You can conquer sin

Welcome back!  If you are new here, please take some time to read through our previous posts.  We are currently making our way through Genesis, highlighting and thinking critically about the stories we have been told.  Today we will be looking at Cain and Abel.

In our blog post, God's commandment in the garden, we asked ourselves about the knowledge that man had before and after they disobeyed.  Through some critical thinking, we believe it is safe to assume that prior to eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man certainly knew "good things", balanced and functional things.  In fact, we posed whether or not he possessed that knowledge within himself when man was created. We also considered whether or not God told them what he expected, especially when it came to the work of the garden and those commands were just not included in the text we have. If everything was documented, it would be way too much to sort through and read. We are only given some information and can potentially assume that what we are given is what is absolutely necessary.

Now we know that man has acquired the knowledge of tov and ra and as we look into today’s story, some definitions might be important.  If there is a God and if He is the sole authority, then He sets the rules. If the God of the Hebrew bible is the true God, then His commandments are the standard. We are right with God, or balanced, when we obey what He commands. We are not right or unbalanced with God when we disobey. Sin is the bridge if you will between the two. It is the deed or action when we didn’t do something right. I would wager then that on some kind of level man was either given the Torah when he was created, or it was given to them after they ate from the tree.  Why, you might ask?  Well because of our next story of course (and consequent ones as well!)  

Genesis 4:1 tells us that man had known his wife and that she conceived and bore Cain.  And additionally, she bore his brother Abel, twins quite possibly.  Abel, whose name means breath, nonsense, vanity, futility became a shepherd and Cain, whose name means to acquire or possess became a tiller of the ground. Interesting name choices, does this expand the story. Consider what Eve said after she bore Cain, I have acquired a man with Hashem. And no, I don’t believe that means that Hashem was the father. I think that she was acknowledging the miracle or gift of children. And no, I don’t think that Cain was born a full man. Now that that is out of the way, we can also look at Abel’s name. It’s definitely an interesting word choice. Why? Because he wasn’t going to live long? Because his line would not continue, so it was useless or worthless? I don’t want to get too lost in the weeds but as we continue to consider the ancient text, we will look into the meaning of other words and names because we think they hold a significant piece to our understanding.

Verse 3 begins with, "after a period of time."  We are not given the sons ages; we are not told anything else about them but next we see that they both bring offerings to God. The fact that they are working and bringing offerings, I think it is safe to assume they weren’t children any longer.  It continues, "Cain brought an offering to Hashem of the fruit of the ground and as for Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and from their choicest.  Lets break this down together and ask ourselves some questions.  Are Cain and Abel separated from God?  Well, they may no longer be living in God's garden, however if they are bringing offerings to Him, one would assume that there is still some kind of relationship there, right?  Why are they bringing offerings to God?  Hmm… could it be that they knew that offerings were required because God told them so and so that is why we see it here in this passage?  How are the offerings described?  Cain was a tiller and he offered fruit of the ground.  Abel was a shepherd, and he brought the choicest firstlings.  So, what happens next?

Hashem turned to Abel and to his offering but to Cain and to his offering He did not turn.  Other translations may use the word accepted.  One was right with God, one was not. Is it plausible that one brought what was commanded and one did not?  This annoyed Cain exceedingly, and his countenance fell.  Why was one offering accepted over the other?  This is why I think they knew what was expected, Abel's was described as the choicest firstlings.  He is giving God the best that he produced.  Cain on the other hand, his offering is described as "fruit of the ground".  Nothing was said about it being the first or even the choicest.  Did Cain bring God his best?  Did he bring what God required?  I certainly don't see why he wouldn't have been able to… no pun intended!

By what we see next, it looks like Hashem is concerned for Cain because He asks him, "Why are you annoyed and why has your countenance fallen?  Surely if you improve yourself, you will be lifted up. Let's pause there.  It would appear as though God has concern for Cain, and it certainly sounds like he wants Cain to choose what is right.  God even says that he will be LIFTED UP* or ACCEPTED* if he improves, with no need of a savior mentioned.  We also get the feeling that it was within Cain's reach or ability to improve and to be lifted up*.  But let’s continue to read the text and see what it has to say next.

But if you do not improve yourself, sin rests at the door.  Its desire is toward you, yet you can CONQUER it.  Hold up, hold the phone, pass the popcorn, what did it just say!?!  Again we are thinking critically here, asking questions, tough ones even sometimes and holding it up to what we have been taught.  First of all, I see something that almost follows the pattern of an if then statement.  IF you do not improve, (THEN) sin rests at the door.  Interesting… What door? Clearly this must be figurative, door to our heart, door to our mind? So does this mean that sin isn't always at the door?  And then even when it is, the text says, YET YOU CAN CONQUER IT!!! Before we go any farther, let’s remind ourselves of what sin is. Sin is the act or doing of something that is contrary to God’s law. Did God know that Cain would have the desire to murder his brother Abel? Is murder something that we are commanded NOT to do? At that point, it was still just desire though. Yes, Cain needed to repent and improve from bringing the wrong offering, but God was warning him about something even more. 

So, does that mean we have the power in ourselves to choose to obey, to choose what is right and good?  Is there any mention of a savior? Can we be found righteous on our own by how we follow God’s commandments?  Is this anything remotely similar to what the church teaches?  Aren't we just worthless, hopeless, rebellious, sinful, humans apart from Jesus, not capable of doing anything good?  I thought Jesus was the only one that could conquer sin…  If the Tanach is our guidebook for life, how can we determine what applies and what does not?  What are we supposed to learn from this portion?  If something additional was necessary, don't you think that it would also be included here, especially if it was a life-or-death, heaven or hell type thing? Side note, I don’t think hell is real but more on that another time.  What is the plain and simple meaning?

It appears as though the text is telling us that Cain CAN conquer sin.  That Cain will be lifted up* by God if he improves.  So we assume then that this applies to us too?  We can conquer sin. We can choose to conquer sin. And when we do sin, we can improve and be lifted up or accepted*. I don’t see why that can’t be understood from the text. Clearly there are going to be some unanswered questions here, however I think we can apply what is plainly given.  Cain knew what was required of him.  He did not bring or obey God's commandment and he was warned of the potential consequences for future disobedience.  I think again we see the same theme, when we consider God’s interaction with Cain, the sum of the matter, is to fear God and keep His commandments, for God will judge every deed.

*edited after researching further the Hebrew word that was used. The original post was based off an Artscroll Stone Edition of the Tanach. śᵊ'ēṯ (שְׂאֵת) is better translated as lifted up. I believe if the true meaning was forgiven, then sālaḥ (סָלַח) may have been chosen instead.