Cain And Abel

Genesis 4

Since the book of Genesis is the "seed bed" of the Bible there are a number of "firsts" to note in the fourth chapter. There is the first conception, the first children (Gen. 4:1,2), the first farmer (4:2), first shepherd, first murder (4:8), first offerings (4:3,4) first vagabond (4:12), first ungodly culture (4:16-24) first bigamist (4:19), and the first mention of prayer (4:26). The third and fourth chapters of Genesis are coupled together with two important facts. First, Adam and Eve had an keen awareness of the promise that God had made to them in Genesis 3:15. In the midst of the curse God gave a promise, and in the midst of His wrath He remembered mercy. The Lord had promised to send a Redeemer to rescue them from the ruin of sin. Second, there was an acceptance of God’s provision through the shed blood and the covering of skins for their nakedness. Adam and Eve willingly accepted the Lord’s provision for their sin through the shedding of the blood. The first offering was made by the Lord Himself, and is typical of the Lord Jesus and His offering for sin (Heb. 10:12-14).

I. Acclamation of Eve– Gen. 4:1b "gotten a man"

The awareness of Eve and her faith in the Word of God is seen in her acclamation concerning the birth of her first born Cain. The first conception and birth is celebrated with great anticipation and acclamation.

A. Perception– (of the mother)

1. Conception– "and she conceived" (Gen. 4:1)

Moses uses an eloquent euphemism for sexual relations by stating "Adam knew Eve his wife" (Gen. 4:1a). This phrase reveals that conjugal relations between a man and his wife are the most intimate relations. The record of the first birth is found in Genesis 4:1. It is quite possible that Cain and Abel were twins for the Scripture records their births in very close proximity, and the Bible records one conception but two births (Gen. 4:1,2). We cannot imagine what Eve thought and felt during the days of her pregnancy and at the moment of childbirth.

2. Confession– "I have gotten a man from the LORD"

Throughout the Scripture childbirth is considered a special blessing from God (Gen. 33:5; Ps, 127:3). Yet it appears that Eve believed that Cain was the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to her in Genesis 3:15. When she exclaimed "I’ve gotten a man from the LORD" she must have believed that Cain was the fulfillment of that promise. Eve seemed to believe that the promise of God was immediately fulfilled in the birth of Cain. Her perception was very faulty for Cain was far from the promised One that God had determined to send. In fact Cain is more like the Antichrist than he is the Christ.

B. Prophecy– (of the man Christ Jesus)

Genesis 3:15 is considered the "proto-evangel" or the first Gospel promise, and prophecy of a coming Redeemer. This prophecy is a reference to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Virgin Conception– "her seed"

The first fulfillment of this prophecy would come to pass in the virgin birth, The reference to the "seed of the woman" refers to the miraculous virgin birth (Isa. 7.14; Jer. 31:22; Isa. 53:2). We know that the woman’s seed was a reference to the miraculous work of the Holy Ghost in overshadowing the womb of Mary to produce the perfect man– Christ Jesus (Lk. 1:35). Thus Christ was born with Adam’s flesh, without the tainted blood of Adam’s race and without the corrupted sin nature. The virgin birth is absolutely crucial to the plan of redemption.

2. Victorious Cross– "thou shalt bruise his heel"

The second fulfillment of the first prophecy in Scripture (Gen. 3:15) is concerning the final victory of Christ over Satan on the Cross. Though Satan would deal a bruising blow to the heal of the promised One, the coming Redeemer would crush the serpents head in ultimate victory.

III. Accountability to God–

Both Adam and Eve were accountable to God and His Word regardless of their response. They could choose to obey God or refuse to obey God, yet in spite of their choice they had to live with the consequences of their action. Their sin effected them, their children, the earth, and all of mankind.

A. Curse of Sin– (Gen. 3:14-19)

The awful consequences of disobeying God are immediately reaped among Adam and Eve by spiritual death and a loss of fellowship with God. The first couple were also banished from the paradise of Eden with the pronouncement of the curse of God upon them. One cannot help but wonder if Eve and Adam did not look back upon their choices and say to themselves "We should not have disobeyed God, what sorrow and suffering we brought into the world by our rebellion against God." When Eve found that Cain had killed Abel we can only wonder how she must have pondered the awful effects of her sin.

