0:00

Let us pray by faith.

0:03

Able offered to God a more excellent

0:05

sacrifice than Cain, through which

0:07

he had testimony given to him that he was righteous,

0:10

God testifying with respect to his gifts,

0:13

and through it, he, being

0:16

dead, still speaks Hebrews

0:18

eleven four. Dear Lord,

0:21

you are worthy of my continual devotion.

0:24

I want my faith to be like Abels, who

0:27

gave the best of what he had in faith.

0:30

I want to give you my best, Lord, not

0:32

my leftovers. I want the sacrifice

0:35

of my time, talent, and treasure

0:37

to be acceptable to you. Increase

0:39

my faith, Lord, and give me

0:41

more opportunities to take leaps of faith,

0:43

so that my life can also be like Abels

0:46

speaking to generations after me in

0:49

Jesus's name, Amen, thank

0:54

you for praying with me today. Stay

0:56

tuned now for another episode of Stories

0:59

of the Messiah with Rabbi Schneider.

1:08

God's voice resonated within warning

1:11

Cain, if you do well, will

1:14

you not be accepted? Be warned,

1:16

Kine, sin is crouching

1:19

at the threshold of your heart. It

1:21

desires to destroy you, but you

1:23

must overcome it. If I do

1:26

well, Cain replied sarcastically.

1:29

If I do well, Cain

1:31

stormed down the hill.

1:33

Determined to leave a distance between him

1:35

and the Lord. God's word was not

1:37

a comfort to Cain, but salt to

1:39

his wounded pride. The further he

1:41

descended the hill, the darker his heart

1:43

became. Rage against

1:46

God was boiling over in

1:48

his heart. If it is blood you want,

1:50

kin whispered, then it is blood

1:53

you'll get.

1:55

Hello and welcome to another episode

1:57

of the Story to the Messiah podcast. Rabbi

2:00

Schneider with discovering the Jewish Jesus,

2:03

here to guide you through an epic adventure

2:05

to the Old and New Testaments. If

2:07

you have enjoyed our journey so far, consider

2:10

leaving us, review and sharing with a friend. We

2:12

want the story of the Bible and the hope of

2:14

Jesus to be spread worldwide. This

2:17

podcast is meant to showcase the

2:19

greatest heroes of the Bible, so we

2:21

can understand that their stories

2:24

are but fractured images of the Gospel.

2:26

We can appreciate the stories of people like

2:28

Noah, Moses, and David,

2:31

but ultimately we must see that

2:33

they are not the real heroes of God's

2:35

story. Jesus is today.

2:38

We travel back in time when humanity

2:41

was in its infinity. Adam

2:43

and Eve are east of Eden, pining

2:45

after paradise. They have two children,

2:48

Cain and Abel, who are the first to

2:50

be born into a world riddled with

2:52

sin. We will see that sin

2:55

doesn't take long to corrupt their hearts.

2:57

Cain has overcome with hatred and jealousy,

3:00

Abel is murdered, and we are left wondering

3:02

if hope is lost for humanity. Canaan

3:06

Abel's story doesn't seem to have any bright

3:08

spots, but if we look closer,

3:11

we'll hear whispers of a greater hero

3:13

than Cain. So let's immerse ourselves

3:15

now in the dramatic retelling of canaan

3:18

Abel. Let's begin.

3:22

The cave was dark, only slightly

3:24

lit by the firelight near them. Eve's

3:26

quiet and determined breaths echoed through

3:29

the night. Beads of sweat like

3:31

pearls descended down her brow.

3:33

Adam knelt beside.

3:34

Eve as her hands and knees pressed against

3:37

the floor.

3:38

Is this death?

3:40

Is this what God spoke of? Eve

3:42

said, with labored breathing. Adam's

3:45

lower lip quivered, No, We've

3:47

I believe this is life,

3:50

And with that final encouragement, Eve

3:52

let out a mighty cry. Giving

3:54

birth to a son, Adam wrapped

3:56

him in his arms and wiped him with woven wool.

3:59

We must name him as God named

4:01

me, Adam said to Eve. Eve

4:03

rolled on to her back and reached for her son.

4:06

She cradled him in her arms and stroked

4:08

his face. His name shall

4:10

be Kin, she whispered, for

4:13

through him I have received.

4:15

Help from the Lord.

4:17

Eve pressed Cain against her chest and

4:19

cried tears of joy. God

4:21

had promised Eve that through her offspring,

4:23

the work done by the serpent would be undone.

