Neville Goddard on Genesis 4:2-8 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read Genesis 4 in context

Scripture Focus

2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Genesis 4:2-8

Biblical Context

Cain and Abel present offerings; Abel's is accepted, Cain's rejected, arousing anger. God warns that sin lies at the door, and Cain's jealousy leads to violence.

Neville's Inner Vision

In this tale, you are both Abel and Cain—two states of consciousness contending within the one I AM. Abel stands for the ordered life, the first fruits of awareness offered to the divine within. Cain embodies the restless, laboring mind working without inner alignment. When Abel's offering is accepted, it signifies that your inner state is in harmony with the law of your being. When Cain's offering is rejected, your sense of lack or self-importance arises, and anger darkens the countenance of your mind. The warning “sin lieth at the door” becomes a reminder that every impulse to blame or strike at another is a misalignment you allow to enter your field of attention. The line “unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” declares your power: you can rule over these lower movements by returning to the I AM and revising the feeling into faith, gratitude, and love. In the field of your life, the field is where inner movements manifest; the outer deed is but the echo of inner choice. Choose the true worship now, and the murder of the old self dissolves into the birth of aligned being.

Practice This Now

Assume the I AM accepts your offering now; feel the peace of alignment. In the next moment, catch anger rising, and revise it by declaring, 'I rule over fear with love.'