THE SEED LINE: CAIN (ACQUIRED), ABEL (BREATH), AND SETH (APPOINTED) - Who Is Series

THE SEED LINE: CAIN (ACQUIRED), ABEL (BREATH), AND SETH (APPOINTED) - Who Is Series 

Genesis 3:15 and the “seed of the woman” as a real promise. Cain, Abel, and Seth are names that reveal a storyline. God respects the person before the offering. Abel brought the first and best as evidence of priority. The danger of offering God leftovers in worship and service. God’s mercy toward Cain and the warning that sin lies at the door. Misplaced anger leading to deception, jealousy, and murder. Seth as “appointed” and Eve holding on to the promise.

Chapter Markers
- 0:00 Introduction to Genesis and the Seed
- 2:15 The Prophecy of Genesis 3:15
- 5:30 The Significance of Cain, Abel, and Seth
- 10:00 Understanding the Offerings of Cain and Abel
- 15:45 The Heart Condition Behind Our Offerings
- 20:00 God's Grace and Second Chances
- 25:30 The Consequences of Cain's Actions
- 30:00 The Hope Found in Seth
- 35:15 Conclusion: Holding onto God's Promises

Transcript

The Seed Promise In Genesis

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Let's look at Genesis. Genesis chapter 3. So we're gonna focus on in the book of Genesis. Um looking at the seed and the three sons of Adam and Eve. There's something that we can take away from this. Genesis chapter 3. I read from verse 15. So the context in which I am reading is when God appeared to Adam and Eve. When Adam and Eve disobey God's commandment, and now God is passing a judgment specifically in verse 15 on Eve. It says, And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. So the seed here is a male person. The seed here that the Bible is referring to, the seed of this woman is a male person, because it says he shall bruise your head. So this seed is going to contest with the devil, the devil is gonna bruise his hill, and the seed, this male man is gonna bruise the head of the serpent. So this seed now, if we jump to Genesis chapter 4, that was just a prophecy that God gave to Eve regarding the seed that will eventually defeat the devil. So Genesis chapter 4 verse 1. It says, Now Adam and Eve knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain and said, I've acquired a man from the Lord. So if you look at the three sons of Adam and Eve, their names actually signifies something very profound that I've learned recently. Cain means acquired, Abel means vapor breath, and set means appointed. Cain acquired, Abel, vapor breath, and then set appointed. So we see that the first physical image bearer of God conceived by humans, Adam and Eve was Cain, and that is why Eve and Adam were able to name Cain in that same verse, and the reason behind the name is I have acquired a man from the Lord. So for Adam and Eve to conceive an image bearer and likeness of God, they needed the help of God. And then in verse 2, then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. And Abel means breath, vapor, or nothing. Now Abel was a keeper of the sheep, but Cain was a tilter 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 firstborn of his flock and of the fat, and the Lord respected Abel and his offering. We are all familiar with this story, but this is not really where my focus is. But he did not respect Cain and his offspring, and Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. If you look at the name of Abel, which means vapor breath, we see that the seed that God promised the woman, God promised the human race that the seed is gonna come from a woman, and this seed is gonna be a profound figure that will eventually destroy the serpent. I believe that Satan was going around looking for the seed, and Cain didn't succeed to be the seed that God was expecting. Abel could be that potential seed, but something happened to Abel. Okay, so what happened to Abel? God gave Abel and Cain an opportunity for them to serve God, to offer something to God based on their vacation. Cain works in the field, Abel, keeper of the sheep, and God expected them to bring their first and their best. I believe just brought anything from the ground to the Lord out of disrespect. Now, the feedback from God to Abel and Cain, the Bible states in verse 4, verse 5, but he did not respect Cain and his offering. So we see that Cain as a person and what Cain offers to God, God didn't respect it. So it wasn't just the offering that God didn't respect, God didn't respect Cain as a person. That's why the Bible says God is not a respect of any man, it's up to you, your lifestyle, your attitude, your heart condition really matters to God than your sacrifice, than your giving, than your offering. Amen. So we see that in verse 4, God respected the man first before he respected their offering. What is your offering? What is your offering could be your potential, your offering could be your the seed that God has put in your hand for you to use to serve God. But what really matters to God is not what you do for God, but who you are for God. It's not what you do for God, there's a place for what you do for God, but who you are for God is actually essential, comes first than what you do for God. We as believers, we come to church, we we sing, we do media, we preach. All of this are good. These are all works for the Lord, amen. But what God is focusing on is who you are becoming. Are you becoming like Him in attribute, in certain characteristics? Because we we can perform, we can do spiritual activities, but what really matters at the end, what will remain is transformation, who we are. So there's two feedback that God was giving to Cain and Abel, not just the offering, their personhood, who they are, and their sacrifice. This is profound as believers. What do we bring to God? Are we bringing our spiritual gifts or are we also bringing our lives? Do you bring your life to God as a sacrifice? Do you bring your attitude as a sacrifice? Do you bring your mindset as a sacrifice? Do you bring your heart condition as a sacrifice? Because that's what God will look at first. The Bible clearly states that Abel also brought, you see, the reason why the Bible was so clear on the type of flock that Abel brought. It says, firstborn, because that would determine your heart condition. Abel has a heart condition that prioritizes God. Because you see, because he brought his firstborn, his first and best to God. That tells a lot about Abel. That tells you and a lot about Abel. I know we don't have sufficient content, but just looking at the type of sacrifice. Or you might say, Man of God is just it's just a flock. I mean, what type of flock? No, it says firstborn of his flock, the first of his. He would have used that for himself. Not just the first one of God, but also the best