Sibling rivalry, disappearing ancestors and giants - oh my!

Just some thoughts from my chronological read today.

Genesis 4, 5, 6
God, speaking to Cain after his insufficient offering was given says, "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." Scripture tells us Cain offered the Lord "some of his crops". His brother, Abel, brought the "best of his firstborn lambs from his flock." Why was Abel's gift so good and Cain's not? Hebrews 11:4 offers a little more insight into their gifts. "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings." The Lord's acceptance of their gifts boiled down to their attitudes, their hearts. Abel brought the Lord a gift in faith. The NIV says Abel brought "fat portions" and Cain "some of the fruit". Is that also an insight into their hearts? Abel brought his best. The NLT indicates the best of the firstborn. Abel believed God deserved the best off the top, probably believing it all came from Him. But Cain brought some. A random choosing? Or what was left? We don't really know - but God's response gives us insight into the attitude with which it was brought. The warning for Cain serves to warn us all: "Do what is right. Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you." How true! How easy it can be to fall into sin's traps. How easy it is to fall into the mundane, rut or routine and not examine if we are giving God our best. May I be on my guard, and you on yours- subduing those sinful tendencies that rear in our lives and becoming its master instead of being mastered. Lord, help us be aware of those spots in our life, lurking at the door, that desire to lead us away from You.

Genesis 4:26 At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name.
This popped out at me today - how did they address the Lord before addressing Him by name? And what name were they now proclaiming? Was it I AM? Jehovah? Or one of the other names scripture tells us about? Just interesting.

Genesis 5: 21 When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23 Enoch lived 365 years, 24 walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.
Do you ever just skim over those long lists of descendants. Who begat who - how old they were - etc? I know I have a tendency to gloss over them a bit, but tonight this little tidbit about Enoch popped out at me. One day he just disappears - because God took him! What? In a time when people were living to be 900+, this man, at the young age of 365 just disappears because God takes him. That's it - nothing else is said. Enoch lived in close fellowship with God. Did God just enjoy his company so much that he whisked Enoch to heaven to be with him? That's my guess but does this fascinate anyone else?

Gen 6:3
3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”
I think about how people moan and groan about getting older, bodies falthering, etc. Can you imagine listening to it for oh...900 years? Or watching us cave to all those sinful tendencies for centuries on end - can you imagine? No wonder God cut our lifespan short! Especially when you keep reading...

4 In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.
The Hebrew meaning of Nephilim means fallen one. And typically in the Old Testament, the "sons of God' were referencing angels. Were these Nephilites fallen angels? Were they a race of giants? I haven't been able to find anything that can definitely answer, but what I found most interesting is the reference to their children that became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times. Ever taken a mythology class? Ever think that maybe those legends and stories have some basis in reality? Good stuff!