I'm usually a good sleeper. But sometimes I wake up in the night and can't go back to sleep. After I've tried for an hour, I get up and watch the BYU channel which shows "Discussions on the Pearl of Great Price" and other scriptures. They put me right to sleep. I'm sure it's because they talk about the peace of the Gospel :). I watched/listened to the story of Cain and Abel and picked up some interesting insights. So, I'm borrowing some ideas from the group discussing Moses 5.
Adams has already shown that he is obedient, though I don't think it was blink obedience. I think Adam had learned enough already from God, that he knew that whatever was commanded of him was necessary and right. He did it, he didn't know exactly why, but the Lord commanded him, so he did it. This is a way for Adam to say that he has spiritual eyes, that he can give/destroy the best of the earth and expect a better life from what God will give him because he has faith that will happen.
Now for Cain and Abel's sacrifice. We are told in v 18 that Cain loved Satan more than God. It doesn't say that Cain didn't love God, but that he loved Satan more than God. (I wonder how that plays out in our lives: we love God, we know going to church is right, we know serving other people is right, but maybe our actions show that we love something else more). Satan uses what love or teachings Cain has of God and tell Cain to make an offering to the Lord (because that's the right thing to do, right?). So, Cain does that, but then chooses to make an offering of fruit rather than the commanded offering of the firstlings of the flock. The panel on the BYU show suggest that this is a willful misuse of the Priesthood that Cain was taught and was given. Cain knew he was offering the wrong thing, in a spirit of defiance. So, Cain's motive was false, but he also got it wrong when the symbolism was false as well. True sacrifice at that time was a sacrifice with the shedding of blood, symbolizing the sacrifice of the Savior. Fruit is nowhere near that. Then Cain was very wroth. I can just hear him rant: "You said to sacrifice, well, I did, aren't my ideas good enough?" Pride.
The Lord addresses him (v23) and gives him a chance to "choose the right" even after his deliberate defiance (2 Ne 28:32 I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts). Cain "rejected the greater counsel which was had from God" (v25). He was cursed (note this is a curse that happened before he killed Abel) that he will be delivered up to rule over Satan, be the father of his lies, he will be called Perdition. Joseph Smith taught that all beings who have bodies have power over those who do not. Cain has a body. His willful sin and unwillingness to repent of it amounts to a curse that he will rule over Satan.
Interesting stuff. I think I'll do a new post of the aftermath.
Did I tell you Riley and I have to skip Sunday School because we were asked to be in a "Strengthening Marriage" class. The way it is strengthening our marriage is that we go home and laugh about it. Last week we were given a piece of linoleum so we could practice "giving our spouse the floor." We had to practice in class. Riley spoke up and said it takes too long for us to hand the floor back and forth. Since we've been married so long we finish each other's sentences. So we both held a corner of the floor and just talked. Then we went home and laughed. I miss Sunday School.
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