B. Conflict of Siblings– (Gen. 4:5-8)

Yet the reaping process does not end for Adam and Eve. Once they were beyond the paradise of Eden’s garden they saw the horrible effects of sin surface in their children. Cain and Abel eventually grew old enough to labor with their parents. Then a conflict arose among them that would eventually lead to the death of the youngest son. Cain set his will above God’s will, rejected the Lord’s way and eventually turned on his brother to murder him.

IV. Approach to God–

Adam’s attempt to hide his sin with a fig leaf apron, and his ploy to hide himself amid the trees of the garden are a portrait of the futile attempts of man’s religion to deal with sin. Yet we must remember that Adam was not attempting to approach God, he was seeking to avoid God. Cain and Abel are the first to approach God by the means of sacrifice. Their approaches to the Lord are very different. The way of Cain is the first false religion, and bears the identifying marks of every false religion till this day.

A. The Account– (Gen. 4:1-16)

When Cain approached God he brought the fruit of the ground (Gen. 4:3). The fundamental problem with Cain’s offering was two fold. First, it was a product of his labors as a farmer, which would indicate it was an approach to God based upon works. Cain also tried to offer God the fruit of the ground which was cursed by God. Second, it was a bloodless offering. God himself had set the precedent in Genesis 3:21 by slaying some innocent animals and shedding their blood. It seems that this precedent should have been enough to reveal to Cain that the way of atonement and approach to God is always by blood (Heb. 9:5). Cain is the first in a long line of individuals that seek to approach God their own way apart from the blood of sacrifice (Jude 11). The Hebrew writer reminds us that Abel offered his sacrifice "by faith" (Heb. 11:4) which reminds us that it was obviously prescribed directly to him by the Word of God (Rom. 11:17). It was Abel’s acceptance and Cain’s rejection that caused Cain to envy his brother and eventually murder him (1 Jn. 3:12).

John Phillips relates a wise insight concerning Cain and Abel: "There are only two ways to approach God. He can be approached the way of the Cross, or He can be approached the way of Cain. The one leads straight to Heaven, the other directly to Hell. (Exploring Genesis, pg 65).

B. The Application– (1 Jn. 3:10-14)

The Apostle John uses a vivid Old Testament illustration to portray the division of the children of God and the children of the devil. One of the remarkable features of this illustration is the fact that these two men belonged to the same physical family, yet their spiritual kinship was entirely different. This factor refutes the religious theory of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Though all men are God’s creation, we do not become God’s child until we receive Christ as Savior (Jn. 1:12).

VI. Attitude Toward Each Other

Cain and Abel were very different in their approach to God– one brought an offering that was acceptable to God, the other brought one which was unacceptable to God.

A. Hatred– (1 Jn. 3:12-15)

Yet the differences grew increasingly among Cain and Abel especially in light of their attitude toward each other. Obviously the acceptance of Abel’s offering and the rejection of Cain’s offering was taken very personally by Cain. Apparently, Cain was jealous over the fact that Abel had received God’s approval and he had not (Gen. 4;5b). Cain’s anger turned to bitterness, bitterness turned to hatred, hatred turned to malice, and eventually he had developed such a deep seated hatred for his brother that he desired to take his life. The deepest sort of hatred is generated among those who are religious yet find no acceptance in the presence of God.

B. Harm– (Gen. 4:8-11)

The scene is not detailed in the account given by Moses in Genesis, however we do know that Cain and Abel were conversing in the field and somehow Cain killed his brother (Gen. 3:8). It is interesting to note that the words "slew" in both accounts (Genesis & 1 John) means to slaughter or to butcher an animal. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary states about this word: "Originally the Greek word...meant "to cut the throat," and later it meant to "slay with violence" (page 1473). It is possible that Cain cut Abel’s throat while they were in the field together.

