Summary: In our time, sadly, we are very familiar with death. We’ve got funerals down. We know who to call, we know what to wear, we know to find the right memorial. Just think about that: In our time, there are people who actually make a living conducting services and maintaining cemeteries for our fallen.
But just try to imagine this situation. You’ve not been acquainted with death yet and suddenly your oldest child kills his younger brother. You’re standing at the grave. What do you say? Who might you call? This first couple are feeling the aftershock of the gritty reality of what a deceased human life actually looks like. Shaking their heads they look down and simply think, “What have we done?”
Sadly, this is the world we understand… but this was not how it was supposed to be.
Genesis 4
If Adam and Eve didn’t understand the full effect of the fall before, they definitely understand it by the time we reach Genesis chapter four. The way the course of events come about, it seems almost breath-taking how fast humanity spiraled downward as a result of sin entering the world. In just one generation, we go from “paradise” in a Garden of Eden, to “sorrow” at a graveside service, and it only gets worse.
Let’s follow the progression:
Marriage and Procreation— Genesis 4:1-2
God issues a command for mankind to replenish the earth and this is exactly what happens. Adam and Eve have their first child and call him, Cain. Directly after this, we read that Adam and Eve had another child and called him Abel. At this point, we’re not given a tremendous amount of information, but we do know that both grew to lead productive lives: Cain as a farmer, and Abel as a shepherd. So far so good!
Interestingly enough, this story begins with a tremendous amount of optimism. Eve was full of faith and hope and realized that by God’s grace and with his help, she conceived a son… and no doubt, had this same understanding with all of her other sons and daughters.
To Eve, life meant something. She knew it was special. This is also indicated in the names that are selected for these two boys. Cain means “possession.” It was an indication that God had given him to her. The name Abel means “Breath.” It’s an indication that there is an importance to life. That he has life in him. What a special moment this was for Eve!
Acceptable Worship and Unacceptable Worship— Genesis 4:3-7
In just a few short verses, we are fast-forwarded through time and are able to see the boys grow into men, and men who have been taught to serve God. Apparently, both Cain and Abel decided to give spontaneous acts of worship to God. As we read, we find that in this act of worship, Cain brought some of his produce and offered it to God, and Abel brought one of the ‘firstlings’ of his flock. You might say, “Perfect, I’ve done that as well! I love giving God spontaneous acts of worship!” The problem here however, was that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and did not accept Cain’s.
This really is an important lesson for us to grasp; God does not accept anything we would like to call an “offering.” We have to come to God on His terms, and with only those offerings that He has deemed worthy.
Now, as far as this situation is concerned, several ideas have been given as to why God did not accept Cain’s offering. Perhaps it was what he gave that became the issue. Perhaps it was the attitude in which he gave that made it unacceptable to God. Perhaps it was a combination of the sacrifice given and his attitude while he gave it. From the passage, we learn that Able gave God the first and the best of his flock. These verses seem to indicate that Cain’s offering was neither. Whatever the case, there is every reason to believe that Cain knew exactly what God required, but decided to give what he wanted anyway.
In contrast, we see a detailed difference in Abel’s offering. Abel gave not only the first of his flock, but the best of the first of his flock. There it is: God gets what’s first, and God gets what’s best. That kind of giving comes from the heart.
However, what is most significant is that during God’s correction of Cain, God graciously gave Cain a means for correction in verse 7.
At this point, you might expect to read about how Cain asked God for forgiveness and made a correction for his sacrifice, but this is not how the story unfolds.
Jealousy and Murder— Genesis 4:8-18
It is incredible when you’re reading this story, that out of all of the things that might have happened, this does not seem to fit. Cain speaks to his bother Abel, walked with him out in a field, looked around to see if anyone was looking, and at once, all of his jealous rage poured out over his own brother and in a single moment of violence, killed Abel. The way the Hebrew text reads is that he actually butchered him.
What is worse is that once God confronts Cain about this act, he attempts to avoid God’s question. Verse 9 says, “And the LORD said unto Cain, ‘Where is Abel thy brother? And He said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” As we said, one generation removed from mankind experiencing complete perfection and the ability to go in and out of God’s presence at will, to murder.
And I wish this was the worst part of the story: not only was Cain so captured by wicked jealousy that he killed his own brother; not only did he not take responsibility for it, Cain actually complained about his punishment! After God calls out Cain and issues his punishment, in Genesis 4:13-14, Cain says, “… My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou has driven me out this day from the face of the earth: and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that findeth me shall slay me.”
Lastly, Cain has one last act of defiance. Shamefully, this happens after God graciously provides protection even in light of his callousness toward what he had done (Genesis 4:15). Cain moves further east from where God had once been able to dwell with his people and he built his own city in a land called Nod. This tells us just how hardened Cain’s heart was and is a picture of a man with no faith and in complete rebellion against God. Ironically, The name “Nod” is the same word used for the word “fugitive,” a perfect description of Cain’s life.
Polygamy and Retaliation— Genesis 4:19-24
From here, the story doesn’t get any better. In this portion of chapter 4 we are introduced to a man named Lamech— A descendant of Cain. And once we are introduced to him, we are simultaneously introduced to the supreme breakdown in God’s pattern for marriage known as polygamy (the taking of multiple wives).
What can also be seen in this passage is that murder was here to stay. According to these verses, Lamech had killed a young man (perhaps a young worrier), who had offended him. You should notice also Lamech’s outrageous assumption for this crime, “And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, ‘Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold (Genesis 4:23-24). Lamech assumed that since God had showed the father of his lineage (Cain) a measure of mercy by avenging his death seven times (Genesis 4:15), that he should be protected seventy-seven times for his sin.
There was no repentance, no sorrow, no remorse, and no responsibility taken. Only an expectation of God to take care of any negativity to come his way if things didn’t go his way. Sound familiar?
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Discussion Points:
Discuss how each of these points are applied to this Biblical narrative:
- There comes a time in every person’s life when they are completely responsible for their actions.
- A Heart Turned from God, is also a heart turned from humanity.
- There is always a personal price to pay for unrepentant sin.
- True worship is more than just a religious act.
- The Closer we are to God, the more we are alienated from the world (1 John 3:11-13)