Arkansas State press., 1942-07-17

is the quality of the worship de-
pended upon the qualifications of
the worshiper. 1t was, therefore,
not the offering on the altar, but
the otferer beside the altar who
won the blessing from above. ca
Alas, that a worshiper in hea-
venly place should be the target
of hate. Cain, filled with anger
and jealousy, talked with Abel.
his anger growing hotter under
the calm words and perhaps
gentle remonstrance of his right
eous brother. lntenser grew the
tempest Of evil within Cain as he
led his brother from the place of
worship out into an open field or
into some secluded corner OF his
own broad acres or of his broth
er's pastures. And here in tow
ering rage he raised his hand
against his brother. struck him
down dead upon the spot. and be-
came the first red handed mur-
derer of the world. But Abel did
not live in vain. His brief career
has been told by millions of fire
sides adown the ages and multi
tudes have heen inspired by his
example to offer the "more excel
lent sacrifice"
2. THE FIRST MURDERER
was Cain. Note: % His ancestry
was the same as that of Abel. He
was the older brother, perhaps the
first child of the first parents.
He had good advantages. (2) At
his birth his mother gave him
a name expressive of her feelings
She called him Cain, which means
acquired, and declared 81 have
gotten man with the help Of
the Lord Possibly her idea was
who was to hruise the serpent's
that he was to be her greater Son
head. II so, how great must have
been her disappointment laterl
(3) He was blessed in his brother
Abel whose disposition and piety
should have been of great service
to him. (4) He was engaged in
a good business. He was "a tiller
Of the ground" He was doubt
less a first-rate farmer, (5) He
went through the formality OF
worship. However, he did not
bring to the altar blood offering
as was, no doubt, required. Ap-
parently, he brought inferior pro-
duce; it was not the first fruits,
bat simply "of the fruit of the
ground" He seemed willing to do
only the least that would be in
good form at the place Of wrship.
CO. His rejection came as mat
ter of course. 1t was not the
ruling of an arbitrary diety, but
the only think that just and
mericiful God could do. Because
Of the disoledience and self-will
Of Cain, God did not have respect
unto him and to his ogering. 90
As result, Cain flew into rage
at the Lord and into a fit OF
jealousy at his brother. This
shows his real character. Not con-
Tossing his sin, he added sin I'M
to sin. (8) Nevertheless he was
divinely warned. The Lord re-
monstrated with him; "Why art
thou wroth? and why is thy count
enance fallcn?" Gains rejection
was due to his character. Let
him do well and he will be accept
ed; let him continue as at present
and sin ike murderous wild
beast is crouching at the door
ready to spring upon him. ~
Still Cain was disobedient. With
hot words he began talking with
Abel when he should cave been
seeking the better way which Abel
excmplified. The moral difference
between Cain and Abel now reach
ed its elimination. No longer can
the one in his wickcdness be re-
buked by the other in his inte-
gritty and righteousness. Q0) so,
AS the elder led the younger afield
the hate in his heart brought
forth its inevitable fruit. He
struck his brother the foul blow
that ended in his death. 1t was
the first crime in the history OF
man. G1) The criminal cannot
long escape detection. The all
seeing Eye was all the while up
On him. Brought to account, ne
sought to cover murder with false
hood. He claimed not to know
where Abel was. More still; he
did it with a sneer; Gam ] my
brothers keeper?' (l2) But mur-
or and falsehood and scoffing can
not be concealed. "The voice OF
thy brothers blood crieth unto me
from the ground (l3) The curse
follows. The criminal is cursed
from the earth which had received
a brothers blood and should not
henceforth yield unto him It's
strength. Feared and hated OF
man. he should henceforth be a
fugitive and a vagabond in the
earth. (14) And now comes the re-