of that. What do you bring to God? Do you bring to God your first? Do you bring to God your best? When you're in church, when you're serving God, do you do you serve God with your best, with or without people? Less or more people? Do you give your all enough for God? Because God is looking at your attitude, God is looking at your heart condition. It's not just about the service you can serve, but what is the state of your heart? I know we're familiar with the story, but I believe we need to look at these two brothers, Cain and Abel, their personhood and their products. If I may use that word, their personhood and their products, and that's what God was looking at, not just their products, what they have to offer to God. God was looking at their personhood. So God is looking at you as a person, Musumba. God is looking at us as ministers, not just serving. That's why my prayers that God, before you use me, make me. Because Jesus said, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Most times we want God to use us, but we don't want God to make us, and we fail when God is using us. But when you pray that God, before you use me, make me so I can be a vessel of honor, I can be an acceptable vessel to you. And the the making process, that's where time is needed. Because God can use you to perform miracles, but the time for God to make you, at times we are impatient. So we see that God accepted Abel and his offering. Okay, but he did not respect Cain and his offering. Why look at the type of person Cain is. Something just random from the ground. We at times as believers, we give God our leftovers, we give God the basics, we give God just the random things that we come across. God, you know what? This is this is what I have for you. And then we hold on to the best, we hold on to the first. So God didn't accept Cain and his offering, Cain as a person and his product. It's a very sad thing for God to reject you and your ministry, to reject you as a person and your family, to reject you and your business because it was not built on the right foundation. Okay, God is such a merciful, gracious God. Okay, Cain, you messed up. There's another chance, and Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? You know what you did, Cain. But I'm here to give you another chance. I'm here to walk with you. Oh my god. You see, it's okay. Yes, I have failed, you have failed, but God is so gracious to give you a second chance. Asking you, woman of God, man of God, don't be angry, don't let your countenance fall. I can give you a second chance. If you do well, Cain, if you do well, if you give me your very best, Cain, in whatever field, in whatever office that you find yourself in worship, in prayer, whatever it is, if you do well, if you take your calling, your ministry very seriously, and you do well, Cain, wow, will you not be accepted? Was God trying to show favoritism? No, are you trying to tell me that God loves Cain a bit more than Cain? No, no, it was all about who they are as a person and what they can offer God, who you are as a person and what you can offer God, and what God is looking for, God is looking for the God is one, God wants to take the first place, and God wants nothing else than the best. That's all. And he said, if you do not do well, Cain, the opposite, sin lies at your door. This was an opportunity for Cain to repent. This was an opportunity for Cain to come back to his senses, you know what? Yeah, God, I I just give you random stuff, but God have mercy on me, and its desire is for you, but you shall rule over it. You see, God knew that Cain, if you're not careful, sin will rule over you, but here I am extending grace and mercy to you. But you know what Cain did. Verse 8. Now Cain talked with his with Abel, his brother, and it came to pass. Innocent, innocent Abel, innocent Abel. You have a problem, deal with God, not another sister in the church, not another brother in the church. Don't don't fight another brother, don't contend with the sister in church. Cain deceived Abel, innocent Abel, and they were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him, the first mother. That's why Jesus said to Satan that you are a mother from the beginning. He opened himself up, and how can the seed come from Cain? How can the seed come from Cain when Cain acts like the devil, like the serpent? He deceived who Adam and Eve. Now Cain deceived his brother. How can Cain be the seed? Abel has the potential to be the seed for his lineage, for the seed to come from. See, God always asks questions when we act stupid. He did the same for Adam and Eve. He said, Adam, where are you? God said, Where is Abel your brother? He said, I don't know. Again, oh my God. Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What have you done, Cain? Cain, I offer you an opportunity to repent. I wanted to restore you. Not because I love Abel more than you. No. He said, What have you done, Cain? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. See? His name, Abel. Vapor, breath was taken away. Cain acquired. Abel killed. And his blood cried out to God from the ground. And then God cursed him. God cursed him. Okay? So now I'm gonna jump to I'm gonna jump to 25, Genesis 4, 25. And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and Nahim Seth. And Seth means appointed. Because the one that was accepted was murdered. The one that was accepted by God was killed. Cain could have been a potential for the seed to come from. God gave him an opportunity, but Cain failed multiple times to the point killing his brother. God is not a wicked God. You don't blame God for Cain. I don't blame God for Cain. I blame Cain. But God said this seed has to come. This seed has to come. Cain failed. Abel Cain killed Abel. But the name Seth means appointed. Look what Eve and Adam for God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel. So the seed was gonna come through Abel. Not Cain. But guess what happened to that seed that was supposed to come through Abel? Abel was murdered. The name set means appointed. Adam and Eve didn't give up. That woman, Eve didn't give up. Eve reminded me of who? Mary. The Bible says Mary kept it in her heart when the angel revealed the seed of Abraham. Eve kept it in her heart that this is what God promised through a curse that my seed is gonna overcome the devil. I thought Cain could have been the seed, but Cain didn't qualify. I thought Abel could have been the seed because Abel, as a person and his product, were accepted by God. But guess what happened? His brother killed him. Now God, you have given me another son, and his name is Set. For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel. Eve was still holding on to the promise of the seed.