Week 1 Genesis
One of the bible-reader’s dilemmas is that the bible is both too-long and not-long-enough.
Genesis four is an example of not-long-enough.
In chapter two Adam and Eve have a pretty good relationship with the Lord. Then in three the serpent appears, forms a short deceptive and killing friendship with A&E and then disappears, leaving A&E not having a pretty good relationship with the Lord anymore. That story ends with the couple heading east out of Eden.
Then between Genesis 3:24 and Genesis 4:1 there’s a half-inch of white space that could have very helpfully been filled with extra content.
But instead chapter four just picks up the story of Cain and Abel as young men.
Even though nothing is said it’s pretty clear the boys had learned something from A&E.
They obviously knew about giving an offering to the Lord.
And they likely also had some sense that some certain offerings were basically useless.
You definitely get the feeling that Cain wasn’t learning something brand new when the Lord spoke to him: why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.
But the bible doesn’t spell everything out exactly and totally.
If I’m a bible reader I have to dope some things out for myself.
Note: quote from Genesis 4:7 (NIV)