Hebrews 11: 4-5
A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam
“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God.”
Hebrews 11:4-5 NASB2020
We know Cain killed Abel. For Cain was jealous of Abel’s offering to God. But God did not punish Cain by killing him. No, God had mercy on Cain for his jealousy and subsequent actions. God did banish him from the land that Adam and Eve were living in. In fact even though Cain wanted to die because of his sin, God protected him. In another “But God”moment Cain becomes the father of Enoch. Genesis 5:24 tells us “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
Enoch was the son of the first documented murderer. Yet the Bible says he walked with God. Did Cain become a different man because of the mercy he was shown by God? Did God’s love change his heart? The Bible does not say. We do know that Cain loved his son Enoch. Because he named a city after him noted in Genesis 4:17
“and Cain built a city, and named the city Enoch, after the name of his son.”
We know from experience God changes hearts through His perfect love, manifested by Christ’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. We also know from Romans 3:23-24 “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,”
Therefore, God can use the awful things of the world and turn it into a story of redemption. We must always see God’s plan is perfect. We must also have faith in Christ. We must allow our love and forgiveness to imitate God’s, through Christ and The Holy Spirit. Rest in Him and His perfect love. No matter what we do God will not love us any less. His love is never ending. Trust, have faith, and walk with God the author and perfecter of our faith. God is the great redeemer. If He can redeem the family line of Cain through Enoch’s great faith. He can and will redeem us through our faith.
Lord thank you for your perfect redeeming love and grace. Please give us strength today to love others as you have loved us. Let our love be an example of your perfect forgiveness. Shine through us Lord. In Jesus Name Amen…
Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On!