Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Could the story have been a reflection of the struggle between hunter gatherer and agriculture?
Straight out of the mouth of Beckett.
A friend of mine said he read that Cain was possibly a child of the serpent who tempted Eve. If this were the case, Cain may have been guilty of being born from the wrong father.
Re: Why did god favor Abel?
Originally posted by King Kandy
I've wondered this forever and nobody of any religion has really had a satisfactory answer. In the bible, it states that Cain and Abel both sacrificed, but only Abel's were accepted, and in jealous rage Cain killed him. But why was he favored in the first place? It seems like this whole murder thing could have been avoided if God had at least made an attempt at being fair to both parties.
because if we get right dwn to it, God can see inside your heart, and he knew Cain was a murderous prick?
How could he see Cain as a murderer if murder hasn't happened yet?
Though Genesis depicts Cain's motive in killing Abel as simply being one of jealousy concerning God's favor for Abel, this is not the view of many extra-biblical works. The Midrash and the Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan both record that the real motive involved the desire of women. According to Midrashic tradition, Cain and Abel each had twin sisters, whom they were to marry. The Midrash records that Abel's promised wife was the more beautiful. Cain would not consent to this arrangement. Adam proposed to refer the question to God by means of a sacrifice. God rejected Cain's sacrifice, signifying His disapproval of his marriage with Aclima, and Cain slew his brother in a fit of jealousy.
Originally posted by BloodRain
How could he see Cain as a murderer if murder hasn't happened yet?
um..BECAUSE HE'S GOD! you know..Knows EVEYTHING? It's just Humans that know nothing, so God in his infinite wisdom tests us with questions he ALREADY knows the answer to.
Like a History teacher, he's seen your course work through the year, seen your 'F' grade case studies and knows you suck at History. BUT!! He still lets you take the final exam right?? One last chance to try and pull your grade up.
God Knew Cain was a murderer obviously because if God is ALL powerful, time means nothing to him..but he gave Cain a chance to prove him (God) wrong and get his grace up..Cain Failed at life unfortunatley.
And thats the way it always is, thats why you can go through your whole life being a prick, get near the end and start going to church, say you're sorry infront of a statue and some priest (one last chance to pull your grades up) and Bam, you repent for a life of Prickdom, and God gives you that c+ ftw & the pass.
God asked for a sacrifice from Cain and Abel. What is the most worthy sacrifice over all other sacrifices? (Jesus as example)
Answer: Abel offered blood sacrifice, which is greater than any other sacrifice. God preferred Abels. Cleansing is through the blood. To get to God you must be cleansed. To be cleansed is through the blood. That blood now is Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice.
* God favored Abel because he offered sacrifice with faith:
"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."
Hebrews 11:4
* even before Cain killed Abel, Cain is already a wicked/evil man with an evil heart doing evil works:
"Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous."
I John 3:12
* if Cain had faith and is doing good works, his offering would also be accepted by God:
"If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."
Genesis 4:7
🙂