Start each day by reading the passages listed above. Then use the summary and reflection provided here to guide discussion around the daily reading.
Through Adam and Eve, sin entered the world. Adam’s firstborn, Cain, killed his brother Abel and was left to wander the earth. God provided another son, Seth, to Adam and Eve.
Where do you see God active and present in Seth’s story?
Neither Adam nor Eve are to blame for anything, and neither is the wise serpent – this was Gods plan right from the beginning. Allow me to explain. Before becoming confused by the knowledge of good and evil, neither Adam nor Eve knew that it was a sin, or bad to disobey God.
They had no understanding of what Gods love even meant. In order to justify exaltation of humans above even the angels in heaven we’ve had to deal with pain, suffering, death, disease and loss – the path back leads us through hell. Hell, is not the kind of place most people think it is either. Even Paul gives a better description as a place where all of our impurities are burned away. Humans are like lumps of gold ore drawn up from the earth – full of dirt, grime and other impurities that are burned away by the hell fires. This also implies that Hell is not a permanent place, but a place where one stays until they are made pure enough to exist in the presence of God.
There are those of us that have a slightly different understanding concerning the creation of Seth. Also, Cain was not Adam’s son. This is mentioned in the OT as well – The Lord [not a reference to Adam] got Eve with child, in other words Ba’al [which means the ‘Lord’ in this case is also a name]. The whole euphemism of the enticing serpent in the garden, the forbidden fruit etc makes the picture more clear. Eve’s temporary lapse in judgement lead to the creation of Cain. Adam raised Cain thinking he was his own.
It just so happens that this plays an important part in the whole Cain sacrificing Abel to God [it’s a Canaanite / Phoenician thing]. You know parts of the story, here’s something that puts a couple other mysteries to rest. The sacrifice was offered to God, and for it to be justified one would need to give to God that which is most dear to them. Cain was a farmer as you know, and Abel tended to animals. Cains offering wasn’t accepted but Abel’s was…one could conclude that there had been some jealousy, but that is the laziest and easiest answer, and it is also wrong – that is where it stops for most people but this does not describe why God would protect Cain after killing his innocent brother.
After Cain had been rejected for the last time he thought about what it meant to give to God that which is most dear to you to prove you love God even more. He was supposedly shocked when he concluded that he truly did love his brother more than anything and even those simple creatures Abel tended.
When the time to sacrifice had come again, Cain went with nothing in hand, Abel went and offered like normal. When Abel was done he wandered at why Cain would approach with nothing to offer. So he asked…Cain replied that he finally figured out what it meant to sacrifice that which is most dear to me in all the world…hit him over the head with a stone, and proceeded to sacrifice Abel the same way Abel would sacrifice his chosen lamb. Abel became the first sacrificial lamb, and he was the first born son of Adam [man]. This is where the reference ‘Son of Man’ comes from Abel was the First Born Son of Man – and the prototype of Christ found in Christianity.
In the OT it indicates that Cain was cursed by God for killing his innocent brother, BUT because Cain DID give to God that which is most dear to him – God would not rebuke on his infallible proclamation to bless and protect those who offered a worthy sacrifice being that which is most dear.
Adam and Eve were both confused and furious at what had been done to Abel. Abel was Adams to give, but not Cains – the first born son in the Phoenician / Canaanite religion is the one held most dear – so it was not unheard of for fathers to sacrifice their first born sons for the love of God [Abraham and Isaac for example even though after that God ‘changed’ his requirements and killing your son was not really part of it any longer]
After all of this, Adam went to kill Cain, but God stopped this. Eve also made it known that Cain was not Adams so it wouldn’t do to sacrifice Cain. Now even more furious Adam seeks advice from darker sources of forbidden knowledges…and ultimately concluded that he could punish Cain by erasing him – taking his identity from him and creating a new one through a renaming ritual – names are important you see, there is power in naming things.
So, Cain became Seth, and Adam had a son again – this I think, was supposed to separate Cain from his father – Cain is dead, Seth now lives yet they are one and the same.
Very interesting interpretation, I’ve never heard of this view before. Fascinating read, what are your sources? I’d be interested in reading more.
God was still providing for Adam and Eve AFTER they sinned. He even protected Cain after he had killed Abel and redeemed his lineage by having Enoch
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Though Cain sinned, God protected him in a fatherly way and allowed him to move forward.
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Actually, Eve did accept responsibility for her actions in v. 13 “…and I ate.” She was merely explaining that the serpent had deceived her. Adam was right there with her and didn’t try to set the record straight on what God had said. Many scholars believe that this is why Adam is “blamed” for Original Sin, although it clearly affects all of us..