The Beginning Of Everything [Genesis]
Homesick
Speaker: Tim Bounds
Week 4
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering--fat portions from some of the first born 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 downcast. Then the LORD said to 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 rule over it."
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's bloddd from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You wll be a restless wonderer on the earth." Cain said to the LORD, "my punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." But the LORD said to him, "Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." The the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
(Genesis 4:1-15)
Adam knew his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel since Cain killed him."
Genesis 4:25-26
God sees your partnership with Him and smiles.
Chrissy Stergos
Read
Genesis 3:23-24
Reflect
When have you felt homesick?
What did that feel like?
How do you see the shadow of Cain in our world today?
Why is the state of your heart important when you worship?
When was the last time you slowed down and examined the state of your heart?
What does Cain's story teach you about worship?
What sins trip you up?
What steps can you take to be alert and resist temptation?
What can yo do to live in the LORD's presence this week?
Do
Be alert and turn to God