2/13/2022 - Worship and Murder - Cain and Abel - Genesis 4:1-16 - Pastor Jason Fritz

This Sunday we come to Genesis chapter 4. It contains a story of family dysfunction involving worship, pride and murder. This is the first killing of one human by another. It doesn’t take long to see more results of the fall. At the brith of Cain there was pain but there was also joy and wonder at what Adam and Eve created together. There is work and there is worship and there are little boys running around. As the boys get older, one begins working with animals and the other works with the ground. Both are good occupations. Both men know that God is to be worshiped and worship involves sacrifice so there is a giving of what they produce.

Cain brings something and Abel brings something. God accepts one and rejects the other. Why? Some say Abel gave an animal and that was better because it was a blood sacrifice. The text says that Abel brought the best of his flock and there’s no clear indication that Cain brought his best. Whatever the specifics, we do know exactly how God felt about it… "but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell." Cain’s response holds the clue to what’s really happening here. If his heart was in the right place he would have said, “God, somehow I missed it, how can I do this in a way that is pleasing to you?” But instead, his head is down, his lips are tightened and there’s no sense that he wants to please God. In fact, he’s flippant and obstinate. The problem was not the sacrifice itself, it was Cain’s heart. Worship is always about the heart.

In his most famous sermon, Jesus speaks directly to the heart of worship by saying we should not offer a sacrifice while we have not made things right with those we have offended. In other words, we should not be in church raising our hands if we are living a lie outside its walls. He’s telling us to make amends - especially with our church family. Once we’ve made it right, then come back because God wants a real connection with us, not one that is superficial or hypocritical.

I’ve been saying Genesis points forward to Jesus. Listen to the author of Hebrews as he describes the blood of Abel and the blood of Jesus…And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24) Abel’s blood said, “Give me justice!” But Jesus’ blood said, “You are forgiven!” The blood that judges the unrepentant sinner also pardons the repentant saint. Let’s remember how good it is to know the gracious love of God. Meanwhile, when we are confronted with our wrongs let us be quick to repent rather than make excuses.

“One of the clearest marks of sin is our almost innate desire to excuse ourselves and complain if we are judged in any way.” James Boice