Devotion 4

DEVOTION 4:   “The Way of Cain and the Way of Abel” coming out of Gen. 4

In Genesis 4, Cain decides not to go the way (Word) of God. Instead, he leaves God’s way for another. He even sees God’s vindication for the way of Abel, but still willfully decides to go against it. 

Hebrews 10:26-27 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

If you have heard of the truth of the message of Jesus Christ and you crucified. You have seen the vindication of the truth in the message but you continue in your old religious ways, it’s a willful sin, and places you at odds with God. 

The two of the twelve spies believed. They have all been delivered from Egypt under the strong Arm of God. Yet the ten unbelieving spies never entered the promise land, and died in the wilderness. 

Numbers 14:24,37-38 “But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. [37] Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord. [38] But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.”

Joshua and Caleb had another spirit different from the others. They had the Spirit of the Word of God. They believed the Word. The other ten had another spirit. They had a spirit of reasoning the Word. They had the spirit of unbelief. The same spirit of unbelief which Satan planted into the heart of Eve. 

So just like Cain, they died in the wilderness and never entered into the promise of God.

Let’s begin the story of Cain.

Genesis 4:1-3 “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.”

They both brought an offering to God, meaning they were both believers in God.

We continue our reading:

Genesis 4:4-7 “And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Cain simply had to go the Way of God which is the Way of the Cross. He would have been just as vindicated as Abel. But Cain will not go the Way of the Cross because he had another spirit, a religious spirit. He wanted to believe what he wants to believe. He would rather die in his false belief than go the Way of the Cross. 

So are many today. You are dying in your organized religion, denomination or church. You will go the Way of the Cross because of your previous knowledge of the gospel. So like Cain and the ten spies, if we do not repent and turn to the Way (Word) of God, we will not inherit the promise of God. 

We continue our reading:

Genesis 4:8-24 “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. [9] And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. [13] And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. [15] And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. [16] And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. [17] And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. [18] And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. [19] And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. [20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. [21] And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. [22] And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. [23] And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. [24] If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.”

Two separate ways. The Way (Word) of God or the way of Cain which is the way of Satan. Cain like Satan is at odds with God. The descendants of Cain did not seek God. They tried to live outside God. Cain was the first murderer, and his descendant Lamech was the second murderer, the way of Satan. 

We conclude our reading:

Genesis 4:25-26 “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. [26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.”

God finds a replacement for Abel in Seth and men and women began to go the Way of God.

Let the Word of God draw you to the Way of the Cross. Believe and confess Christ (the Spirit of the Word of God) as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. He will only vindicate the Way of the Cross, in Christ!

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