First Bible prayer or first complaint?

Background: In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had communion and fellowship with God similar to conversational prayer. Since they had everything they could possibly need and more, they did not ask for anything, but when they disobeyed God, everything changed. Even then, however, the Bible does not mention their asking God for forgiveness, maybe because they did not!

Regardless, the couple left the Garden as God commanded, and, outside of Eden, they eventually had a family. The Bible does not say what Adam and Eve told their children about God as they were growing up, but for some reason, both sons thought they needed to give God a gift, perhaps to get back into the Garden or into God’s good graces.

At any rate, Cain offered some of the produce from his garden, while Abel gave the very best of his flock. God accepted Abel’s gift, but not Cain’s off-hand offering, which infuriated the man so much that he killed his younger brother. God then confronted Cain, who responded with the resounding question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

“And the Lord said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries from the ground! Now you are cursed from the earth that swallowed your brother’s blood. When you till the ground, it will not yield good crops. From now on you will be a fugitive and a homeless wanderer on the earth.’

“And (in what may be the first biblically recorded prayer from a person) Cain cried out to the Lord, ‘My punishment is too great to bear! You have banished me from the face of the earth and also from Your presence. You have made me a fugitive and homeless wanderer, so whoever finds me will kill me!’

“But the Lord said, ‘I will punish sevenfold anyone who kills you.’ Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. And Cain left the Lord’s presence, settling in the land of Nod, east of Eden,” Genesis 4:10-16.

Questions: How far from Eden am I? What kind of prayer life do I have? Do I talk with God in conversational prayer as I read the Bible and listen to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit? Do I frequently praise God, or like Cain, do I mainly protest and complain? Do I ask God for forgiveness, or do I think I have to earn forgiveness and love from The Most Holy, Loving, and Forgiving God?

Prayer: Dear LORD God, I praise You for Your goodness, mercy, forgiving grace, and love. Help me to offer my best to You as a pleasing gift, just because I love You. Thank You for freely loving, forgiving, and protecting me. Thank You for responding to my prayers even when I complain.

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© 2012, Mary Sayler, all rights reserved. ~~