2.6. CAIN AND ABEL (Genesis 4:1-26)

The name Cain is said to mean 'Gotten or acquired from YAHWEH'. This filled Eve with expectant hope as she remembered (Genesis 3:15 ) She probably thought 'Here he is'. This hope was dashed - her first son turned out to be a murderer. Hope turned to be a bitter taste of the Fall in her mouth. (Proverbs 13:12 ).

Domestication of animals and the practice of agriculture were taking place in the first generation of mankind. Abel demonstrated faith towards God.

Genesis 4:4 "Abel also brought of the firstlings of the flock."

Abel believed nothing was too good for God. His approach to God was by substitutionary sacrifice. One lamb for one man. Later it would be one lamb for a household. (Exodus 12 ). Then one lamb for a nation (Leviticus 16). Finally Christ the Lamb of God for the sin of the whole world. (John 1:29 )

Genesis 4:4 "And the LORD respected Abel and his sacrifice."

Divine respect for and acceptance of Abel's offering was possibly shown by divine fire coming upon the sacrifice and consuming it. Such fire consumed the first of the tabernacle sacrifices. (Leviticus 9:24 ). Other examples: (Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chronicles 21:26; 2 Chronicles 7:1. ) Abel himself was acceptable because he believed God's word. The Lord Jesus calls him 'righteous Abel'. (Matthew 23:35 ). He was that by faith.

Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks."

Hebrews 12:24 "We have come to God by a better mediator, even Jesus, of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."

Genesis 4:3-5 "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the first-born of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."

'In the process of time', literally, 'At the end of days'. Probably there is hidden in this word the arrangement by God of a special day of offerings. That both Cain and Abel offered on the same day supports this. Cain brought of the 'fruit of the ground' - a gift of that which was cursed. If he had approached by the blood of a lamb, then his gift of fruit would have been acceptable. God demanded the fruit of Israel (Leviticus 19:24 ), but the blood had to be offered first.

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Cain Was Very Angry

There was no divine fire upon Cain's sacrifice. Cain insisted on what he wanted, not what God wanted.

Romans 8:7,8 "... the mind of the flesh - with its carnal thoughts and purposes - is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's law, indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh - catering to the appetites and impulses of the carnal nature cannot please God, or be acceptable to Him."

The flesh becomes angry, as Cain did when crossed. Religious flesh gets very angry when seeing the saved by faith enjoying the favour of God in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Angry flesh is the source of the persecution of the saints.

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Unused Sin-Offering

Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

God spoke to Cain - He still speaks to the heart of sinners. Cain is promised restored fellowship by doing well by coming the way of the sacrificial lamb - but if not: the effects of sin are ready to pounce (lies, crouches) on him.

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Unleashed Hatred

First Cain lured Abel into the field supposedly to talk with him - slew him. Ugly envy and hatred are the causes of this first murder. The Holy Spirit reveals this in:

1 John 3:12 " ... Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous."

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Confrontation with God

- sin against a fellow man is sin against God, therefore the Lord speaks with Cain. David's involved others. In true repentance he recognized his sin was primarily against God (Psalm 51:4 ).

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Convicting questions

- 'Where is Abel?' God's inquest was immediate - sometimes delayed - but man is always accountable. Cain's arrogant and lying answer - 'I do not know - am I my brother's keeper?' (protector). Under Law there is an obligation (Leviticus 19:17 ). Under grace, obligated to all men (Romans 1:14 ). 'What have you done?' The shaft of conviction is aimed at the heart. 'Your brother's blood cries out.' (Hebrews 11:4 ). Cain thought there was no witness to accuse him - the blood of Abel witnessed.

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Cursed a second time

- cursed in Adam, now cursed for his own acts. Freedom from curse in Christ. (Hebrews 2:9. 1 John 2:2 ). The ground was cursed a second time for Cain (Genesis 4:12 ). He would work, but his work would be fruitless. Haggai 1:5-7 enunciated this principle - the earth reflects the spiritual nature of its inhabitants.

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Controlled by fear

- In his wandering Cain feared revenge. Interesting to note that the first murder was not awarded the death penalty. This came later. (Genesis 9:6 ). God gave a message of protection (Genesis 4:15 ). This gave opportunities for repentance. Cain failed to avail himself of them. Cain left the place of the Lord's presence, seemingly forever.

'Nod' means 'wandering.' It was an area east of Eden. Cain's wife was obviously a daughter of Adam (Genesis 5:4 ). No moral problem attaches to the inevitable intermarriage of the first generation. Cain built a city and named it after his son Enoch, meaning 'dedication.' But it was a dedication to carnal flesh, not to God. For such as Cain see (Psalm 49:11 ).

In Cain's urban civilization polygamy was first practiced (Genesis 4:19 ). Musical instruments were invented. (Genesis 4:21 ). There were craftsmen in metals (Genesis 4:22 ). Material progress, culture, and invention are not necessarily a sign of God's approval or proof of His co-operation. In Cain's family, violence and murder had become a cause of boastful pride. Lamech's poetic, egotistical claim was that he would take care of himself seventy sevenfold without any help from God - such as Cain had. (Genesis 4:23,24 ). Degeneration is a mark of descendants of Adam.

Satan destroyed the Abel line - Christ could not come through him. The birth of Seth - meaning 'He has appointed another seed.' Eve recognized Seth as God's replacement for Abel. It was from his line the saviour came (Luke 3:38 ). The next in the line was seth's son Enosh - his name means like the word Adam 'man', but implies weakness and dependency - recognition of dependency leads to calling on the name of the Lord in prayer (Psalm 145:18 ). New Testament truth: Pray in Jesus name (John 16:26 ) - by a new and living way (Hebrews 10:19-22 ) - according to His abiding Word (John 15:7 ) - in His will (1 John 5:14,15 ) - expecting fulfilment of His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20 ) - in the power of the Holy Spirit (Jude 20 ).

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. Why was Eve filled with expectant hope at the birth of her first son?
2. As a consequence of sin many hopes are unfulfilled. Who has become your true hope and true life?
3. Why did the Lord respect Abel's sacrifice and reject Cain's?
4. Do you see in Cain's anger a picture of religious flesh that gets very angry when the saved by faith experience the fire and fullness of the Holy Spirit?
5. Nothing is hid from God. Cain may have thought there was no one to witness against him. Who did testify against him and how?
6. Do you think that Cain was more concerned with the consequences of his sin than the sin itself? What does this teach you about true repentance?
7. Why do you think God withheld the death penalty which later was His command (Genesis 9:6)?
8. Where did Cain's wife come from? Do you accept (Genesis 4:16) as the answer?
9. Do you see in the urban civilisation founded by Cain, a parallel with urban city experience today? (Read Genesis 4:16-24).
10. In the birth of Seth Eve saw the appointment by God of another seed - instead of Abel. Do you marvel at the faithfulness of God? (Luke 3:38).
11. What did men begin to do in the days of Seth? Is there a need for a revival of this today?