Torah-Poor God (Genesis 4)

Torah-Poor God (Genesis 4)

“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.’

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’

He said, ‘I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’

And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.’” Genesis 4:6-10

Can you imagine having this conversation with God and telling Him you don’t know where your brother is (as if God could not know you killed him and why) and than going so far as to add that snarky comment, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” when God Himself asks for your explanation of his absence?

“Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, and their works are in the dark; they say, ‘Who sees us?’ and, ‘Who knows us?” Isaiah 29:15 “‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘and not a God afar off?’ ‘Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:23-24

While as it may be easily to acknowledge how silly it is of others to think that they can hide their sins from God in reality we are not much better. We sin as if God’s can’t see, defend wrong doing as if He doesn’t know what happened, yet have the nerve look at people in the Bible with amazement at their boldness in sinning directly in the face of God.

Is God any less familiar with the details of our lives or the motives for our actions? Can we excuse our sin in the face of God any more successfully than Cain? At times I felt moved to pity toward God just for being exposed to our foolishness. We shouldn’t live as if we are unaware of God’s presence. Don’t be like Cain who acknowledged God’s presence with his lips but denied it in actions.

Picture originally found here

Related Articles

More From Articles

The Number Seven

The number 7 is the most used number throughout the Holy Scriptures.
The Number Seven

Torah-You Need to Know to Know

The Torah says, "'When your son asks you in time to come, saying, "What is the meaning of the…
Torah-You Need to Know to Know

David

GOD told Samuel the prophet to anoint David to be the next king of Israel.
David

Why the Need for the Tree

“Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it.
Why the Need for the Tree
Illustration: Job, covered with boils, sits listening to his friends.

What Does it Cost to be Faithful?

The ancient story of Job in the Bible has encouraged many men and women throughout the ages.…
What Does it Cost to be Faithful?

Building God's Temple

When Israel returned from exile they rebuilt the temple, but there were mixed feeling about it…
Building God's Temple

Mother in Israel

Are you a mother, or a father, in Israel? Have you ever heard someone called "a mother in…
Mother in Israel

God Called Moses

Have you ever felt that you could not accomplish something important?
God Called Moses

Aaron's Rod

Inside the most Holy Place of God's sanctuary, God had Moses place an Ark covered with gold.…
Aaron's Rod

Just Because God Didn't Say It

“The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of…
Just Because God Didn't Say It

Elohim

The very first words recorded in the Bible are "In the beginning God created the heavens and…
Elohim

Meekness is not Weakness

Many professed believers seem to believe holiness consists of ignoring human rights or even…
Meekness is not Weakness

Elijah

Around the year 900 BCE, when Israel was not following the Lord, God sent the Jewish prophet…
Elijah

Jehovah Jireh

God is a great God. He has promised to provide all of our needs, including the ability to be…
Jehovah Jireh

Who Causes Evil?

One of the greatest objections to the belief in God is the existence of evil.
Who Causes Evil?
Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel

God, in His great love, developed a plan whereby we could receive forgiveness for our mistakes.…
Cain and Abel

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation