00:00Does the Bible contain genuine prophecy?
00:03Does it foreshadow future events through stories from the past?
00:08One of the earliest stories in the Bible is Cain and Abel.
00:12According to the story, Cain murders his brother Abel.
00:15But why does this matter?
00:17Why should we think about the tragic outcome of these two brothers?
00:21What is the mystery within this sibling rivalry?
00:34The Bible says that Cain murders Abel because God favors Abel's offering over his own.
00:40In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground,
00:45and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.
00:51And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.
00:59So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
01:04A good question is, why would God favor a sacrifice?
01:09If God created the animals and the plants and the sun, then why would he want man to offer him
01:15something?
01:16Doesn't God already have everything he wants?
01:18These questions are important to understanding why Cain turns against Abel.
01:24The problem isn't that Cain's vegetables have dirt on them.
01:28The problem is in Cain's heart.
01:31Cain thinks he can win God's favor through material things.
01:35Cain's sacrifice is a bribe, and he assumes God will accept it.
01:40Cain is trying to purchase blessings, and this is repulsive to God.
01:46Cain assumes that God is carnally minded like him.
01:49There's no thankfulness, repentance, or recognition of sin attached to Cain's offering.
01:55Cain can't make an acceptable offering because he doesn't understand God.
01:59Cain has projected his own fallen nature onto God.
02:04Abel's sacrifice is different.
02:07Abel's sacrifice comes from a genuine relationship with God.
02:11His sacrifice is a recognition of our fallen nature and the need for atonement.
02:17There is spiritual understanding within Abel's offering that's pleasing to God.
02:22Abel knows that God is righteous, and this is recognized within the offering.
02:28Instead of repenting, Cain becomes angry.
02:31His competitive and jealous nature lead to murder.
02:34Cain spoke to Abel, his brother.
02:37And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
02:44There are many lessons to be learned from the outcome of these two brothers.
02:48But the story is much deeper than a moral lesson.
02:52Their ill-fated relationship foreshadows the Gospels.
02:56There were many ancient murders, but the pattern of Cain and Abel is prophetic.
03:03The bitter and jealous older brother is a spiritual type.
03:07Jesus was born into a corrupted and fallen nation.
03:11He describes them as a wicked generation who praised God with their lips,
03:15but their hearts were far from him.
03:18Similar to Cain's motive, the murder of Jesus was an act of jealousy.
03:24The religious authorities had no reason to hate Jesus.
03:27They knew God was doing great works through him.
03:30What bothered them was that God wasn't doing these works through them.
03:35In their rejection, they became jealous, and their jealousy became hatred.
03:41Cain was an older sibling whose worship was empty and rejected by God.
03:46He was jealous and hated Abel because God chose him.
03:50Similarly, the leaders of Israel were carnally minded and had no relationship with God.
03:56Their religion was empty and self-serving.
03:59They became bitter and jealous towards Jesus, eventually having him put to death.
04:06What should become apparent, as we think about this ancient account,
04:10is how could something written long before the Gospel so clearly foreshadow them?
04:16The story of Cain and Abel is one of many examples that prove Jesus' words are true.
04:21The Bible foretells of him and his crucifixion.
04:24What are the things that oh you see, Chaaaaaam is where he is in the Bible?
04:28Who is in the Bible?
04:34You know, what about you?
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