Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Tuesday, September 10, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for being Goodness and Love. Thank You for accepting the sacrifices of our hearts when they are offered to You in sincerity and from a desire to show You our love. I pray this day that You will remove anything false from my life that I may live in intimate relationship with You, and that I may always be a faithful witness to Your Son, Jesus, in my life. Fill me anew with the Holy Spirit that all that I am, and all that I do will reflect Your light and Your salvation. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 4:1-16
1 Now Adam slept with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When the time came, she gave birth to Cain, and she said, "With the LORD's help, I have brought forth a man!" 2 Later she gave birth to a second son and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer. 3 At harvesttime Cain brought to the LORD a gift of his farm produce, 4 while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain very angry and dejected. 6 "Why are you so angry?" the LORD asked him. "Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it." 8 Later Cain suggested to his brother, Abel, "Let's go out into the fields." And while they were there, Cain attacked and killed his brother. 9 Afterward the LORD asked Cain, "Where is your brother? Where is Abel?" "I don't know!" Cain retorted. "Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?" 10 But the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen – your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground! 11 You are hereby banished from the ground you have defiled with your brother's blood. 12 No longer will it yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless fugitive on the earth, constantly wandering from place to place." 13 Cain replied to the LORD, "My punishment is too great for me to bear! 14 You have banished me from my land and from your presence; you have made me a wandering fugitive. All who see me will try to kill me!" 15 The LORD replied, "They will not kill you, for I will give seven times your punishment to anyone who does." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
16 So Cain left the LORD's presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
When are you most likely to be jealous of others? What do you do about it?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
What are the “facts” of the story of Cain and Abel? What are the differences and similarities between the two, and what is there in the story that gives you clues as to why God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s? (4:1-6)
What was Cain’s response to having his sacrifice rejected? (4:7-8)
How did God respond to Cain’s action? (4:9-16)
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
What do we learn about God from reading today’s Scripture?
What do we learn about our response to a fellow believer’s being blessed by God in this Scripture?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
What one thing do you learn from Cain’s incorrect response to having his sacrifice rejected, that will help you live more effectively today?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“An Acceptable Offering!”
One of the big questions down through the ages, in this story of Cain and Abel is, “Why did God accept Abel’s offering, but reject Cain’s?” We’re told that Abel was a shepherd, while Cain was a farmer. When the time for making sacrifices came all we know is that Cain brought “a gift of his farm produce,” while Abel brought “several choice lambs from the best of his flock.” This isn’t a lot to go on in answering our question, but did you note that Abel’s gift was “choice” lambs from the “best” of his flock. Abel’s sacrifice was truly a sacrifice. If he had kept these choice lambs from the best of his flock, they would have provided him with healthier, stronger sheep for years to come. Instead, he gave up the best he had to honor the Lord. Cain, on the other hand, apparently offered some of his crops, not necessarily the best, not necessarily a portion that would have been a sacrifice. Abel’s attitude was, “Nothing but the best for God,” and God honored that attitude. Cain’s attitude was, “I will fulfill my duty.” Jesus told the Pharisees thousands of years later, “God desires compassion and not sacrifice, mercy more than burnt offerings.” It is the attitude of the heart that makes us acceptable or unacceptable to God. When God comes first in our lives it shows on the inside and the outside, through what we think, say and do! What will we give the Lord today?
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