4:26

He promised that a hero would come from her

4:29

line. As she cradled Cain in

4:31

her arms, she believed wholeheartedly

4:33

that he would be their promised deliverer. Thus

4:36

Cain's ascension as the hope of humanity

4:39

began. His younger years was

4:41

spent saturated in the belief that he was

4:43

the favored hero of God, destined

4:45

to reclaim Eden. Years

4:47

later, Eve felt the pangs of childbirth

4:50

again to bring forth her second son, Abel.

4:53

Adam held Abel into the air and whispered

4:55

to God, we are multiplying, Lord, just

4:58

as you asked. The two boys grew

5:00

strong under their parents care. Adam

5:02

taught Cain how to till the land and

5:04

the reason for his struggle. He taught

5:07

Abel how to tend to the live stock. Abel

5:09

learned to care for the sheep with dignity as

5:12

a fellow creature and heir of the land.

5:14

Most importantly, Adam taught his sons

5:17

how to sacrifice to the Lord. He

5:19

would take them up the mountain, bringing sacrifices

5:21

to the Lord together. One day, you

5:24

will make your offerings to the Lord, he

5:26

said. You will join us in our mission to

5:28

reclaim our relationship with God. When

5:31

the boys were of age and they had become men, it

5:34

was time for them to march up the mountain on their

5:36

own and make an offering to the Lord.

5:39

Cain scanned the crops he had grown. His

5:41

parents had told him stories of the Sacred

5:43

Garden, the paradise they tragically

5:46

lost. He had done his best to master

5:48

the land in a way that it flourished, but

5:50

to no avail. The earth was against

5:53

him, in competition with him. Yet

5:55

there was beauty in the struggle, not that

5:57

Cain recognized it. He was less concer

6:00

turned about the art of cultivation and more

6:02

concerned with the input output relationship

6:04

of farming.

6:05

He put in the work and the land gave him

6:08

crops.

6:09

He saw his sacrifice to God in a

6:11

similar manner. I will give an offering,

6:13

and God will give a blessing, he thought to himself.

6:16

He picked some of the berries he had grown in a small

6:18

garden, along with wild grains

6:20

he had grown at the base of the mountain. He

6:22

collected them in a basket, scaled the hill,

6:25

and placed them at the altar.

6:26

Before the Lord.

6:28

He looked around, awaiting a sign that

6:30

God had accepted his gift. Yet

6:32

there was nothing, just the silence

6:34

of the land, accompanied by the slight breeze

6:36

whistling through the hills.

6:38

Where are you, Cain.

6:40

Whispered, hoping God would somehow

6:42

appear to him. Cain was unsure

6:44

what he was looking for, but knew he would

6:46

know it when he saw it. There was only

6:49

silence, no explanation as

6:51

to why his offering was not met with an opening

6:53

of the heavens or adorning of blessing,

6:57

just silence. Cain

6:59

drug his feet down on a small path and sat

7:01

on a stone, waiting for God to bless

7:03

him. As he waited, Cain heard

7:05

the faint bleating of a lamb in the distance.

7:08

Abel was scaling up the hill.

7:10

Carrying the first born lamb from his flock

7:12

on his shoulders.

7:13

A dagger was strapped to his side.

7:16

Tears rolled down Abel's face as

7:18

he placed the new born lamb on the altar.

7:21

He stroked its head and sang it a song.

7:24

Abel loved every one of his beloved

7:26

sheep. He had a tender heart and

7:28

understood the value of the life he would offer

7:30

God. Abel brought the first born

7:32

of his flock the best of what he had.

7:35

It was an act of pure faith. With

7:37

a steady hand, he slit the lamb's

7:40

throat and let it bleed onto the altar.

7:42

He offered the best parts of the lamb to God

7:45

and sang a song silently to him.

7:47

The purity of Abel's faith shone

7:50

through Cain watched from a distance

7:52

and waited for something to happen. He

7:55

waited for God to move, and sure

7:57

enough, God did, and in

8:00

describable shift occurred in the atmosphere

8:02

around Abel. The favor of

8:04

God was upon him.

8:06

On that hill.

8:07

It seemed as though a sliver of Eden

8:09

was reclaimed for humanity through

8:11

Abel, not Cain. Abel

8:14

descended the mountains surrounded by a holy

8:16

glow of God's love, and affirmation. He

8:19

was like a trickling stream, joyfully

8:21

falling from the hills. Cain

8:23

emerged from his hiding place with his mouth

8:26

agape. Rage wailed up within

8:28

him. He was not angry at Abel.

8:30

He was angry at God.

8:32

Cain was supposed to be chosen, not able,

8:35

He was supposed to be blessed. Cain's

8:38

entire body shook with jealous rage.

8:41

Then, interrupting the tense silence,

8:43

God spoke, why are you

8:45

so angry, Kane? Why has

8:47

your face?

