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B'reshit1:1-6:8

(Please take the time to read the portion completely as this "reflection" is designed to be a life application of only a small part of the Torah portion and is not an in depth commentary, nor does it normally touch the scheduled corresponding Haftorah and Brit Chadashah readings)

Shalom Friends,

Gen 4:3-5 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to YHVH of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And YHVH had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

Have you ever noticed that when we are faced with the prospect of having our efforts rejected that we get angry at the person whose efforts are accepted. The female co-worker who gets the promotion is "sleeping her way to the top," or the guy next to us who gets the big account is a "kiss up" to the boss. You get the idea. Well here we have the first instance of this with the offerings of Cain and Abel. Clearly the difference in the two offerings is that Abel ALSO brought from the flock and not just of the ground. I propose that there was an easy fix;

Gen 4:6-7a Then YHVH said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up..."

YHVH was stating that the problem was in the form that Cain used. He omitted the animal sacrifice that YHVH had obviously previously instructed. All he had to do was come back and try again, but he chose another route. He got angry. That Abel is such a kiss up, I'll show him!

The word translated as countenance is Panim which comes from the root for face. The Etymological Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew states it means to "focus attention." Cain wanted YHVH's attention. Well he got it! But not in a good way.

We can see this in a child who is craving attention from his or her parents and doesn't get it for positive reasons, will start to mis-behave so as to get the same attention for negative ones? A parent can be indifferent to a well behaved obedient child because he or she is not causing them to do anything, but when that same child throws his or her food on the floor, watch out, instant interaction.

Our loving and caring Heavenly Father is not like that. The reality is that if we mis-behave He must by His nature withdraw from our presence. We loose our fellowship due to sin.

Psa 51:9-11 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Here again we see the word Panim, face, and we see that David is asking that YHVH not turn His attention to David's sin. David continues that he wants restoration with his Creator. He wants attention in a good way.

Psa 51:12-14 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

Let's go back to Cain. He didn't want fellowship with YHVH. He got angry. Anger always leads to a failure in our battle against the enemy, sin.

Gen 4:7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

First anger, then bitterness and finally death. The physical death of Abel was not as tragic as the spiritual death of Cain. Abel went on to be in the presence of Yah, Cain was lost forever.

Gen 4:14 "Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

Once again Panim, attention, is with held from Cain because he did not do the right thing. How can we know what the right thing is? We study the living and active Word of YHVH, Torah.

Psa 119:9-11 Beth. How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Don't be like Cain. Don't let disobedience change to anger, bitterness and death. Choose forgiveness and walk in the love of Yeshua. Put aside pride and petty jealousy. Do things the right way and live.

Shalom in Yeshua

Bill