2B28
© Jeff Stacey | Last updated: 27 September 2016
2B28. Cain sometimes responded with a divided heart-commitment to God:
He only partly obeyed God’s two basic requirements
2B28(title) Cain sometimes responded with a divided heart-commitment to God
There were two occasions when Cain’s responses seemed to show that he had some inclination to do what was right as well as wrong. But he only partly obeyed God’s two basic requirements.
Cycle 3
2B28(a) Cain wanted honour for himself as well as for God
After God had favoured neither him nor his offering, Cain responded badly Gen 4:5b. Apparently he was humiliated and jealous when God’s favour was granted to his younger brother Abel and not to him.
Cain’s response openly exposed his divided heart-motivations. He wanted not only God’s acceptance of his offering but also God’s recognition of his assumed superior status to Abel. So his offering had been a seeking of honour for himself as well as for God. He was not fully ruling over sin so was only partly doing what was right.
Cycle 6
2B28(b) Cain’s fear for himself made him appeal to God
Cain then envisioned himself as being banished from God’s presence and becoming a restless refugee who also would be murdered! Gen 4:14. This indicated that his heart-motivation was now more humble towards God than previously, although still primarily self-serving.