Cain's Motive

"And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.    Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:3 -5).

      What was the problem with Cain AND his offering?  Why did God not “respect” (look upon, regard or have respect for [Strong’s]) Cain and his offering?

      The above scripture is an example of how God comes to His perspective on each of us and is confirmed further in 1 Samuel 16:7:  “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  “Heart” in this scripture is the mind, will and emotions, what’s behind the actions and words of the man (Strong’s); the motives of the heart.

      Because God looks at the motives of a man, He stated He had no regard not only for Cain’s offering, but for Cain himself, in this circumstance.  This is not saying that God did not love Cain, but that Cain’s motive and actions were wrong.  Notice that Abel brought of the “firstborn” of his flock whereas Cain brought “an offering of the fruit of the ground”.  The firstborn of the flock is that which opens the womb and the first fruit of the crop is the very first fruit harvested.  These portions were considered sacred to God, even before the Levitical system of sacrifices and offerings were established-if this were not so, God would have had no basis for which to hold Cain accountable for both his offering and the attitude of his heart.

      God was not indicating that an animal sacrifice was better than a grain offering.  The problem with Cain’s offering was his lack of concern for honoring God with the first fruits.  Cain’s offering indicated disrespect for God’s blessing on Cain in that Cain refused to give back to God the first portion as a symbol of his worship and gratitude to God.  In holding back the first fruits Cain revealed a deeper issue with his heart:  greed!    Claiming greed may seem a far stretch, but with the few scripture references to this scenario it fits perfectly:  Jude 1: 11 “Woe to them! For they have run riotously in the way of Cain, and have abandoned themselves for the sake of gain...”   Cain, and others listed in the Jude 1, had given themselves over to the lust of the flesh, in the form of greed, as opposed to the purity of a heart which seeks to know and please God.  This is the reason God did not accept Cain or his offering - the motive behind the offering was what prompted the imperfect offering. 

This is a cautionary example to the Body today, not only to bring to God the first fruits of what He has given to us as a blessing, but to know that God looks into the heart of man, examining motives as the plumb-line for actions.  There is a doctrine afoot today which elaborates on the precious Word of God, encouraging people to give so that God will give back to them.  Taken out of context, scripture is made to fit the desires of man for the advancement of man’s purposes.  Surely there are scriptures to support God’s generosity to us as we sew into His purposes, however, the idea of giving for the purpose of getting is far outside of the intentions of God’s heart and falls into the deep pit of greed.  One may respond with “Cain’s greed was holding back the best part,” but I say that Cain’s heart manifested greed in this way. The greed motive can be manifested just as easily through giving with the purpose of getting back.

      Can we deny that God gives to us as we give to others?  Absolutely not!  He provides for us in every possible way.  The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17) is but one example.  In the New Testament we are told:  “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart [intentions and motives of the heart, Strong’s], not grudgingly [grievously releasing the gift, Strong’s] or of necessity [because he has a need, Strong’s]; for God loves a cheerful giver [one that gladly takes the prompting of God, Vine’s]” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

      Here is what God is putting forth to us:  the heart is either given over to God and derives its motives from God or the heart is withheld from God and strives between serving God and self.  In serving self, God becomes a currency for our earthly needs, in serving God, the heart becomes the currency for fulfilling God’s purposes.  In this last scenario we see revealed a great mystery of relationship with God:  as the heart serves God, God blesses the life of the server both in this world and the world to come.

Is God Seeker Friendly?

There are prominent “seekers” in the Bible, those who desperately desire God, to know His ways and follow after Him wholeheartedly.  Moses was one such seeker!  Moses sought after God not for what He could do for him or give him, but for relationship with Him. 

Moses had a tough assignment in leading a “stiff necked” [grievously unyielding] people (Deuteronomy  31:27).  Though he made mistakes, he continued to repentantly seek God and have a heart for those who made his work difficult.  In Exodus  33:13  Moses prays for understanding of God and His ways, not for himself only, but that he could lead the Israelites as God desires: “ Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is your people."

Though Moses knew the end result of God’s assignment, that the Israelites would inherit the Promised Land, he continued to seek God’s way of doing things in the process of getting to that land.  We may know God’s plan for us in a particular situation, but the process of carrying out that plan is just as important as getting the end result.  When we leave God on the sidelines and progress with an end goal in mind, we may arrive at that goal but the road to the goal may be scattered with casualties.  Seeking God for the process is just as important as arriving at the end goal!  Proverbs 16:25 states: “There is a way that seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death [void of the life of God].”

