God created heaven and earth and all that is there in the universe for His glory. He established His throne in the heavens above and created mankind and all that was needed to support man on the earth and gave dominion over all this to man to “dominate and subdue it”. When God created man He breathed a part of Himself into him to make him in His own Divine image and likeness. It was with this authority that man was blessed to follow the LORD’s command to establish heavenly kingdom here on earth also. God made man a partner in His fullness for His works on the earth and desired mankind to fulfill the assigned role in His power. Man, however, strayed and sought personal rather than God’s glory. But what is the desired role of mankind as God’s partners on earth?
What is the meaning of partnership with God? – God created heavens as His dwelling place and established His throne there and then He created the earth as a dwelling place for men tasking them to establish His kingdom therein (Psalm 115:16). In the Divine hierarchy, God created mankind a little lower than the angels and He cares for mankind despite their unfaithfulness to God. Man was crowned with God’s glory and honor and blessed him with dominion over the works of God’s hands to rule over the same (Psalm 8:4-6). Everything that has been created on the earth came out of water or the earth at God’s commands but man was created by God Himself from the elements of the earth. But God put a part of Himself into man when He breathed into his nostrils to give him life and shared His glory with man to make him in His own Divine image and likeness. The caring Father God then decided that man being alone, when every other being has a partner of its own species, created a woman as his mate (Genesis 2:18). Man’s assigned task from God has been “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28) where the part of subduing is in effect to act as God’s representative partner for His kingdom on earth.
Thus man’s task involves two types of work; one is heavenly in relation to his own being, of procreation and child birth in all living beings through care and comfort; while the second is earthly to ensure production of food for all inhabitants of the earth. Both jobs entail creation in essence – whether of life or of life support through production. On the one end is their own genetic multiplication and creation of new life while on the other end is ensuring the same creative process in other living beings – the animals, birds and the sea creatures. This is his godly responsibility while the second is as performed by the earth – to produce from within itself sustenance for the first – again a creative process. Both of these require active support from God, the senior or bigger partner, for He alone gives life breath and creates climatic conditions for the earth to yield its diverse produce. Man’s role is limited to planted the seed and this is the reason earth, much like a woman, is also called mother for producing through the planted seed. Mankind assists God in this propagation process as a junior partner in expanding His kingdom on earth.
When Eve gave birth to her first son, she exclaimed, “With God I have created/acquired/produced a man” (Genesis 4:1) and the Hebrew word used here is “kaniti” translated as produce or acquire. The other word used and translated as ‘with’ is et whereas normally im would have been used as per the context for ‘im’ means a partner who plans, plots and helps in execution of the task. On the other hand et implies someone who is like a tool used for production. We produce (et) this program with the camera and other equipments but with (im) the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit who reveals the mysteries of the Word. What Eve probably implied was that I have undergone the whole process of creation of this man and God has also played a part – my part is important for without me this could not have been possible. Even the name ‘Kayin’ given to the child is taken from root word ‘kanah’ meaning to acquire or possess and is spelled as “kuf,yud, nun”. Ironically the word kaniti or procure is a word play of the same three letters “kuf, nun and yud” but with an altered sequence. Thus Kayin becomes Eve’s kaniti or possession created with her perceived role being larger than every other partner in the process.
Havel or Abel the second child’s name means breath or breeze and there is no kaniti in his case but a simple “yalad” meaning to bear or beget. Kayin is a possessor and goes into farming by owning land while Able is a shepherd – both creating but while Kayin owns, Abel lets go as a passing breeze. Kayin’s attitude – I own and I produce where God also helps whereas Abel realizes that without God there is no breath or life – for the first God is a necessary partner while for Abel He is the essential partner. Cameras and other equipment is necessary for us but we do not give that much importance as much we give to Lord Jesus – the Living Word and His Holy Spirit. We buy protective gear for the equipment but we offer ourselves and our best to God for without Him we are not.
Why did God reject Cain/Kayin’s offering? – Was God being partial to Abel to favor his offering? God did not and does not demand any offerings from mankind for Himself but rather allows us to thank Him for His mercy for as Creator He owns everything. As Creator Owner God can take anything that He desires from the whole universe. In order to bless us and answer our calls for help in times of trouble and need, He desires our attitude of thankfulness towards Him and to offer what we have promised as vows (Psalm 50:9-15). In the Old Testament offerings, before God in the Tabernacle or the Temple, constituted of both produce of the earth – grain/floor, oil and wine as well as incense. The sheep, lambs or bulls etc were the heavenly creative process offering and resume a more important role in the offering process. The best or unblemished offerings ensured that only the best was brought before the Partner without whom these blessings could not have been. Abraham was tested through the offering of his most treasured and loved possessions – Isaac. The blood of the lamb on the door posts by the Israelites saved them from the death of their firstborn and God segregated the tribe of Levi in lieu to serve Him as His priests.
When Cain brought his offering before God, probably his thoughts were – God has helped me and I must offer Him something from the land. But since the land is mine and I have toiled, I will whatever I want and he collected whatever was before him without being selective. Thus it was not his best or the best produce of the earth. YHWH God told Cain about the sinful thoughts that he was nurturing to treat God as a insignificant but necessary partner that “sin is crouching at your door, and its desire is towards you but you should overcome it” (Genesis 4:7). God warned Cain about his sinful thoughts and that he should be more deliberate in his thinking to overcome this temptation. Eve blamed the serpent for her sin and in like manner Cain perceived the reason to be his brother Abel and his offering, for God’s rejection of his offering and under a sudden impulse killed Abel.
