Poetry

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Once upon the ages long before time had yet begun,
God spoke and His creation began to rise just like the sun.
There were two little boys, who were the apple of God’s eye,
One of these boys, tragically though, was soon going to die.

Now Cain was very special, being the first baby ever born,
I am sure the angels sang and Gabriel probably blew his horn.
The heart of God and parents must have overflowed with joy.
Focusing most of their attention on this wondrous baby boy.

Then along came Abel who most likely stole the show.
Now he’s getting all the attention, how can this be so?
Something must have happened which Cain simply couldn’t handle,
And he ended up killing Abel, which as yet caused quite a scandal.

Cain had brought an offering that he was pleased to give to God,
But God was not receptive, which to me seemed rather odd.
Abel brought an offering that seemed to really touch God’s heart,
What could be the difference that would set these two apart?

Could obedience been the factor which had brought this into play?
Obedience is better than sacrifice I have heard the Scriptures say.
Now Cain brought forth the fruit of the ground as proud as he could be,
No better fruit will ever you see than that which was grown by me.

Abel brought the lambs of his flock and by faith he offered these,
He loved God with all of his heart and Him he wanted to please.
The word fails to mention if Cain liked attention but it does imply,
That not deep devotion but prideful emotion in him was hard to deny.

It seems to me Cain’s offering, was not, what God could not accept,
But Cain didn’t treat him with honor, or even with proper respect.
The sacrifice that Abel brought meant more than words can tell,
God was pleased with his sacrifice, because He was pleased with Abel.

Then God said to Cain, if you do well, will you not be accepted?
Sad to say he didn’t do well, or even as good as expected.
Even as to the royal law, Cain didn’t do what is most fitting,
To love his neighbor as himself… so sin he was committing.

Reading further along in this story it doesn’t take long to see,
After Cain rose up and killed his brother just how rude he could be.
God said to Cain, His heart full of pain, where is your brother Abel?
Am I my brother’s keeper he said, seeming rude and quite disrespectful?

I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.)
(Isaiah 1:11)

Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground, and in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, But He did not respect Cain and his offering.
(Genesis 4:2-5)

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.)
(1 Sam. 15:22)

(God speaking to Cain) “If you do well will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.”
(Gen. 4:7)

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well: but if you show partiality, you commit sin.
(James 2:8-9)

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.)
(1 John 3:11-12)

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