The parallel that the apostle John seeks to develop is the fact that the inward attitude of envy turned to hatred, and eventually led to murder. Thus, the inward attitude is equated with the physical act in the eyes of the Lord (1 Jn. 3:15). Those who hate their brothers are already murderers in their hearts. Much like the New Testament Pharisees, Cain, though physically related to Abel was not in the same spiritual family (Jn. 8:37-44). Cain is an example of a professing brother whose envy turned to hatred and eventually led to murder. His murderous act revealed that he did not have the love of God in him.

VII. Admonition From The Lord–

It is interesting to note how tenderly God was in dealing with Cain. The Lord truly desired to see Cain bring an acceptable offering, and to receive his worship.

A. Counsel– Gen. 4:6,7a "If thou doest well...accepted" (Wooed)

The Lord reached out to Cain in tender love and correction to bring him into a right relationship with himself. The "well" that was required of Cain was to bring a bloody offering. Perhaps he knew that he had to either purchase a lamb from Abel or bring an acceptable offering of blood to the altar of God for sacrifice. The Lord reached out to him even after his anger and jealousy over his rejected offering (Gen. 4:6a) and sought to bring him to a place of understanding and repentance. Yet Cain rejected the Lords attempts to woo him to a place of repentance. Jude refers to the "way of Cain" as outright apostasy which is nothing more than bloodless religion (Jude 11).

B. Caution– Gen. 4:7b "sin lieth at the door" (Warned)

Cain was wooed but he was also warned about the terrible consequences of rejecting God’s way through the blood, and becoming a willing victim to sin. The Lord uses personification to illustrate the danger of giving in to sin and its desires. Cain could yield to Gods will or he could succumb to the desires of sin. Sin was pictured as ‘lying at the door’ like an animal waiting to pounce upon its victim (Gen. 4:7b). Sin was ready to pounce upon Cain and dominate his life, therefore God warns Cain not to give in to sin. Cain rejected the wooing and the warning work of God upon his life.

C. Condemnation– Gen. 4:9-16 (Sentenced)

Cain was both indignant toward the Lord’s rejection of his offering and insolent concerning the Lord’s question about his brother– "I know not: am I my brother’s keeper" (Gen. 4:9). He decided to let sin have its way in his life, harbored bitterness which turned to hatred, and murdered his brother. Eventually, Cain could not even stand to be in the presence of Abel. He had become absolutely intolerant of the way of truth and those who were identified with it. The most intolerant people in all the world are not Bible believing Christians but those who belong to cults and those who subscribe to false religious beliefs.

Merill Unger gives a fitting comment: "Cain’s religion was too fastidious to kill a lamb, but not too cultured to murder his brother. The divine way of salvation fills man’s heart with love. Man’s way of religion inflames it with hatred. Religion was at the bottom of the first murder and has always been a prolific cause of bloodshed. In Adam who sinned against God and Cain who sinned against man, sin appeared in its full gamut, and on the first pages of divine revelation." (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, pg 45).

Cain had to hear the sentence of his own condemnation (Gen. 4:11,12). He bore the personal curse, and the ground he so loved and idolized would no longer yield plentifully for him.

Conclusion–

The story of Cain and Abel illustrates some very important spiritual principles–

1. God’s way of approach for worship has always been through the blood.

God shed the blood of innocent animals in Genesis 3, Abel shed the blood of a lamb and presented it to God as an acceptable offering. The key to an acceptable offering is not just the blood of another, but the blood of the prescribed sacrifice. Thus the Bible records the trail of blood from Genesis to the New Testament where the Lamb of God shed His blood for the redemption of Adam’s race (Jn. 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:18,19).

2. The effects of sin will always linger, and the results of sin always increase.

The sin of Adam and Eve was eventually reaped also in the life of Cain. When Cain rejected God’s way it turned to jealousy, anger turned to bitterness, bitterness turned to hatred, hatred turned to murder. Murder turned to lying, and the result was God’s ultimate rejection of Cain. Sin bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.

3. There are always consequences for disobeying God, or rejecting His way.

Though there are many who feel as if they are getting by with sin because there is no immediate or apparent judgment– yet God always punishes sin (Ecc. 8:11; 1 Tim. 5:24; Ezek. 18:4,20). The pleasures of sin are for a season, yet the wages of sin last for all of eternity.