Ever read the story of Cain and Abel and thought “Why did Cain get such a raw deal?” or “I feel really sorry for Cain!” Exactly what did Cain do to deserve exile?
Well, in short, as we look at the events of the fall in Genesis 3, we notice a short and easily overlooked section of verse 17:
Gen 3:17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
Here, God tells Adam that the physical ground has been cursed. And that he would struggle to make it yield fruit. In Genesis 4, we see Cain make an offering to God from the ground. And Abel an offering from his flock.
Gen 4:1-5 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Cain presented God with the fruit of something cursed. And God disrespected his offering. Abel, a shepherd and an obvious type of Christ, gave the firstborn of his flock. In contrast, there is nothing remarkable recorded about Cain’s offering. Another small detail here, also often missed, is that Cain was the oldest (firstborn). Abel was the youngest. Another way of looking at this is that Cain was the chronologically first and Abel the chronologically last. So, why does this matter? Is this just happenstance, or did God intentionally set a precedent that the youngest male, or chronologically latest event would be the most pleasing to him?
The prophet Abraham certainly expected his first born to be the inheritor of his promise from God. His first born was Ishmael, born of his wife’s maid, Hagar. Sarah was too old to bear children, and Abraham was desperate for an heir, and wanted his eldest son to inherit from him. God made it clear that this honour would go to his youngest son, who would be called Isaac. Again the youngest (latest born) inherits the promise.
Gen 17:17-19 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.
My approach here is to assume that nothing in the bible is added just as filler. It is all there to instruct us. But like an onion, we learn in layers that build upon each other. That can mean we are frequently discard old understandings, as He brings us closer to what He wants to show us. Its a journey, We are taught a little, tested, taught more……
The events of Gen 48 show the same pattern. Joseph presents his two sons, Manasseh (firstborn) and Ephraim (second born), to Jacob expecting his father to bless the firstborn. However, Jacob crosses over his hands and blesses the youngest (v18-20) saying his descendants will be a multitude (Gen 48:8-20)
This pattern of inheritance by the younger, or chronologically latest, is further established.
The story of Isaac’s sons throws a little more light on the teaching we are receiving. Jacobs two sons were twins, but Esau was born first, so was accounted as the oldest (Gen 25:22-34). Verse 22 tells us that there were two nations in Rebekah’s womb, and the older will serve the younger.
Gen 25:23 And the Lord said to her: “Two nations are in your womb,Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
However, Esau sold his birthright for a dish of stew and bread (v33). This brings an additional element into the teaching, the disobedience of the firstborn.
Jacob went on to father the patriarchs. Twelve tribes that were to become the nation of Israel. The firstborn was Reuben (Gen 35:23). Joseph was Jacobs youngest (until the birth of Benjamin). Again the firstborn sinned, laying with Jacob’s concubine, forgoing his birthright (Gen 35:22)
So we have two things to take from this:
- the youngest or chronologically latest pleases God
- The firstborn sins against God and does not please God ward!
Bear with me, this is going to be very clear and important as we go forward!
In the next article we will widen out our understanding to include events as well as people in the Genesis account.