MM018 "Sibling Rivalry" (Gen. 4) *

MM018 “SIBLING RIVALRY”
Genesis 4

Mighty Moment is walking through the entire Bible story. Overall this episode is MM018 and is #18 of 70 in the series entitled "Genesis". This episode of Mighty Moment “Sibling Rivalry“ is based on Genesis 4 and the topic is “Sin & Abel”.

NOTE: All scriptures are from the New International Version unless otherwise noted
 
EPISODE PROMO
This episode delves into the tragic story of Cain and Abel, exploring the devastating consequences of unchecked jealousy and anger. It uncovers God's wisdom on handling sibling rivalry, the importance of offering our best to God, and the transformative power of His grace even in the face of our darkest moments. The story of Cain and Abel will serve as a stark reminder of the destructive power of negative emotions and the importance of mastering our impulses. It highlights the consequences of allowing jealousy to fester in our hearts..

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Chapters

• 0:00 Opening Song
• 0:29 Announcer Welcome
• 1:02 MM018 "Sibling Rivalry"
• 1:04 Recap of Previous Episode: MM017 "God's Rescue Plan"
• 1:34 Introduction
• 2:15 The Story of Cain & Abel (Gen. 4)
• 3:24 Acceptable Offerings
• 5:57 When Anger Leads
• 6:46 Sin Crouching at the Door
• 8:03 Jealousy
• 8:34 Premeditated Murder
• 8:58 God Confronts Cain
• 10:05 Punishment of Cain
• 11:34 Conclusion
• 12:58 Preview of Next Episode: MM019 "They Walked with God"
• 13:24 Parting Blessing
• 13:31 Announcer Closing
• 14:01 Closing Song

Transcript

MM018 “Sibling Rivalry”

By Dr. Bobby J. Boles

Mighty Moment

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Original Airdate: Wednesday, November 27, 2024

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[Singer]

OPENING SONG (00:00 / 14:29)

Start your day with the Word in hand.  A mighty journey through God's grand plan, from Genesis to what's ahead.  Let His truth be daily bread. Rise and shine… It's a brand new start. The Bible's wisdom… it fills your heart.  A mighty moment, every line.  Start the day and make it shine. 

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 [Announcer]

ANNOUNCER WELCOME (00:29 / 14:29)

Welcome to “Mighty Moment”, where it only takes a moment to have a mighty encounter with God. Our speaker, Dr. Bobby J Boles, is guiding us on a transformative exploration of the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation as he brings to life the incredible and fascinating stories of the Bible. We pray that you are encouraged and spiritually strengthened, so let's turn our hearts and minds to the Word as we prepare for today's journey of discovery. Here's Dr. Bobby with today's “Mighty Moment”. 

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[Dr. Bobby J. Boles – Speaker / Host]

TITLE (01:02 / 14:29)

“Sibling Rivalry”

RECAP OF PREVIOUS EPISODE: MM017 “God’s Rescue Plan” (01:04 / 14:29)

In our last episode together, entitled “God’s Rescue Plan”, we learned, as the title insinuates, that sin is defined as missing the mark, falling short in meeting God's standard, and is fundamentally rebellion against God and breaking God's law. Sin has an enslaving power over the world. Part of the Holy Spirit's role is to provide help to us through convicting us of sin and empowering us to resist temptation. All of us are in a universal human dilemma where all have sinned and are under the penalty for sin death. We left off with a need for a solution to this human quandary.

INTRODUCTION (01:34 / 14:29)

In this episode, “Sibling Rivalry”, we explore God's answer to the sin problem. In the aftermath of humanity's fall, God sets in motion a strategy of salvation of cosmic proportions. From the moment sin entered the world, our Creator had already prepared a solution that would span millennia, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus Christ. In our study today, we explore God's incredible love and foresight, tracing His rescue plan from Genesis to the cross and inviting us to embrace the transformative power of His grace. 

