Gen 4:1-16

Genesis 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.


• Again, we want to keep an eye out for firsts. So what do we have?
• Cain appears to be the firstborn. It doesn't really say that, but Eve's reaction suggests it
• We also have the first sibling
• Whatever view you take 24 hour literal days or creation with specific beginning and end ages, we don't know how long we are from creation itself
• What are their descriptions?
• Cain was a worker of the ground (a farmer)
• Abel was a keeper of sheep (a shepherd)
• Cain, the word means possession, but used as a verb can be, to buy, to acquire, to create
• Abel, the word is some ancient languages means son, but the Hebrew suggest vanity, vapor, or fragility


Genesis 4:3–5 (ESV) — 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.


• God's actions almost seem to be unfair, but we need to dig into this. First are there any hints in the text
• Cain brought an offering of fruit
• Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions
• Difference:
• One is the first and the best
• The other is only an offering
• NOTE: some have also criticized the offering because it was not a blood offering. This requires some previous instruction from God to man (entirely possible), but there may be another way to look at the passage
• Result:
• God "regarded" Abel's offering
• God had no regard for Cain's offering
• Let's look at what other passages say (cross-reference scripture)
• Jude 11 (ESV) — 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
• Balaam wanted to be rich. He wanted to satisfy God and still get the riches that Balak offered him. He wanted to do "just enough"
• Hebrews 11:4 (ESV) — 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
• Abel's was a faith offering which means what?
• He gave out of need
• He trusted God will provide
• 1 John 3:12 (ESV) — 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
• Something about Cain's deeds were evil, prior to the murder of his brother
• Proverbs 21:27 (ESV) — 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
• All indications are that the gift was not given with good intent
• So, we now have the first example of practicing religion
• Before we saw Adam adding to God's law
• Now, we see men going through the motions and thinking that is good enough
• Finally we do have God's own words to Cain


Genesis 4:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”


• What do we see through observation?
• Cain is angry
• In scripture and in psychology, this usually means you did not get your way
• What did Cain want? He wanted to have his offering accepted by God, but without it costing him
• Cain is disappointed or depressed (his face fell)
• This could be the first instance of mental health problems in scripture. Sin has corrupted his view of the world (God should accept whatever he does) and he lashes out emotionally (depression)
• God questions his motives (if you do well)
• What does it mean to do well?
• Well, the focus has to get off of you and what you get out of the situation
• The focus and the heart needs to be centered on God
• Cain was not doing well
• His eyes were on his self (what he got)
• He really didn't trust God (does not appear he gave the first fruits)
• He wasn't sacrificial (he gave of his wealth, but not the best or first)
• He was comparing himself to someone else (his brother). Comparisons are always dangerous. We know he was comparing because we see the results -- He killed his brother in the field (which means it was premeditated -- you don't accidentally run into your brother in the field)
• God warns him of sin and the motive of sin. What does God say about sin?
• Sin crouches at the door (like a cat looking for an opening)
• Its desire is CONTRARY to you (contrary means that it is not in your best interest)
• Satan has made sin look good, but it is not good for our soul
• This is the first explanation on why all sin (even secret or victimless sin) is dangerous
• How do you rule over sin? I have no idea. So, what is God saying?
• I think in this case, he needed to deal with the anger
• If he did not deal with the anger, he would fall prey to the consequences


Genesis 4:8–16 (ESV) — 8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.


• Observations. What is the first thing we see?
• Cain spoke to Abel his brother -- this is not explained. We are left in a dangerous area of inference. Did he blow up? What did they talk about?
• Also it is not clear that when he spoke to Abel is the same time as when they were in the field. Scripture seems to suggest two different times which leads to premeditation
• Also whatever they talked about did not satisfy Cain
• Cain continues to brood, in opposition to what God told him
• Again God questions a person in scripture. God is not looking for information. There is a purpose in God's response. What do we learn from the response?
• I can't believe Cain's response is somehow respectful and some idiom. It just doesn't make sense
• Cain lies to God
• Cain almost ridicules God
• Whereas Adam reluctantly confesses, Cain does not admits to his sin
• What is God's response?
• He curses Cain's work on the ground (his primary livelihood)
• He banishes Cain from the land
• He is separated from his family (Adam, Eve, brothers, and sisters)
• Most commentators believe it is also separation from God (see verse 16)
• Now Cain responds in remorse, after he is caught and the punishment is given
• God puts a mark on him
• There are so many ideas about what the mark means, and I don't think any of them add to the story
• At least two other marks in scripture
• One is to identify followers of the Antichrist
• Another is to protect believers during the tribulation
• Obviously, many years have passed because we find that there are other men (brothers) on the earth. Adam lived around 1000 years
• The mark does protect him -- interesting to note that at this point, capital punishment is not practiced. God changes that after the flood
• APPLICATION:
• Dwelling on issues can lead to sin
• Anger is a warning sign that we are not getting something we want. Also, that are focus is on ourselves and not others
• Our heart is what matters, not the practice of giving