Architecting Iniquity

The mystery of godliness and the mystery of lawlessness are parallel narratives throughout Scripture. The historical account between Cain and Abel is where these two chosen lifestyle paths split. This particular pictorial mirror of Scripture helps all of us see objectively how an iniquitous mentality is developed.

In Genesis chapter four, the Scripture says, “…in the process of time…” both Cain and Abel were going to make an offering to the Lord. Apparently, their parents had taught them about worship and how to worship –  however, Scripture does not tell us what they taught their children, but Eve might have said something like this,

“Well fellas, I tried that whole getting stuff and being my own god thing and it didn’t pan out so well for me. So I’ve learned to receive and stay in the Lord’s vast echad, and by the way, abiding in God is much better! Since everything first comes from Him as our Source, I affectionately honor Him by giving my first from what He has given me. It is inappropriate to give Him less than the first. So careful fellas what you call ‘mine’ – and by all means, don’t take the bait that it’s all about you!”

Cain, a farmer, brought the fruit of the ground and Abel, a shepherd, brought the first of his flock. This is the first mention of the principle of the tithe as a proper and acceptable act of worship and that anything less is literally unrespectable!

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. Gen 4:4, 5

First and foremost, beloved, nobody on this planet will ever respect you more than the Lord Himself when you walk uprightly before Him! The word respect (sha-ah) means to gaze upon or behold in adoration – to be favored in the shine of His Presence! Living in the Lord’s favor is THE deep fulfillment of life! However, when God does not shine His favor upon us, our deepest selves are disturbed, in Cain’s case, angry. We will now see how Satan’s nature of envy found expression through Cain, the beginning of his seed on the earth,

And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. Gen 4:5-7

God is benevolent and straightforward with Cain, “Why are you angry?” God was giving Cain an opportunity to reconcile with Him. Cain did not desire God as first nor wanted to give God his first. Cain wanted the privileges of the first without practicing the principle of the first. God gives an opportunity for Cain to take responsibility for the reason why he didn’t have God’s favor and simply align himself and to do what would merit God’s favor; promising to accept Cain if and when he did right. But if not, sin’s desire was present to dominate him! God doesn’t make the choice for us, He puts the responsibility on the individual to choose. Our choices are rooted in our desires – what we choose is the manifestation of who we are!

As we well know, Cain did not take personal responsibility for his wrong doing, envied his brother Abel and killed him! Envy that began with an attraction to God respecting Abel, but was not willing to do what Abel did to get it, resented him and killed him. Envy will always try to destroy the light of obedience that exposes the darkness of disobedience. God offered Cain freely what his envy desired, if he would simply align himself with God – just as God is offering to each of us as we align ourselves with Him!

God responded by measuring out a punitive consequence to disobedient Cain. God did not curse Cain person, but the dominion in which Cain labored. Cain was a farmer and God said something to this effect, “Your unrighteousness upon the ground has cancelled your prosperity from the ground and you are now exiled from My intended place of blessing.”

So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth. Gen 4:11, 12

The root word for both fugitive and vagabond is anxiety. Practice the principle of taking personal responsibility, honor the Lord first, and we are promised the privilege of God’s respect! Don’t take personal responsibility, don’t honor Him first, and we will be dominated by fear, exiled from God’s best for us!