8:48

Father?

8:48

The voice said.

8:50

Cain scoffed, Oh, now

8:52

you show yourself.

8:53

He replied crossly.

8:55

Cain's mind raced with hatred and contempt.

8:58

He didn't understand why God had less able

9:00

instead of him. He was the oldest,

9:03

He was the one whose name held a promise. God's

9:06

voice resonated within, warning,

9:08

kin, if you do well, will

9:11

you not be accepted? Be warned,

9:13

Kane, Sin is crouching

9:15

at the threshold of your heart. It

9:18

desires to destroy you, but you must

9:20

overcome it. If I do well,

9:23

Kane replied sarcastically. If I do

9:26

well, Cain stormed down the hill,

9:28

determined to leave a distance between him

9:30

and the Lord. God's word was

9:32

not a comfort to Kin, but salt to his

9:34

wounded pride. The further he

9:36

descended the hill, the darker his heart

9:39

became. Rage against God

9:41

was boiling over.

9:42

In his heart.

9:43

If it is blood you want, Kin

9:45

whispered, then it is blood you'll

9:48

get. Cain sauntered to the pasture

9:50

where Able tended his sheep. The

9:52

sun began to set and a dark

9:54

red hue covered the horizon. Sin

9:57

was stalking at the borders of Cain's heart,

10:00

ready to pounce.

10:01

Cain mimicked Sin's.

10:02

Predatory movement as he approached his brother

10:05

Abel. He picked up a stone

10:07

and held it firmly in his hand.

10:09

Abel heard something behind him.

10:11

And turned to see his brother coming Kine.

10:13

Abel shouted, oh.

10:15

My dear brother, I must tell you what

10:17

happened at the Altar of God today. But

10:19

before Abel could utter another word, Cain

10:21

pounced. He struck his brother on

10:24

the temple, sending him flying to the floor.

10:26

Abel bounced back up and tried to run, but

10:29

Cain grabbed him by the foot and dragged him back.

10:31

Abel struggled, throwing sand in Kane's

10:34

face. Cain yelled and threw both

10:36

of his dists down at Abel. His anger

10:38

was not directed towards Abel. No, it

10:40

was directed the Lord. Blow

10:42

after blow, Cain threw spite

10:44

at God by striking his innocent brother.

10:47

When Abel was too weak to struggle, Cain

10:49

pressed his thumbs against his throat and

10:52

finished what he started. Abel's

10:54

life left him. Cain removed

10:56

his hands, rolled his neck back,

10:58

and exhaled quietly.

11:00

He dared not look up at Heaven, but he

11:02

dared not look down.

11:03

At his slain brother.

11:05

Cain found himself suspended in a place

11:07

between guilt and indignation. He

11:10

buried his brother in that field and stormed

11:12

back to his home to rest. Abel

11:15

had been buried, but his blood cried

11:17

out from the ground. God had

11:19

seen it all, and he would not let

11:21

Cain go unpunished. One

11:24

day he would end the hatred that consumed

11:26

Cain. He would send his redeemer

11:28

to rid the world of sin once

11:31

and for all.

11:33

The story of Cain and Abel can potentially

11:35

leave us hopeless. This story

11:38

highlights the content that persists in

11:40

people today. Like many

11:42

of us, Cain didn't think it was fair

11:45

that Abel received a blessing from God and stead

11:47

of him. We are given hints

11:49

as to why Abel's sacrifice was accepted,

11:52

such as it being the firstborn of a flock.

11:55

But the reason for God's blessing is

11:57

not as important as the reaction Cain.

12:00

Cain's response to someone else having what

12:03

he thought was his revealed

12:05

his corrupt heart. Make no mistake,

12:08

Cain's crime was not primarily against

12:10

Abel. No, Cain

12:12

was aiming his fist straight at God.

12:15

Many people do this today. They are

12:17

angry at God and believe they've been

12:19

cheated by him somehow, so they

12:21

take it out in other's, often innocent

12:24

people. We see this manifested

12:26

in random acts of violence, online

12:29

bullying, and even more sinister acts

12:31

like school shootings. Eve

12:34

gave Cain a name that essentially

12:36

meant here he is. She

12:38

thought Cain was the promised child to redeem

12:41

humanity and kill sin. But

12:43

Cain wasn't the promised child after

12:45

all, he was an embodiment

12:48

of the evil that took over humanity.

12:50

So who was the promised child? If

12:53

not Cain, then who Our

12:55

ministry discovering the Jewish Jesus aims

12:58

to find the kernel of hope in all the

13:00

stories? Where is the hope

13:02

of humanity? Are we doomed

13:04

to repeat the cycle of Cain? We

13:06

shall see. Let's transport

13:08

ourselves to a different time and place.

