v.1-2 Eve’s words suggested a boast, “God made man, and now with the help of the LORD, I have made the second man.”Her statement was full of hope – Cain, by virtue of being the firstborn,
in her judgement was the chosen heir of promise (cf. 3:15), instead of Abel. There is nothing wrong with
either occupation of shepherding, Abel; and farming, Cain.
v.3-5 The Hebrew construction of Abel’s offering is elaborate, stressing that he went out of his way to
please the LORD. The “firstling of his flock and of the fat thereof”
revealed that Abel offered the best, the fattest or healthiest to God (cf. Ex. 13:2; Lev.
22:17-25). In contrast, Cain’s was simply mentioned as “the fruit of the ground.” The Old Testament
allows for non-blood offerings (cf. Lev. 2; Lev. 5:11).Hence, the difference appears to be that
whereas one worshipper went out his way to please God, the other merely discharged a duty.
Worship that pleases God springs from a right heart (cf. Jn. 4:24). Several times, especially in the prophets’ writings, we are
informed that God’s reason for rejecting a sacrifice or offering (blood, or non-blood) was usually that religious
ritual became a substitute for obedience and holy living (cf. Is. 1:10-20). That the LORD had “respect (or, regard) unto Abel and to his offering,” but not to Cain,
indicated that something was wrong with Cain’s attitude and motivation.In
each case, the person is mentioned before the offering, which suggests that the kind of offering is not as important
as the attitude of the person making the offering.
A further indication of Cain’s wrong attitude was his response to God’s rejection
of his offering.He became very angry over his brother’s
acceptance by God.This is not a response expected of a sincere and humble believer.We must be careful of the sin of Cain. If your heart is not
right with God, you will surely be tempted to hate and attack the godly.Examine yourself – Are you pleased when the godly stumble?Do you eagerly join in the joke at his expense?Are you relieved when he or she seemed to be less spiritual than before?Know that your quarrel is not with the godly person but with his God.
v.6-7 Cain
was so angry over the rejection of his offering that God warned him of the danger he was in.The
LORD interceded Cain on his path of peril, with a couple of questions, then a paternal advice.At the centre of God’s counsel is the concept of doing well, or good
– “If you
do well, there is uplift; but if you do not do well, sin is couching at the door, and its desire is for you, but
you can have the mastery over it.” The point is that victory over sin requires a personal determination to do right.
This is true of the Spirit-filled life.The Holy Spirit does not empower a Christian while he or she passively
waits for a “zapping” from above!It is the Christian, who is determined to do what is right but who
realises that he is unable to accomplish what God commands in his own strength, and casts his dependence on the
Spirit of God, who will experience the supernatural enabling of God to do what is right. But if Cain did
not do good, sin was about to overwhelm him. Sin is personified as an animal couching at the door and ready
to pounce on Cain, whose anger has made him vulnerable to its evil influence (cf. Eph. 4:26; Ja. 1:20). The nature of sin thus described by God ought to alert us to the dangers both of carelessness
and passivity in regards to doing right.
v.8 But Cain
cared not for deliverance from sin.Despite the warning from
the LORD, Cain “rose up against Abel…and slew him.”The Hebrew wording indicated
that it was premeditated.Interestingly, but not without parallel, history’s first murder has
its context in an act of worship!Once again, the refusal of man to obey the Word of God has brought
about pain, sorrow and death.
v.9 Just as
the LORD sought after sinning Adam and Eve (cf. 3:8-9), He sought after Cain to bring him to repentance and restoration
through his confession.However, unlike his parents, Cain denied any knowledge of the murder
and even disowned any responsibility for his brother.The rapid spread of the
corruption of sin in the human race is unveiled in Cain’s murder, lie, and self-centred spirit.
v.10-12
The LORD, having given an opportunity for Cain to own up, cut across Cain’s defiant answer and accused Cain of
his sin.As Cain had indicated that he will not confessed his sin, God’s judgement swiftly
followed.There is an advance on the curse on the ground because of Adam’s sin (cf. 3:17) – “And now art thou cursed from the earth” – the curse now attaches to this son of Adam.The
fertile soil was in some way in collusion with Cain by virtue of receiving Abel’s blood from his hand.Cain
will be banished from the land, and he will have great difficulty scratching out his food.In addition, Cain will be a wandering fugitive from now on.
v.13-14 The
last clue to Cain’s character is revealed in his response to God’s judgement – “My punishment is greater than I can bear.” There is not the slightest hint of remorse but a complain against
the consequences of his sin.Cain complained that it is unbearable to be driven away because it means that he had
to sever all relationships with the family and, more importantly, with the LORD of blessing.Cain recognised that God's punishment would result in
his own death since he was banished from the presence of the LORD and the protection of an established community.
Hence, Cain’s anxiety arose from his selfish fears of death at the hands of others.
v.15 In mercy, the LORD put some kind of protection on Cain so that he would survive (speculation on what the mark was will probably be futile).
God’s response basically showed what God thought of blood revenge – His provision was intended to put an end to the further bloodshed.
v.16 Cain’s last act of defiance was his settling in the land of Nod and building a city. “Nod” refers to a “fugitive,” and thus one
might say Cain lived in the “land of wanderings.”