Monthly Archives: June 2014

Sunday Brunch – Cain And Abel

Why did God accept Abel’s offering? Why did the Lord reject Cain’s offering?

That’s a question that’s always puzzled me. The scriptures do not really give us a reason as to why this happened. Someone in my Bible study group pointed out that Cain’s offering was not the right kind of offering. However, there are other agricultural offerings in the Bible. I know they mention agricultural offerings in Deuteronomy.

Cain became enraged that the Lord rejected his offering, he became so mad that he killed his brother Abel. I was thinking that it was Cain’s bad attitude that cause the Lord to reject his offering.

So, why do you think God rejected Cain’s offering?

Genesis 4:2-5

New King James Version (NKJV)

²Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. ⁴Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

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Sunday Brunch – Mandrakes!

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Do you know anybody who has eaten a mandrake?

According to my research, mandrakes are poisonous. They are a root plant, but, produces berry-like fruit. The only part of the mandrake that is not poisonous is the fruit. Supposedly, it’s an ancient remedy to help barren women produce children. This plant has also been used in magic and witchcraft practices.

I’m assuming, in the Bible, when Rachel barters with Leah, wanting some of Reuben’s (Leah’s son) mandrakes, that she was aware of the supposed remedy since Rachel was barren. I also assume that Leah and Rachel ate the berries, not the root since it’s poisonous. But, as I think about it, perhaps Rachel was NOT going to consume the mandrakes – perhaps she wanted to keep them as a symbol of fertility since she was a barren woman?

So, other than the biblical references, have you ever heard anybody talk about mandrakes? Have you ever known anybody who’s eaten the fruit of a mandrake? If so, how did it taste? Do you think Rachel and Leah consumed the berries of the mandrakes, or, did they keep the plants for another reason?

The reason why I’m writing this blog post is because, when I think of mandrakes, I think about the Bible. Then I’m led to wonder – why don’t I ever see mandrakes in the grocery store? Why don’t people ever mention eating them? For the longest time, I’d just assumed that they were a foreign plant, only sparingly available in the states, and that’s why I never saw them offered for consumption. But, now it makes sense as to why I don’t see them. They’re poisonous plants, and knowing this, I would not want to eat the berries even if they were offered. I guess you could call me paranoid, but, although the berries are not poisonous, I’d still be hesitant to eat them!

If somebody offered you a mandrake berry, would you eat it?

Genesis 30:14-16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴Now Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

¹⁵But she said to her, “Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son’s mandrakes also?”

And Rachel said, “Therefore he will lie with you tonight for your son’s mandrakes.”

¹⁶When Jacob came out of the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come in to me, for I have surely hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” And he lay with her that night.

Sunday Brunch – The Animals!

Genesis 9:2-3 New King James Version (NKJV)

²And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. ³Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.

When Noah took the animals onto the ark, I’m assuming the animals came willingly. He was able to easily capture the animals and lead them onto the ark.

If all animals were domesticated, then, I wonder about Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep – I’m assuming the sheep were used for their wool and for their milk? If animals were not allowed to be eaten before the flood, then I doubt Abel (or anybody else) consumed any of his flock? Abel only killed his sheep as sacrifices to God?

Genesis 4:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

²Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

I guess it’s possible that the wool may have been used to make clothing for the few people living on the earth at that time?

These are just random ramblings that have been going through my head lately! Comment if you wish!

Sunday Brunch – Living A Long Life!

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Sunday Brunch – Evicted From The Garden of Eden!

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Remember the scripture where Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden? The Lord placed cherubim with swords, guarding the garden so that Adam and Eve could not re-enter. I wonder, how long do you think those cherubim guarded the garden? After their eviction, Adam and Eve had to toil in the soil, work to make a living, and Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. I wonder if those cherubim continued guarding the garden after Adam and Eve populated the earth? Do you think Adam and Eve told their kids about the garden, taking them over there, showing them where they sinned and, perhaps, their children saw the cherubim guarding the garden?

If you had to guess, how long do you think those cherubim stayed there? How long did the Garden of Eden exist before the Lord took it away? When I say ‘take it away’ I’m implying that the Garden of Eden no longer existed and the ground became like the rest of the earth.

Genesis 3:23-24

New King James Version (NKJV)

²³therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

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