Genesis 4:1-14
Summary
Jose Gonzalez led a detailed Bible study on Genesis Chapter 4, following a recap of Genesis 1-3, where attendees including Val Aviles, Rosa Medina, Selena Geiger, Blanche Hernandez, Awilda Davila, Iselin, JP, Javier Esteves, Natalia Lebron, and Carmen Ortiz were encouraged to participate and develop their own biblical connections. The central discussion focused on the offerings of Cain and Abel, God's favor toward Abel's specific offering, Cain's resulting anger, and God's warning that "sin is lurking at the door," emphasizing the human responsibility to "master" the spiritual threat. Participants, including Awilda Gonzalez and Marisol Lopez, further analyzed the nature of sin, the field's connection to the serpent's influence, Cain's subsequent murder of Abel as a failure to master sin, and the implications of Cain's exile and fear of others on the broader population outside the garden.
Details
Initial Greetings and Class Status Jose Gonzalez opened the meeting by checking in with Val Aviles on their classes, who confirmed that, while the information is extensive, it all makes sense. Jose Gonzalez proceeded to greet several other attendees, including Rosa Medina, Selena Geiger, Blanche Hernandez, Awilda Davila, Iselin, JP, Javier Esteves, Natalia Lebron, and Carmen Ortiz, and stated that they have a lot to unpack for the session.
Prayer Requests and Opening Prayer Jose Gonzalez requested prayer requests from the attendees, and Carmen Ortiz shared a request for their father, who recently had transplant surgery and is doing better, with hopes of transferring out of the ICU by the end of the week. Natalia Lebron requested prayers for those spending the holidays in a tough space or alone. Jose Gonzalez closed the prayer, giving thanks for the attendees and asking for comfort for those facing a difficult holiday season, a speedy recovery for Carmen Ortiz's father, and for an open heart to understanding as they delve into Genesis chapter 4.
Recap of Previous Genesis Studies Jose Gonzalez provided a recap of previous classes covering Genesis 1-3. Key points included God's name being Yahweh, not just a title; God being the author of good; God delegating authority to humans, who together reflect the full image of God; the eternal day of rest being fulfilled in Jesus; women as "helpers," equal to men; the transformation of water from dark chaos into a source of life; and the sin of Adam and Eve rooted in seeking wisdom apart from God. The recap also touched on the significance of the snake in the garden and the consequence of exile following disobedience.
Encouragement and Bible Study Tools Jose Gonzalez acknowledged that the information is extensive and can be overwhelming, but encouraged participants to stick with the classes for a year, as they are being equipped with tools to make their own connections in the Bible. The aim is for attendees to be able to "feed" themself spiritually and get their "own entree" rather than relying on the "leftovers" of famous preachers. Jose Gonzalez emphasized that Genesis 1-11 serves as the "melody of the whole Bible," which, once understood, allows for recognizing connections across different books, such as Hosea and the Tower of Babel.
Introduction to Genesis Chapter 4 and Objectives Jose Gonzalez introduced Genesis Chapter 4, stating the objective is to dive into the chapter, discuss one of the major biblical patterns, and connect it to previously read ideas. They encouraged class participation, emphasizing that the session is a class, not a sermon, and urged attendees not to remain silent.
The Offerings of Cain and Abel The discussion focused on Genesis 4, introducing Cain, the firstborn, a cultivator of the ground, and Abel, the second born, a keeper of the flocks. Cain brought an acceptable offering from the fruit of the ground, while Abel brought a specific offering: the "firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions," which in biblical context is considered a premium cut. God showed "regard" or favor for Abel and their offering, but "had no regard" for Cain and their offering. Awilda Gonzalez suggested that Abel's offering was more specific and implied quality, whereas Cain's offering was less detailed.
Analysis of God's Favor and Cain's Reaction Jose Gonzalez clarified that Cain's offering of the fruit of the ground was an acceptable form of worship, not inherently "bad," as it aligned with their occupation. The significance of Abel's offering—the "firstborn" and "fat portions"—was discussed as a symbol pointing to Jesus as "the lamb of God". Cain became "very angry" and "gloomy" because God did not look upon their offering with the same favor. God asked Cain why they were angry and if doing well would not lead to acceptance.
Sin Lurking and the Concept of Mastery God warned Cain that if they did not do well, "sin is lurking at the door and its desire is for you, but you must master it". The word "master" was analyzed to mean having "dominion or control over something," linking back to God's delegation of authority to humans in Genesis 1. The word "lurking" was discussed as referring to a creature "crouching" or stalking at the door, suggesting a test or a choice for Cain. Jose Gonzalez suggested the "door" might be the location where the offerings were made, right outside the garden where the cherubim guarded the way to the tree of life.
The Field and the Snake's Influence Jose Gonzalez emphasized that Cain took Abel to the "field," the same place from which the cunning serpent emerged in Genesis 3. In the field, Cain killed Abel, illustrating that the snake's influence had become internal, manifesting as the internal conflict of anger, sadness, and jealousy in Cain. Cain's choice to kill their brother was presented as a failure to "master" the lurking sin, effectively allowing the spiritual being to have power over them and making Cain an "agent" of that spiritual being.
Spiritual Power and Human Relations The overall message of Genesis 4 was defined as having spiritual authority to destroy the "snake" or creature that lurks to take control of a person. This spiritual battle is seen in interactions with other human beings, where the true enemy is the spiritual being trying to make humans turn against each other and destroy the image of God. Jose Gonzalez connected this to Jesus' teaching that hating someone is equivalent to murder in the heart, emphasizing the internal nature of the battle against sin.
Revisiting the Idea of Favor Jose Gonzalez pointed out the paradox that Abel, the one favored by God, was killed, suggesting that God's favor does not always equate to a "deluxe treatment" in the eyes of other humans. Abel is seen as an illustration of Jesus, the one favored by God who ultimately dies.
Cain's Exile and a Question of Population Following the murder and exile, Cain expressed fear that others would kill them, leading Jose Gonzalez to raise the question of who else existed if only Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel were explicitly mentioned. Jose Gonzalez suggested that Adam and Eve were "ambassadors" of all humans and that God may have created other human beings from the dust of the ground, implying a broader population outside the garden.
The Existence of Other Human Beings Awilda Gonzalez and Jose Gonzalez discussed the biblical narrative of Cain, specifically Cain's fear after killing Abel and the lack of other mentioned people besides their parents, leading them to question who Cain was afraid of. Jose Gonzalez proposed that there were other human beings created by God besides Adam and Eve and Cain, possibly implying that Adam and Eve were "ambassadors of all human beings". Awilda Gonzalez questioned why, if this were true, it was not mentioned in the text.
The Concept of Sin and Spiritual Authority Marisol Lopez reflected on the passage where God told Cain to watch out, noting that God said if he did not do what was right, "sin is crouching at your door". Marisol Lopez concluded that Cain’s feelings made them vulnerable to sin, suggesting that humans must have authority over the "spiritual aspect" of the enemy and the serpent's desire for dominion. The conversation clarified that the serpent, which was mentioned in Genesis 1, is also applicable to the crouching or lurking threat in Genesis 4.
Meeting Conclusion and Prayer Jose Gonzalez prepared to close the session with a prayer, offering anyone who wished to stay for questions the opportunity to do so. In their closing prayer, Jose Gonzalez thanked God for the session and asked for help in seeing "these opportunities, these tests" to trust God and to be empowered to have authority over spiritual beings. Jose Gonzalez also prayed for everyone to see other human beings as God sees them and to have the power to stay close to and love one another.