason for this anger, but it certainly offers a warning to all of us. Great evil, God warned, was “crouching” at the door of Cain’s heart. The word for crouching here is “robets”—the name of a demon according to some of the ancient rabbis. Sin is thus depicted as though it were a demon lying in wait for Cain. The moment Cain chooses to do what is wrong, the power of sin and evil stands ready to pounce on him and drag him off into even greater sin. God exhorted Cain to do what was right, warning him that his rebellious anger would lead him into deeper sin. When Cain refused to obey God, this, of course, is precisely what happened.

Friends, this is a frightening picture. Is there a specific sin the Lord is bringing to your mind with the warning, “It is crouching at your door….You have a choice. It is the root of your unhappiness… do what is right and your countenance will rise….” Take a few minutes to process these words from long ago. Remember the writer of Hebrews told us Abel still speaks, though dead. Let this man of faith lead you to the cross where repentance brings freedom.

PRAYER

Oh Lord, when we name our sins and consider God’s warning, show us how this message is one of mercy and grace. Your son paid the price for our sins, we can repent and find forgiveness and help as we struggle with the power of sin in our lives. Abel still speaks. May we hear and choose repentance that will flow into genuine worship out of gratitude for grace.

MORE…

Adapted from Treasures of Faith by Chuck and Sharon Betters with permission from P&R Publishing

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