The Inward Journey

By Douglas B. Clark

I have often wondered how it was possible that Cain and Abel could be brothers, yet so different from one another? How was it that one brother knew what was an appropriate sacrifice and the other did not? And what caused Cain to envy his brother to the point that it escalated to murder? How could two brothers be so contrary?

Cain was a worker of the earth; a tiller of the ground and Abel was a keeper of sheep. Cain offered a sacrifice from the fruit of the earth that God did not accept, while his brother, Abel, intuitively knew to offer a blood sacrifice even though there is no record of God requesting a blood sacrifice.

I am asking you to consider a new perspective regarding Cain and Abel. Instead of thinking of a story about two brothers, please consider this: There are two opposing forces that reside in the believer that are much like what is pictured in the story of Cain and Abel. We are born first into this earthly realm a living soul, and like Cain, we are workers of the earth and earth minded, disconnected from communion with our Creator and unable to discern the sacrifice God desires. Then we experience the new birth and begin putting aside the works of the flesh as we follow after God. Our spiritual birth is much like the birth of the second son, Abel. It is here that the seed of God in us begins to germinate. While the Cain in us chooses to offer up a rich harvest of self-efforts, the Abel in us hungers for the truth of God. The elder brother becomes upset at what is happening and seeks to dominate and kill the life of the younger brother. This is the great controversy. It is the beginning of the greatest tribulation we will ever face, for the earthly-minded Cain within us is intent on offering a sacrifice of self-efforts, while Abel knows that God requires the sacrifice of a life. Like Cain, we become disappointed and disillusioned when we realize that God is not pleased with our earthly efforts. And like Abel, our very life must become a blood sacrifice.

Cain, like his father, Adam, was of the earth – a natural-minded man. “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.” I Cor. 15: 47. The natural always precedes the spiritual, both in typology and in regard to “self-effort”. That is why Cain, Ishmael and Esau were all firstborn sons. We should not be discouraged, for God has given us hope. If we have bore the image of the earthly shall we not also bear the image of the heavenly? (I Cor 15:49) When our figurative blood is spilled and our life given back to God, it is then that we experience the resurrection life — aware that we can accomplish nothing outside of the will of the Father.

It is worth noting that Cain and Abel spent many years together as brothers before Cain murdered Abel. When we are spiritually young we experience a time of brotherhood with “self.” There is a mixture of flesh and spirit that God seems to allow for a time. This is typified in the two loaves of leaven bread associated with the Feast of Weeks, (Pentecost). Leaven is a type sin, yet it was allowed in the loaves used in Pentecost.

At this level of development we are busy bees for the Lord. We are more concerned about the “power to be witnesses” than we are about getting to know the Holy Spirit as our teacher. Sure, we want more knowledge, but we have not yet discerned what it is to sit quietly at His feet. Instead we are looking for ways to harness the power of God so WE can build our own subdivision in the kingdom. This is the life of the busy bee, buzzing around making honey in the name of Jesus. The life of Abel is present, but the life of Cain is very much alive too.

Cain does not want to know the Holy Spirit as teacher because he does not want to hear anything about the blood sacrifice that requires a life to be given. Can you recognize Cain? It is that part of “self” that resists the will of God when the directive is to be still. Have you ever felt like you were destined for greatness? It is hard to imagine that the very thing we feel destined to do is what needs to die. Our destiny of being mighty sons of God must be swallowed up by God’s destiny to live and express Himself in a people. The busy bee experiences very little internal conflict, for the only enemies recognized are those who would interfere with our plans to further the kingdom.

As we continue to mature in Christ, God will bring about a change. The two brothers who once played so well together are about to enter into conflict with each other and Cain will spill the blood of Abel. The deciding moment is always when God reveals that He is not pleased with our earthy sacrifice. It is at that moment we start to recognize the kingdom of God is within and the battle is within. What is then set in motion may span many years as God does His mysterious work in us, revealing the man of sin.

What a shock we experience when God rejects our sacrifice of self-effort as He did Cain’s. It makes absolutely no sense to us. How is it possible that God could not be pleased? We cry out, “Lord, I have prophesied in your name, I have cast out devils, I have prayed for the sick and seen them healed, I have given you the best years of my life!” Then instead of a voice of compassion and mercy we hear God say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

How many times have we read these words from Jesus and looked around to identify the audience with which he was referring? Please consider the possibility that in various degrees we each experience this when God reveals to us his displeasure in our sacrifice of self-effort. It is part of our maturing in Christ.