STORY OF CAIN & ABEL (GENESIS 4) (02:15 / 14:29)

The story of Cain and Abel, found in Genesis, Chapter 4, marks the beginning of human conflict and the first recorded murder in history. Adam and Eve have been expelled from the Garden of Eden and they begin their new life, a harder life now because of sin, outside the Garden. They have two sons, Cain a farmer, and Abel a shepherd. Our story recounts that both brothers bring offerings to God, but only Abel's offering is accepted, setting the stage for a tragic tale of jealousy and violence. Cain, consumed by anger because his offering was rejected by God and that his brother's was accepted, is filled with bitterness, anger and envy. Cain lures his unsuspecting brother Abel into a field where he commits the unthinkable act of fratricide. This premeditated homicide showcases the rapid deterioration of human morality in the wake of the fall, demonstrating how quickly sin can escalate when left unchecked.

ACCEPTABLE OFFERINGS (03:24 / 14:29)

Let's dig into the core precipitating event of our story Genesis 4, verses 3-5.

“In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord, and Abel also brought an offering fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.” 

Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. I believe this indicates not only that he offered his best the firstborn, but specifically that he gave an offering typical of what it was to represent the coming Messiah. The animal sacrifice or parts of the animal, with the shedding of blood pointed toward the coming Messiah, the Lamb of God, who would die for our sins. For the Bible says “there is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood”  Hebrews 9:22.

Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. Even if these fruits were of good quality, they were not what the offering was supposed to be and did not represent the lamb. This contrast teaches us that God's way is the right way God wants us to obey. “It is better to obey than to sacrifice”. 1 Samuel 15:22. Which means doing it God's way is always better than doing it our way.

When examining why God accepted Abel's offering but not Cain's, we can also look beyond the sacrifice itself and to attitude. The Hebrew word for respect used in Genesis 4:4 "שָׁעָה" (sha'ah)  implies that God looked with favor upon Abel's offering. This suggests that the difference lay not solely in the offerings themselves, but also in the attitudes of the men behind them. Perhaps Cain did not have a right attitude when giving his offering. Either way type of offering or attitude of the giver offering. Either way type of offering or attitude of the giver God did not accept Cain's offering. Instead of changing, Cain lets this affect his relationship with God and his brother. He lets anger, envy and jealousy fester inside his heart until he decides to act on these emotions. Our offerings reveal the true state of our hearts and our relationship with God. And Cain's heart was rotten. 

WHEN ANGER LEADS (05:57 / 14:29)

Genesis 4:5 says “Cain was very angry and his face was downcast”. Cain's anger at God's rejection of his offering blinded him to reason and righteousness. The Hebrew word used for angry here is "חָרָה" (charah), which literally means to burn. This vivid imagery portrays anger as a consuming fire that can quickly spiral out of control. Anger, when left unchecked, can lead us down a destructive path. The story of Cain serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the importance of managing our emotions and seeking God's guidance in moments of frustration. As we learn to control our anger, we open ourselves to God's wisdom and His peace.

SIN CROUCHING AT THE DOOR (06:46 / 14:29)

We continue our story in Genesis 4, verses 6-7. “Then the Lord said to Cain why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” God's conversation with Cain here demonstrates his fatherly concern and his desire to guide him away from his destructive choices.

God's warning to Cain paints a vivid picture of sin as a predator waiting to pounce. In fact, the Hebrew word "רָבַץ" (rabats) used for crouching, is the same word used to describe a lion lying in wait for its prey. This powerful imagery reminds us of the constant vigilance required in our spiritual lives. Jesus echoes this call for vigilance in Mark 14:38, saying “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation”. Similarly, peter warns in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

JEALOUSY (08:03 / 14:29)

Cain's jealousy of Abel stemmed from a misplaced focus on comparison rather than personal growth. In today's world, jealousy often manifests through social media comparisons or professional rivalries. In fact, a fascinating study by the University of Pennsylvania found that excessive use of social media platforms can increase feelings of envy and dissatisfaction, much like Cain's unhealthy comparison to Abel. 

