Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1–5 NIV

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Sacrifices?

Genesis 3:21 NIV

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Leviticus 2:1–2 NIV

“ ‘When anyone brings a grain offering to the Lord, their offering is to be of the finest flour. They are to pour olive oil on it, put incense on it and take it to Aaron’s sons the priests. The priest shall take a handful of the flour and oil, together with all the incense, and burn this as a memorial portion on the altar, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Leviticus 3:16 NIV

The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.

Why was only one Approved?

Hebrews 11:1–4 NIV

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Genesis 4:5 NIV

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Cain’s Response: Anger

Genesis 4:6–7 NIV

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

God’s Response: Mercy & Encouragement

God’s Response: Warning

Genesis 4:8–9 NIV

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Cain’s Response: Murder

God’s Response: Patience, Mercy

why is God asking questions? He is seeking repentance

Cain’s Response: Disrespect and Denial

smart-aleck, impertinent, rude, sassy

Adam and Eve - Deflected and Blame shifted

Cain - Disrespects and Denies

Who are you to ask me? Am I accountable to you?

I didn’t do anything.

lack of repentance

Genesis 4:10–15 NIV

The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

God’s Response: Mercy, Punishment

God knows

Discipline to bring repentence

Punishments: Crop-failure, wanderer

Cain’s Response: It isn’t fair!

Punishments: Crop-failure, God will abandon me?, wanderer, someone will kill me?

God’s Response: Mercy, Patience, Grace

Genesis 4.15 - God puts a mark of protection on Cain and gives a warning so that no one will kill Cain. He is not abandoning Cain.

Genesis 4:16–17 NIV

So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.

Cain’s Response: He Abandons God

Cain’s Response: He rejects God’s discipline

Ramifications: Generations of Boastful Sinners

Genesis 4:17–24 NIV

Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

What about you and me?

Do we just go through the motions?

Do we deflect and blame?

Do we disrepect and deny?

Do we whine?

Do we leave God and reject his discipline?

Proverbs 3:11–12 NIV

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Job 5:17 NIV

“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Hebrews 12:5–12 NIV

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

What does God want from/for us?

Repentance and Faith