As I have already pointed out, it was after God received Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s offering that conflict arose. Up until that time they were just two brothers. Do you recognize the brotherhood of flesh and spirit? We see it exemplified in the religious systems, yet we fail to see that the system is a manifestation of what originates in the heart of us all. As we mature spiritually the Holy Spirit reveals that our true enemies are not the religious brethren who have wounded us, but are those things from within that are resistant to the will of God.

There is a major paradigm shift in the understanding of the believer when he or she realizes that the battle is within and not without. Let me illustrate this truth from the Bible.

James tells us: … Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) Just a few verses earlier James identifies how the devil manifests. He mentions wars, fighting, lusts, adultery and friendship with the world. Then he sums things up by telling the reader to submit to God and resist the devil. The devil he is referring to is manifesting from within and is revealed in outward behavior.

Paul confronts the same issue when he says not to “give place to the devil” (Eph 4: 27) He is referring to putting off the “old man” with the carnal lusts of the flesh. This is, as a friend would say, “Christianity 101.” We are instructed to “put off the old man” and “resist the devil,” when it comes to the manifestation of the sin nature.

I want to contrast the instructions of James and Paul to “resist the devil” with what Jesus, said when He instructed us to, “Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Mt. 5:39) I think it is difficult for many believers to separate the two. When do we resist the devil and when do we submit to evil? We are instructed to resist the devil when it comes to what rises up in us and to NOT RESIST when evil is done to us. One comes from within and reminds us that Jesus said: …those things, which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (Mt. 15:18) The other evil comes from without, as when we are wounded in the house of our friends, or when some other external circumstance arises that we may view as an attack.

The immature believer will oppose circumstances in their life that might diminish or hurt them. After all, they say, we have authority over principalities and powers and rulers of darkness. How many times have you heard someone command the devil to take his hands off of their finances, or a prayer of unity when God has allowed division? The immature, busy bee believer cannot see the purpose in the evil that Jesus told us not to resist. They read the words of Paul when he said, “ALL THINGS work together for the good for those who love the Lord and are called according to HIS PUPOSE,” but they do not really believe it. Without a revelation from the Holy Spirit to open our understanding we will continue to fight against what God is doing, thinking we are resisting the devil.

Jesus resisted the devil when He was tested in the wilderness. Without hesitation He said, “Get behind me satan.” This was a test of character that revealed the nature of God residing in Jesus. But when evil came upon Him, manifested in those who conspired to have Him arrested, beaten and crucified, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” It was in the garden of Gethsemane when these events were set into motion. Instead of rebuking the devil, or calling ten-thousand angels Jesus prayed, “Father, not my will, but thy will be done.” What a contrast this was to the actions of Peter who cut off the servant of the high Priest ear. Peter was insistent on resisting evil because he did not fully understand the plan of God. Jesus looked beyond the devil and the circumstances that surrounded Him and saw the greater plan of God that encompassed all of creation. How easily we forget that Jesus overcame the devil by submitting to the cross. When our vision is enlarged we will learn to resist the devil when it comes to the carnality of the first Adam, while submitting to the evil that God has allowed for the purpose of growing us up in Him.

This new understanding causes us to see that God has a purpose in the evil that comes against us. Hannah Whitall Smith, (1832-1911) wrote these pertinent words in an article titled, “Is God In Everything?”

“Nothing else but seeing God in everything will make us loving and patient with those who annoy and trouble us. They will be to us then only the instruments for accomplishing His tender and wise purposes towards us, and we shall even find ourselves at last inwardly thanking them for the blessings they bring us.

Nothing else will completely put an end to all murmuring or rebelling thoughts. Christians often feel a liberty to murmur against man, when they would not dare to murmur against God. But this way of receiving things would make it impossible ever to murmur. If our Father permits a trial to come, it must be because that trial is the sweetest and best thing that could happen to us, and we must accept it with thanks from His dear hand. The trial itself may be hard to flesh and blood, and I do not mean that we can like or enjoy the suffering of it. But we can and must love the will of God in the trial, for His will is always sweet, whether it be in joy or in sorrow.

Our trials may be our chariots. We long for some victory over sin and self, and we ask God to grant it to us. His answer comes in the form of a trial, which He means shall be the chariot to bear us to the longed-for triumph. We may either let it roll over us and crush us as a Juggernaut car, or we may mount into it and ride triumphantly onward. Joseph’s chariots, which bore him on to the place of his exaltation, were the trials of being sold into slavery, and being cast unjustly into prison. Our chariots may be much more insignificant things than these; they may be nothing but irritating people or uncomfortable circumstances. But whatever they are, God means them to be our cars of triumph, which shall bear us onward to the victories we have prayed for. If we are impatient in our dispositions and long to be made patient, our chariot will probably be a trying person to live in the house with us, whose ways or words will rasp our very souls. If we accept the trial as from God, and bow our necks to the yoke, we shall find it just the discipline that will most effectually produce in us the very grace of patience for which we have asked.