Lord Jesus taught the disciples the real way of bringing their offerings before God through the example of the widow who put two coins, all that she had, into the Temple offering box. The Messiah placed the value of her two coins “more than all those who have given to the treasury. For they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood” (Mark 12:41-44). The widow offered her best – all that she had; and placed total faith in the provisions of God – Yehowah Yireh – the Provider to meet her needs. She placed God above herself and her needs and offered all that she had.
The Temple Chief Priest was appointed by God for the Priest was to serve Him and act as a link between God and man for salvation and forgiveness. Annas and his son in law Caiphas, the then Chief Priest served God but placed their status above their role thus rejecting the Living Word – God’s Son, for they perceived that they had the exclusive right to lead and worship, taking God out of the selection and appointment process. It was this attitude that blinded them to Lord Jesus’ status and authority evidenced through various miracles and just before, about Lazarus being raised from the dead after four days. They gathered together with the Pharisees to exclaim “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him” (John 11:47-48). God had chosen His priests to partner with Him to bless His people and reveal the mysteries of His Word.
Whatever be our position in life, our attitude towards God and about His importance in our lives, determines our understanding of Him and His ways for we are earthly and carnal, living in the confines of the body while God is heavenly Spiritual being who is omnipotent and omnipresent. His ways and thoughts are altogether different from our thoughts and ways that are impossible for us to comprehend (Isaiah 55:8-9). Without proper understanding Cain blamed his brother for his trouble with the LORD God and killed him while the Chief Priests held the Son of God as their enemy and led Him to the cross.
A believer’s partnership relationship with God – Lord Jesus first revealed to us our true identity by exposing God’s glory in Himself and then blessed us with the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us get transformed us into this image and likeness through daily sanctification. In Him we found the true style of functioning that is expected of every human being, created in God’s image for He did not speak on His own authority but “the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 14:10). For He did everything under the authority and power of God the Father, He could confidently walk on to the cross and surrendered Himself to the grave for He was sure of His resurrection. Apostle Peter preached about the prophesy made by King David many years before about the Messiah “I foresaw the LORD always before My face, for He is at My right hand that I may not be shaken”. And then He declared that God will not allow His Holy One to see corruption by leaving His soul in Hades (Acts 2:25-28).
The Savior Lord established the heavenly kingdom in our hearts by blessing us
with the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in His power. Our role and
mission thereafter is to take this kingdom beyond our hearts into others so
that they also may receive salvation for as children of God it becomes our sole
responsibility. The Holy Spirit bears witness to our status as children of God
by His very presence in us and we thus become joint heirs with God’s Son – our
Lord Jesus. As God’s children we are empowered by His Word and His light
becomes our beacon to lead us on the path of victory over sin and forces of
darkness. God becomes our partner through the power given by Him to us by the
Holy Spirit. Recognizing this same relationship Apostle Paul declares “It is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life that I live in the
flesh (in this body) I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
What
offering should we bring before the Lord? As per Scripture we are supposed to bring our best
produce and as a believer, the One who lives in me plants the seed in mine and
other hearts. The fruit must be in conformity with what has been sown by the
Lord for if it is not, we have allowed some other seeds also to be planted in
us. The outcome would thus be what His Spirit produces as His fruits and these
are – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness
and self- control (Galatians 5:22). These fruits not only are our best but also
help us in our journey of transformation into Lord Jesus’ image and likeness.
What is our role to strengthen this relationship? – Lord Jesus provides the answer to this – “I am the vine” and you as branches cannot bear acceptable and good fruit without Me (John 15:1-4). Every branch receives energy to survive as sap from the vine and it is this then that produces fruit. God has clarified for mankind “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” and before the Divine power of His Spirit mountains or all obstacles before us are made plain (Zechariah 4:6-7). Prophet Elisha sought double portion of his spirit from his mentor – Prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2:9). Lord Jesus further strengthens this point “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13). The key, therefore, lies in asking for the Savior commanded us to ask to receive, seek God to find Him and knock so that He can open the doors of new opportunities for us. God reveled His intent “I will move ahead of you and straighten the crooked paths, I will break open thev doors of brass and break the bars of iron” (Isaiah 45:2). We are thus blessed to see new opportunities provided by God the Father through open doors and have also removed all restraints from our lives.
What is holding us back from excelling in His assigned tasks? First, we do not believe the removal of all obstacles like a slave does not want to leave his master out of fear of the unknown future compared to the known slavery. We neither discuss our business plans nor bring them before God, our Master, all the issues that hold us back. He has entrusted His kingdom work to us and our reluctance to share with Him amounts to keeping Him in the dark – though He is aware of everything. Our role is to share all plans, concerns, lack of resources – both material and spiritual and our fears before God and seek His guidance and help, for it is His business, His creation and His power and authority over everything.
Scripture brands us as children of God through faith in His Son and a child shares all that transpires in his/her daily life with his father. We on the other hand start playing adulthood and tend to operate in our power when unlimited authority of the Father is available. Once we surrender ourselves before His throne of grace and mercy, He steps forward to lead and guide us “to green pastures and still waters”, where there is abundance of resources and peace to enjoy them. Do we take His gifts as our ‘kaniti’ or His? Only this would help us develop a relationship of faith in God as our partner – and a senior one without whom we are nothing. As expected of us, then, we “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise and place before His throne or sacrificial offering of thanksgiving – or best fruit.
