The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 6:9,14,25,
"These are the regulations for the burnt offering... These are the regulations for the grain offering... These are the regulations for the sin offering..."
The Lord prescribed the various offerings he desired from the Israelites. As he gave the instructions to Moses, there was very little in the way of choices he allowed them in their worship of him (there were a few things). In the formula of instructions the Lord provided for the various offerings we read "These are the regulations..." We find this very wording three times in this chapter regarding the burnt offering, the grain offering and the sin offering.
Here is precisely the trouble that Cain got into with the Lord. Cain wanted to bring an offering of his own choice, not the Lord's. Unlike Cain, his brother, Abel, followed the Lord's direction which resulted in an animosity Cain harbored toward his brother. It so consumed Cain that he murdered Abel. This resulted in Cain becoming the "father" of all who attack God's people.
We read in 1 John 3:12-13, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." "The world" is defined as being like Cain and made up of those who hate and seek to destroy the brothers and sisters in God's family.
"These are the regulations for the burnt offering... These are the regulations for the grain offering... These are the regulations for the sin offering..."
The Lord prescribed the various offerings he desired from the Israelites. As he gave the instructions to Moses, there was very little in the way of choices he allowed them in their worship of him (there were a few things). In the formula of instructions the Lord provided for the various offerings we read "These are the regulations..." We find this very wording three times in this chapter regarding the burnt offering, the grain offering and the sin offering.
Here is precisely the trouble that Cain got into with the Lord. Cain wanted to bring an offering of his own choice, not the Lord's. Unlike Cain, his brother, Abel, followed the Lord's direction which resulted in an animosity Cain harbored toward his brother. It so consumed Cain that he murdered Abel. This resulted in Cain becoming the "father" of all who attack God's people.
We read in 1 John 3:12-13, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." "The world" is defined as being like Cain and made up of those who hate and seek to destroy the brothers and sisters in God's family.
What I just described has never been more alive and active than it is right now in our day. The world is comprised of those who have no regard for God, take the liberty of rejecting God and doing things their own way. "Team Cain" I call them. All of God's children are "Team Abel" and are quite distinct from Team Cain. Team Cain seeks to destroy the people of God, which is why there is so much anti-Semitism in the world and why the church is under attack.
Israel has been treated horrifically by the world and it is going to get worse as we find out from the Scriptures. Likewise, the church will suffer in this persecution in the coming days and years- all at the hands of Team Cain.
The apostle John pointed out that the world follows its father, Cain, who is clearly defined as the patriarch of this miserable crowd who rejects the worship of God in the way God has prescribed.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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