A house is a place of destiny. The destiny of Adam and Eve was to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Genesis 1:28).
However, that destiny was subverted when the devil came baiting them with fear — “God is holding back from you” (rough paraphrase).
You see, the house is not only a place of destiny, but also of inheritance. So the devil came whispering doubt into the ears of Adam and his wife about the inheritance of God, implying that God was somehow trying to cheat them out of their full portion.
Adam and Eve bit.
Because of their disobedience, the purpose of their household was now undermined, and they missed their inheritance — not because God reneged, but because they disconnected from the promises of God (faith) and hooked up with the lies of the devil (fear).
This faithlessness hit the family hard, bringing immediate death in spirit and body. It now became the inheritance of the household and was passed on to the next generation.
Adam and Eve lived long and had many sons and daughters (Genesis 5:4), but only three sons are singled out by Moses in the Genesis account: Cain, Abel and Seth.
“Cain” means “acquired.” Eve gave him this name, saying, “I have acquired a man from the LORD” (Genesis 4:1). “Abel” means “vapor, breathe.” It speaks of a very transitory destiny.
Recall the story of Cain and Abel. Though Abel offered a sacrifice by faith (we know it was by faith because it was pleasing to God, and without faith it is impossible to please God), Cain did not. The rejection of his faithless offering seethed within him until he compounded his fault by murdering his brother, Abel.
By this faithless act, the house of Abel was immediately cut off, but so was the house of Cain, although it was not immediately apparent. We see a few generations of Cain, and the inheritance of murder was passed on, after which, this line is spoken of no more.
The third son was Seth, whose name means “appointed,” because Eve said, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, who Cain killed” (Genesis 4:25). Notice the distinction between the naming of Cain, “I have acquired,” and Seth, “God has appointed.” One is about us and our works; the other is about God and His works.
The Genesis narrative now shifts to the inheritance and destiny of the house of Seth—and there is a hope for redemption for the house of Adam.
God has appointed you for an inheritance and a destiny. Will you believe His promise? Your life will be a blessing for those who come after you, and a redemption for those who have gone before.
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