God does not order the wrong thing, but He uses it for our blessing, just as He used the cruelty of Joseph’s wicked brethren, and the false accusations of Pharaoh’s wife. In short, this way of seeing our Father in everything makes life one long thanksgiving, and gives a rest of heart, and more than that, a gayety of spirit, that is unspeakable. Someone says, ‘God’s will on earth is always joy, always tranquility.’ And since He must have His own way concerning His children, into what wonderful green pastures of inward rest, and beside what blessedly still waters of inward refreshment, is the soul led that learns this secret.” End of Quote.

The Blood of Able
Able is a type of Christ. He offered the sacrifice God desired, yet in the end his innocent blood was spilled, not by a stranger, but by his brother. Jesus Christ lived a life that was pleasing to God, yet in order for the sacrifice to be complete His innocent blood had to be spilled upon the earth. This was God’s purpose from before the foundations of the world. Abel was also the second born child, showing us his identity was with the last Adam, Jesus Christ, and not the first Adam who was of the earth.

There is something very important to recognize in the innocent blood of Abel being spilled upon the earth. When we think of death-to-self our focus is directed to the carnal nature and its various manifestations. We think of Paul’s instruction to “put off the old man.” But there is another aspect of dying that is overlooked and often misunderstood. God is looking for much more from us than the crucifixion of our carnal nature. It is the shedding of innocent blood that God required for the appropriate sacrifice. This was revealed in the “firstling of the flock” that Able offered as a sacrifice and again when Abel’s blood was shed. Abel typified what was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and NOW THIS TRUTH IS BEING FULFILLED IN US! If we are to be a savior in the Savior then the very life given to us by God must be given back to Him. This is the pattern that was established in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.” Heb 10:6-6

This passage was taken from Psalms 40:6-8 which reads:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come– it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Young’s literal translation.)

According to John Darby’s Synopsis of the New Testament: “The psalm says in the Hebrew, ” Thou hast digged ears for me,” translated by the Septuagint, “Thou hast prepared me a body.” The piercing of the ear had great significance for the Israelite servant. The servant’s ear was pierced with an awl in the doorway of the house they were to serve. This signified hearing with obedience.

The obedience to an outward law, as was the case in presenting burnt offerings and sin offerings, did not have the power to produce the type of obedience God was ultimately looking for …His law written in our hearts.

My point is that many of the prophetic words fulfilled by Jesus are now being fulfilled in us. Jesus took on the form of a servant, (digged ears signifying hearing with obedience) and became obedient unto death. “Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.” (Heb 5:8) These truths are being fulfilled in us!

I have known for many years that if we share in Christ sufferings that His glory will be revealed in us:

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Ro 8:17).

What I am seeing is more of the detail of what it means to suffer and to share in his glory. God is requiring that we give back to Him the life He has given us, just as was exemplified by Jesus. Some may ask, “Didn’t Jesus die in our place?” The answer is, yes, He did die for us! But I tell you, we will never know the power of His RESURRECTION until we know the fellowship of His SUFFERINGS and the only way for us to know the fellowship of HIS SUFFERINGS is to experience the progressive revelation that is unfolding before us. We must first experience Gethsemane and pray the prayer, “Father not my will, but they will be done,” before we experience the kind of crucifixion that will bring about resurrection life. We must also come to the place where we are willing to submit to the evil done to us before we can experience the innocent life of Christ in us as an everlasting sacrifice unto God.

There is a fire that is designed to burn away the wood, hay and stubble in our lives, but there is also a continual fire that is the light of men that God desires to burn in us, for He is a consuming fire and He has purposed that we would be His ministering flames.

“ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Phil 3:10-11

The power of His resurrection is something more than the “power to be witnesses” we experience in Pentecost. We can only experience the power of His resurrection by becoming like Him in His death. THE SACRIFICE OF CAIN DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT A LIFE BE GIVEN. There is no death or resurrection through the carnal sacrifice of self-efforts. That is why we become so disillusioned when God reveals and rejects our kingdom building efforts. But here is the mystery in the conflict of the two brothers …when we become disillusioned from God rejecting our offering of “works” we then indulge in either religious behavior that says, ignorance is bliss, or, we turn from God to seek comfort in the appetites of the carnal mind. Mysteriously, for those who have been called, this process becomes the catalyst that first brings about the death necessary to be partakers of His resurrection life.

Do not be discouraged from the dissonance you may see in your life. Know that it is a necessary part of the plan of God, so that Christ might be formed in you. Do not resist the evil that comes upon you, but know that God allows it so that His purposes may be accomplished in your life!

Douglas B. Clark