Through the Bible in one year - Day 4

What is this heritage of blood? How is it that Cain has the brash reply ready, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord answers that his brother’s blood cries out to him. I think of the poor Lord God, who has in his ears the cries of all the blood we spill because of our fears, and greed and selfish ambition. Even after this killing, the Lord protects Cain and we see the lineage of Cain, yet it is tainted and Lamech almost seems to boast of his own murderous behavior. (Genesis 4:24)

One thing stands out to me as I read these passages, and that is that Cain laments being sent away even while he fears reprisals. Yet for Cain, who obviously has “issues,” this separation from God is a terrible loss. Too bad for those of us who have read this account and yet disregarded it, that it hasn’t made enough of an impression to stop our own foolish, fearful, rash, greedy and murderous behavior. 

(Here I am reminded of Hebrews, though not in the selected readings of the day, it certainly speaks to me about the difference between faith and following the Lord - or our own designs:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

               By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks...

               By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise... By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.      

 - (Hebrews 11:1-12 ESV))

This chapter of Genesis ends by saying at this time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. 

Then we continue to read from 1 Chronicles (chapter 4) about the descendents of Judah, and we have the verses made famous several years ago in a small book called the Prayer of Jabez: 

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; …Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked. (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

 In the New King James version we see that the translation says “that I may not cause pain,” and this is what the author of the little book uses as his inspiration for this prayer. Jabez is a man who calls “upon the name of the Lord,” and this prayer is significant in that he asks not to harm or cause pain. I read that little book when it came out and often think to ask that I might bring glory to the Lord – rather than my typical prayer requests, whereby I ask for this or that – for myself or others. This prayer is for Kingdom building. This descendent of Judah has asked differently than Lamech or Cain, no wonder he is more honorable than his brothers!

Psalm 3:8
Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people!

(How, we might ask?)

Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Readings today: Psalm 3, Genesis 4, 1 Chronicles 4, Luke 2:1-21