“Who does God think he is?”
That’s what went through Cain’s mind as his anger rose to “white hot” in intensity. “How dare you, God, stick your nose in my business when you have rejected me. How dare you judge me so severely. In fact, how dare you judge me at all.”
“Who do you think you are?”
Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil setting a new standard of living based on the glory of humans rather than the glory of God. In today’s text we will see that Cain had followed in his parents’ footsteps. He also now had this knowledge of good and evil, and based on his standard of good and evil, he had brought an offering before God demanding God to accept what he believed to be good and true, what he had determined was right and acceptable.
But you see, Cain doesn’t know who God is. God doesn’t go for that stuff.
If you know who God is, then you don’t bring your nonsense and stupidity before him and demand agreement. In fact, you don’t demand anything from a holy God. But Cain doesn’t know these things.
And, secondly, if you know who God is, then you are listening to God. You aren’t a decider. You are a listener. You don’t set the standard. You bow before a God who is the standard. And you listen.
And what did God say?
- (Genesis 4:7 ESV) If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.
And it hasn’t changed. Are we listening to God?
If you are listening to God, then you know who God thinks he is. He is God.
God says, “I am El Shaddai. God All-Powerful. I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”
God says, “I am El and Elohim. I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid.”
God says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. For I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst.”
But Cain didn’t know these things.
Message: “Post-Eden World: Acceptance!”
Message Text: Genesis 4:1-5:5, 1 John 3:12, Jude 11
- PDF GENESIS MESSAGE 13 – Our Post-Eden World-ACCEPTANCE : Genesis 4 : ffc : dave scott : 071016 AM : STUDY SHEET ONE
- PDF GENESIS MESSAGE 13 – Our Post-Eden World-ACCEPTANCE : Genesis 4 : ffc : dave scott : 071016 AM : STUDY SHEET TWO
- PDF GENESIS MESSAGE 13 – Our Post-Eden World-ACCEPTANCE : Genesis 4 : ffc : dave scott : 071016 AM : STUDY SHEET THREE
- PDF GENESIS MESSAGE 13 – Our Post-Eden World-ACCEPTANCE : Genesis 4 : ffc : dave scott : 071016 AM : STUDY SHEET FOUR