Genesis 4:12 "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you..." (New KJV). These words, spoken to Cain by the Lord, are the final verdict on the person he has become as a result of sacrificing his own brother. When the translators use the word "till" in this verse, they have interpreted instead of translating. The correct word to use would have been "serve." Cain has become a servant of the earth (and, possibly, of his father, Adam since the Hebrew word for earth is Adamah -- similar to red clay). This idea may seem to make no sense until we back up in time enough to be reminded of the last thing God has said about the earth. "Cursed is the ground for your sake..." (speaking to Adam...Genesis 3:17). Cain has managed to find a way around the curse.
There are Calvinists who think that the rejection of Cain's offering of fruit to God is proof of His divine prerogative to accept or reject whatever He likes. Looking at the Bible through a grid of God's total (de facto) sovereignty, the Calvinist comes up with the untenable position that God is arbitrary in His dealings with mankind instead of dealing with all of His creation through the basis of righteousness (sovereignty de jure). Ironically, it is this position of righteousness that God has established before the foundation of the world (Proverbs 3:19...one might easily make the case that "before the foundation of the world" is a biblical euphemism for "wisdom.") and to which He commits Himself exclusively. Therefore, the Calvinist idea of sovereignty de facto was one of the reformer's foolish (godless...Psalm 14) inventions and not an accurate picture of the Living God.
Meanwhile, back at Cain's plantation where he is enslaved to the curse of the earth. There is only one way that Cain could overcome the curse. Remember that all the original animals of creation are available to him and that they are innocent in their original constitution. Cain used their blood as fertilizer, reversing the curse so that the ground would "yield its strength" to him. God's rejection of his offering is just (de jure) because Cain has done so in the face of God's own pronouncement against Adam. Cain's attempt to gain ultimate control over the ground and its curse leads him to murder his brother and mock God when He asks about the hideous sacrifice.
Of course, there is only one innocent person whose blood can cleanse the curse upon the earth from which we are made and the sin that is resident in our flesh. Jesus made this blood available at the cross and whosoever will may receive its cleansing power (Acts 10:43).
Come to the cross.
There are Calvinists who think that the rejection of Cain's offering of fruit to God is proof of His divine prerogative to accept or reject whatever He likes. Looking at the Bible through a grid of God's total (de facto) sovereignty, the Calvinist comes up with the untenable position that God is arbitrary in His dealings with mankind instead of dealing with all of His creation through the basis of righteousness (sovereignty de jure). Ironically, it is this position of righteousness that God has established before the foundation of the world (Proverbs 3:19...one might easily make the case that "before the foundation of the world" is a biblical euphemism for "wisdom.") and to which He commits Himself exclusively. Therefore, the Calvinist idea of sovereignty de facto was one of the reformer's foolish (godless...Psalm 14) inventions and not an accurate picture of the Living God.
Meanwhile, back at Cain's plantation where he is enslaved to the curse of the earth. There is only one way that Cain could overcome the curse. Remember that all the original animals of creation are available to him and that they are innocent in their original constitution. Cain used their blood as fertilizer, reversing the curse so that the ground would "yield its strength" to him. God's rejection of his offering is just (de jure) because Cain has done so in the face of God's own pronouncement against Adam. Cain's attempt to gain ultimate control over the ground and its curse leads him to murder his brother and mock God when He asks about the hideous sacrifice.
Of course, there is only one innocent person whose blood can cleanse the curse upon the earth from which we are made and the sin that is resident in our flesh. Jesus made this blood available at the cross and whosoever will may receive its cleansing power (Acts 10:43).
Come to the cross.
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