A Replacement; The Story of Cain and Abel

Nov. 2

Read: Genesis 4:25-26

The Story of Cain and Abel;

A Replacement

“And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” (v.25)

No matter what loss the people of God suffer, the Lord will always “make us whole again”. I cannot imagine the sadness of Adam and Eve. They lost two children to the same tragedy; one was murdered and the other rejected them and left… Cain had cut them off. I am sure there were many tears in that household. We obviously don’t know what Eve said to the Lord, but we do know this: the Lord heard her, took compassion on her, and he “appointed another offspring” to replace Abel. The loss that Adam and Eve suffered because of the evil one, sin, and the murder of their child did not go unnoticed by God… NOTHING DOES. Whether it is in this lifetime or the next - whatever is lost will be found, whatever is broken will be mended, whatever is lacking will be made whole again for those who belong to the Lord. We see this promise laid out throughout the scriptures:

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 2:25)

“Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy…” (Is. 61:7)

“Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.” (Zech. 9:12)

“And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

“Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29,30)

The Lord knows your pain and loss, and he will make it right again someday for those who are his. Do not despair or lose hope. Seth comes to Eve as a comfort and blessing from the Lord in the midst of mourning and loss. If Cain multiplied sin and evil in this world, what did Seth do:

“To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.” (v.26)

From Seth and his son come the habit of “calling upon the Lord”. Cain’s bloodline brought arrogance, perversion, polygamy, and increased murder… and Seth’s brought about a willingness to call upon the name of the Lord. I cannot think of two moree opposite outcomes to come from the same family… from a pair of brothers! Seth’s son is named Enosh which means both social as well as fragile / vulnerable and weak. The fragility of humanity and our need for the Lord becomes very clear very quickly! By the third generation from Adam and Eve we have a clear picture of in our weakness how we should call to the Lord and HE will hear us, look out for us, love us, forgive us, and redeem us. Again, we see the juxtaposition of Cain and Seth… one bloodline that rejects the Lord, does not turn to him, and seeks to function in their own strength versus a bloodline that recognizes it weakness and need for the Lord and quickly turns to him. This is the story of Cain and Abel… and it is our story today as well. Who will repent and turn to the Lord… “call on the name of the Lord”… and who will harden their hearts and rebel? Call on the name of the Lord today, he is more gracious, kind, loving, patient, and generous than you could ever imagine. Take heart today, he will make all things new and restore what has been lost in this lifetime or the next. The Lord never leaves his people empty or at a loss. Love you guys! - JDP