The family of Adam And Eve – Part 1

By the special grace of God, we shall be looking at the first family in the Bible. Some of the purposes are to know their relationship with God, their unique strengths and individual weaknesses. This will help us to learn and take precautions where necessary. It will equally help us to avoid their pitfalls, thereby avoiding making the same mistakes.

“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground”-Gen. 4:1-2.

In spite of parents’ efforts and worries, conflicts between children in a family seem inevitable. Sibling relationships allow both competition and cooperation. In most cases, the mixture of loving and fighting eventually creates a strong bond between brothers and sisters. It isn’t unusual, though, to hear parents say, “They fight so much, I hope they don’t kill each other before they grow up.” In Cain’s case, the troubling potential became a tragedy. And while we don’t know much details of this first child’s life, his story can still teach us.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 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:  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell”- Gen 4:1-5. Abel was the second child born into the world, but the first one to obey God.

All we know about this man is that his parents were Adam and Eve. He was a shepherd and he presented pleasing sacrifices to God, but his short life was ended at the hands of his jealous older brother, Cain. The Bible doesn’t tell us why God liked Abel’s gift and disliked Cain’s, but both Cain and Abel knew what God expected. Only Abel obeyed. Throughout history, Abel is remembered for his obedience and faith. “By faith Abel made a better offering to God than Cain, and he had witness through it of his righteousness, God giving his approval of his offering: and his voice still comes to us through it though he is dead”- Hebrews 11:4.

The Bible is filled with God’s general guidelines and expectations for our lives. It is also filled with more specific directions. Like Abel, we must obey, regardless of the cost and trust God to make things right. Eventually, Abel became the first martyr for truth.  “So that on you may come all the blood of the upright on the earth, from the blood of upright Abel to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom you put to death between the Temple and the altar”-Matthew 23:35.

Through the life of Abel, one is able to know that God hears those who come to Him and also recognises the innocent person and always punishes the guilty. Cain got angry. Furious. Both he and his brother Abel had made sacrifices to God, and his had been rejected. Cain’s reaction gives us a clue that his attitude was probably wrong from the start. “And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why is your face sad? If you do well, will you not have honour? And if you do wrong, sin is waiting at the door, desiring to have you, but do not let it be your master”-Gen 4:6-7.

Prophet Abiara, General Evangelist, CAC Worldwide. skabiaraofciem@yahoo.co.uk