PREMEDITATED MURDER (08:34 / 14:29)

Now to the heartbreaking part of the story, Genesis 4:8: “Now Cain said to his brother Abel let's go out to the field. While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” Cain had let his emotions control him and had led him to an irreversible evil, dreadful mistake.

GOD CONFRONTS CAIN (08:58 / 14:29)

God confronts Cain in Genesis 4:9-10: “Then the Lord said to Cain when is your brother Abel? I don't know. He replied Am I my brother's keeper? I don't know. He replied Am I my brother's keeper? The Lord said what have you done? Listen, your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.” 

God's questions to Cain “when is your brother Abel?” and “what have you done?” mirror the divine interrogation and approach God took with Adam and Eve after their sin. These questions weren't because God needed information, but rather to prompt Cain to confess and to cause him to self-reflect on his grievous actions.

1 John 1:9 starts with: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God's confrontation with Cain demonstrates the importance of accountability in our spiritual lives, and cleansing begins with confession. 

PUNISHMENT OF CAIN (10:05 / 14:29)

God's punishment of Cain is found in Genesis 4, verses 11-12 and 15. We read “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth. But the Lord said to him, “… anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.” 

God’s punishment of Cain demonstrates both justice and mercy.  Cain would no longer be able to work the ground that he loved.  For farming and gardening had been his skill… his joy… his life. He would have to leave his home and be a nomad. The curse on the ground and Cain’s banishment show the serious consequences of sin. But Cain was scared. He was scared someone would kill him for what he had done to his brother Abel. So in the protective mark that God placed on him… we see a God's enduring love, even for those who have committed grave offenses. The punishment of Cain illustrates the balance between consequences for our actions and God's unfailing love. Even in administering justice, god shows mercy, protecting Cain from vigilante retribution.

CONCLUSION (11:34 / 14:29)

In conclusion, the tragic tale of Cain and Abel serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive potential of unchecked emotions and the importance of maintaining a right heart before God. Through this story, we've explored the nature of acceptable offerings, the dangers of anger and jealousy and the constant need for vigilance against sin. In this story of brothers, we've seen God's character displayed in His desire for sincere worship, His patient warnings, His just judgments and His enduring mercy. These insights provide us with a deeper understanding of how to navigate our own struggles and relationships in light of God's truth. Let us remember that God's love, guidance and power are always available to us. Even when we're feeling overwhelmed with the destructive power of emotions like anger, jealousy and vengeance. God wants to and can help us.

May we learn from Cain's mistakes, offering our best to God and following God's instructions, guarding our hearts against negative reactions and always being ready to listen to our Heavenly Father's wisdom. In doing so, we can foster healthier relationships, grow in our faith and live lives that truly honor God.

PREVIEW OF NEXT EPISODE: MM019 “They Walked with God” (12:58 / 14:28)

Friends, in our next episode, entitled “They Walked With God”, we will look at the lives of Adam, Eve, Enoch, Methuselah and Noah and examine their relationship with God to learn insights that can help us in our relationship with God. The Bible says these early patriarchs walked with God. What does that mean exactly, and what can we do to walk with God as well?. 

PARTING BLESSING (13:24 / 14:28)

I hope you've enjoyed our time together and I pray you have a mighty moment with God today. Be blessed! 

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 [Announcer]

ANNOUNCER CLOSING (13:31 / 14:29)

From all of us here at Mighty Moment. We appreciate you joining us today. We pray that the message has blessed and encouraged you. We are grateful for supportive listeners like you, who make this program possible. Your prayers and contributions help Mighty Moment stay on the air. We can be reached at 877-DR-BOBBY, that's 877-372-6229 or visit us online at www.MightyMoment.com. Thanks again for listening. Until next time May God bless you!

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[Singer]

CLOSING SONG (14:01 / 14:29)

Rise and shine… It's a brand new start. The Bible's wisdom… it fills your heart.  A mighty moment, in every line.  Start the day and make it shine. 

EPISODE NOTES: 

All scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

Mighty Moment MM018 “Sibling Rivalry” © 2024