13:11

Where the grassy plains of Bethlehem

13:14

swayed on the evening breeze. On

13:16

a starlit night, surrounded by

13:18

filth, the promised child was

13:20

born.

13:24

The stable was dark, only slightly

13:26

lit by the oil lamp hanging over Mary

13:28

and Joseph. Mary's quiet

13:30

and determined breaths echoed.

13:32

Through the stable.

13:33

Beads of sweat like purs descended.

13:35

Down her brow.

13:36

Ah is

13:39

this a blessing or a curse? She

13:41

murmured to herself.

13:43

However, she knew it was a blessing.

13:46

She knew what awaited her on the other side

13:48

of her anguish God had foretold

13:50

this day, and she was determined

13:52

to step into the promised hope. At

13:54

her side was Joseph, reassuring

13:57

and steady. Hour after hour,

14:00

strained, finally, her

14:02

shrieks of distress were replaced with the

14:04

tender whimplers of her new born son.

14:07

Joseph wrapped him in his arms and wiped

14:09

him with woven wood. We already know

14:11

his name, he said to Mary. Mary

14:14

reached for her son and cradled him

14:16

in her arms.

14:17

She stroked his face.

14:19

His name will be Jesus.

14:21

She whispered, Ah, the Lord's

14:24

saves. Mary pressed Jesus

14:27

against her chest and cried joyfully.

14:29

God had promised that one day the

14:31

work done by the serpent long ago would

14:34

be undone. As she cradled her

14:36

son, she knew he would be their

14:38

promised deliverer. Jesus's

14:40

ascension as the hope of humanity began.

14:43

He was God's true and favored hero, destined

14:46

to reclaim Eden for all humankind.

14:48

Jesus would grow to serve those around him.

14:51

His life would be laid down for the ransom of many

14:54

through his own sacrifice. The blessing

14:57

God gave him would be imbued unto

14:59

others. He was God's only

15:01

begotten son, the firstborn

15:03

of creation. Through him, Eden

15:06

would come again.

15:13

The promised redeemer prophesied to

15:15

crush the head of the serpent was not Cain.

15:18

Cain was corrupted by the same sin that removed

15:20

Adam and Eve from the garden. He

15:23

was filled with pride and entitlement, and

15:25

quickly gave in to hatred. Jesus,

15:28

however, was born in the world of corruption,

15:30

yet untatd by it. The

15:33

circumstances of his birth revealed the grand

15:35

picture of his life. Although he

15:37

was born in a dark place surrounded by filth,

15:40

he was pure and undefiled. He

15:42

lived sinless, overcame hatred,

15:45

and laid down his life for others. Contrast

15:48

that to the story of Cain, who

15:51

out of jealousy, murdered his brother.

15:54

While Cain took someone's life to steal away

15:56

a blessing, Jesus gave his

15:58

life to give away a blessing. There

16:01

is another picture of Jesus in this story,

16:03

the firstborn lamb that Abel brought as

16:05

a sacrifice. Collotians

16:08

one tells us that Jesus is the firstborn

16:10

of all creation. John

16:12

One in Revelation thirteen tell

16:15

us that Jesus is the lamb of God,

16:17

slain for the world's sins. The

16:20

firstborn lamb that Able brought to God

16:22

foreshadowed the sacrifice

16:24

God would bring to redeem us all and get

16:26

us back into paradise. Jesus

16:29

is the greater Cain, who overcame

16:31

evil instead of succumbing to it. Jesus

16:34

is the greater Abel whose death brought

16:37

life. Jesus is the

16:39

greater Lamb whose sacrifice brought

16:41

a blessing to one and all. Next

16:44

episode, will immerse ourselves

16:46

in a dark story. Floods

16:48

arise, people perish,

16:51

and the judgment of God reigns down relentlessly.

16:54

Yet there's a beautiful promise at the end

16:56

of it all, a rainbow signifying

16:59

God's empt of work. Join

17:01

us next time to discover how Jesus

17:04

is the Greater Noah.

17:06

Are you interested in further exploring the

17:08

presence of Jesus in the Old Testament. If

17:11

so, head over to our website,

17:13

Discovering the jewishesis dot com.

17:16

Additionally, my last book, Messianic

17:18

Prophecy, revealed seeing Masai in

17:20

the pages of the Hebrew Bible could offer

17:22

valuable insights. You can obtain

17:24

a copy from my website. If

17:27

this podcast blessed you, be sure

17:29

to follow and subscribe so you never have

17:31

to miss a single episode, and remember

17:33

to download pray dot com to hear even

17:35

more great stories and make prayer a

17:37

priority.