Evening star., 1926-04-24
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

the story OF Cain and Abel In its an
mails Of religious biogtry and intoler.
ance of others faith. The first re-
corded act Of worship resulted in q
murder of one brother by another. The
very act that ought to have served
as an unifier brought on a separation.
1t was not due to the act Of religious
worship that conflict between the
two brothers developed, but the differ
ence in their character. revealed in
their worship.
Many a war has been traced to the
hostile spirit that has been promoted
between men, who have profesSed to
be followers of the Prince of Peace.
1t has been more often due to the
lack of religion than the possession
of it by men that the ocean has been
filed with the blood of saints and
martyrs. The most intolerant hatred
has been built up on religious grounds.
mo malice is so venimouS, no hate
so fierce, no cruelty so fiendish, as
those which are fed and famed in
the name Of religion"
In our own day differences have
broken out between the agriculturist
and the great herdsmen, whose cattle
has been charged with spelling the
work of the tiller of the soil. 1t takes
more than the spirit of social justice
to keep in the bonds of peace, those
whose activities and toll clash. Sin
is responsible for the differences, dis
putes, and 'discords that have filled
the human family with sorrow. It's
introduction, we considered last week,
has filled the world with conflict. con-
troversy and the curse of strife be-
tween men and nations. 1t has de.
veloped both personal and general
contentious. 1t appeared in the fam
lily that was driven from Eden, be-
cause they were disobedient to God.
When Cain was born, he was called
an Acquisition. His rebeliouS spirit
and waywardness filled his parents
with disappointment. This is seen
in their naming his brother. Abel,
which means vapor or breath, that
vanishes away. In the Hebrew, it
means nothingness. which may have
been prophetic of the brevity of
AbePs days.
The Brothers Offerings.
cial offering was established, but In
all probability God had made known
to Adam the requirements and in.
structed him to act as the priest OF
his family, wlSen He gave to him
the promise Of the coming of a Sa
vior. who would save them from
their sin. We do not know when the
offerings were made 'in the process
of time" 1t may have been at the
end of the harvest or on the Sab.
bath day, when they had concluded
their labor.
Cain had taken up one department
that of agriculture, to which Adam
had first been assigned. Abel became
a shepherd. Cain naturally brought
''the fruit of the ground" and Abe
presented the firstlings of his fiocks
that he had selected from his choicest
stock. Men reveal themselves in theil
offerings to God. The two different of
ferings were not presented in the
same spirit. as we learn from the let
ter to the Hebrews. 1t was due to the
failure on the part of the ungodly
Cain to Show in his offering any faith
that his offering did not receive the
approval and acceptance of God.
While we are not informed as tc
how God showed his preference for
the offering of Abel, we do know that
Cain was filled with anger because his
brother had obtained the evidence OF
acceptance, possibly by fire, and his
was rejected by not being burned.
God tried to show Cain the unreason
ableness of such a spirit, which indi
Gated that he did not possess the
true attitude of worship. 1t was the
character of Cain more than his OBJ
servance Of ritualistic requirement
which he may have fully complied
with, that brought to him rejection
God looketh on the heart. Man look
eth upon the outward appearances
n In tod bod h4y rs hi
parents. He had placed his will
against Gods commands. In all out
ward appearance, he had complied
with the law, if he mingled some
blood in his offering, showing his
hopes were based on the promised
salvation.
When God sought from Cain the
cause of his attitude, evidently he was
like the sinners, who have followed
in his steps, refused to listen to the
Divine appeal. He was unwillingl,
to listen to the Lords assurance tha
If he had been sinless, or had come IL
| the right attitude of worship, his offer
ing would have been accepted. There
was no favoritism shown to tht
younger brother. He assured Cair
| that unless he changed his spirit tina
sin would overmaster him because 1
| was already waiting to destroy him
The First Murder.
Cain was jealous of his brother. ]
| filled his heart with anger and bitter
ness. He lured Abel into the field
| where he carried out his diabolical pur
pose. The first death was a murder
which was committed in such. a man
| ner that Cain did not expect that h,
would be suspected. God was watch
ing the tradegy that stained thu
pages of history. He permitted tn,
act to be committed so that Abe
could be with Him. but Jehovah die
not allow Cain to forget his crime o.
escape being brought to justice fol
his iniquity. He startled the MURDERS
| by asking where is Abel tn!
brother?" The lips of the slain on,
were silenced, but his blood cried ou
against Cain from the ground.
In his desperate condition, Cair
tried to deny his guilt and evade hi
responsibility. His presumptious at
titude toward God revealed that h,
was unrepentant and incorrigible. HC
had been disloyal to the bands o
brotherhood. He tried to discard hi.
sense of responsibility. Many meI
| think that by neglecting their civi,
and Christian duty to humanity thai
| they can escape being held responsi
bic. We may here, but we canno
fool God, who win insist at the Great
| Judgment daY that we tell Him Wha1