Moses shows selflessness and humility in his prayer [Exodus 33:13]:  show me how to do this your way, give me grace [favor, mercy and loving kindness] in carrying out your purpose and look upon us as your children.  God’s response to the heart of Moses is stated in Exodus 33:17:  “So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."  Moses,  however, does not stop at knowing that God will guide him through the process,  he considers knowing God to be more of a priority than accomplishing the task at hand, and he asks God to “show me your glory” in Exodus 33:18.  Moses has already seen the Red Sea parted, been on the mountain with God for 40 days and nights and watched as God produced manna and quail for an enormous multitude of Israelites.  What is Moses asking of God?  What more could he possibly want from God?  In human terms, Moses wants to look into the face of God and behold His beauty!

      God’s response to Moses is that He will show Moses His glory, but no man, in his current state of humanness, can see the face of God and live.  God gives Moses the following instructions in Exodus  33:21-22: “And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place beside Me, and you shall stand upon the rock  and while My glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.”    Here is the answer which applies not only to Moses request, but to all of us: “there is a place beside Me, I will cover you [fence you in and protect you] and you shall stand [be established] on the Rock!”

      There is a place near to God where we stand on the Rock, Jesus Christ.  In all of our concerns over life and how to fulfill the task at hand, the answer is to stand near to God, on the Rock!  This must be our priority in every situation: where we would first seek a solution, we must first seek the One who has the solution.  Stand on the Rock!

Would you like that super-sized?

"Would you like that super-sized?" 

 Or perhaps you'd like to "Do the Dew?"  

The desire for things super-sized, fantastic and thrilling seems to have overtaken our society.   A look at current media reveals our culture's thirst for not only what's thrilling, but also what’s dangerous and extreme.  In a society lacking Godliness, the soul looks for satisfaction in the thrill of extremes.  As believers in Him who created the world, we have been redeemed from the extremes of the enemy of our souls to be extreme for God!   

Our God’s love is extreme toward us in that He gave His only Son to die for us, that we might have life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10).  This scripture literally means “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, exceedingly beyond measure (Strong’s Concordance)."  The measure of abundant life is not calculated in worldly wealth and position, but is evidenced by the working of the Holy Spirit in us, affecting the inner man to affect the world around us. 

We have experienced, and the Bible confirms, that life is full of trials and tribulations, but we also are told in His word that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).  A conqueror is someone who subdues, prevails and gains a decisive victory (Strong’s Concordance).  There is no victory outside of Him and there is no power to overcome outside of Him-a victory is truly a victory only if it fulfills His will. 

      As we lean our entire personality and being into Christ we become vessels of power and victory for Him.  His extreme power works in us as we become extreme for Him and give Him glory in all things!

      Ephesians 3:20-21(AMP)   "Now to Him Who, by …the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].  To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it)."

God's Plans for Your Future

Jeremiah  29:11-13   For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Here is God, who created the universe, calling out to mankind in search of relationship.  God never had the intention of creating man, setting him on the earth and coming back 6000 years later.  He has always sought relationship with man and that relationship is the true source of blessing in man’s life.  

Colossians 1:20 -22 (AMP) tells us that “Christ the Messiah reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence.”  The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has not only given us forgiveness of sins, but Christ’s sacrifice has opened the door into the Holy of Holies, the presence of God, for everyone who believes (puts their trust in God).  Jesus Christ himself has taken us by the hand and presented us to the Father-we have access into the presence of the Creator of the universe!  To know that God Himself welcomes us into His presence, has us on His mind and thinks thoughts of hope, peace and a future for us, should bring us great encouragement.  God has promised us "never will I leave you, never will I forsake you (Heb 13:5)."  "Leave" in this scripture means "loosen a grip, abandon, or release."  The Amplified Bible states Heb. 13:5 much more powerfully: "for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]."  He will not loosen his grip of love on us, but continues to keep us on his mind, desiring that we turn and seek Him wholeheartedly.

Human nature wants to run from the presence of our Holy God when we have sinned, but God beckons us to do the opposite.  He has not called us to clean up and get it together before we present ourselves to Him-we do not have the ability to clean ourselves for it is only by the blood of Jesus Christ, through repentance, that we are led into the presence of God.  Run, run, run to God in times of trouble and sin and distress!  Run to the Holy of Holies, by the blood of Jesus, and lay yourself at His feet--God hears our prayers as we earnestly seek Him and He answers the cries of our hearts.   

  

Heb 10:19 - 23  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,and having a High Priest over the house of God,  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.