Genesis 4:1-5 The Story of Two Sons
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Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Prayer:
How does God execute his decrees?
Answer: God executes His decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Dismiss Kids
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Welcome back to our journey through Genesis.
We had an incredible three weeks as we paused our discovery of the book of Beginnings by look at the Road to the Resurrection.
I hope your heart was encouraged and I hope we saw the resurrection in greater clarity and beauty than we have before.
Now, we return to where it all began, we return now to chapter 4 of Genesis as we look to see how humanity would continue after the fall.
Before we jump into verse 1 of chapter 4, let us remind ourselves briefly of the first 3 chapters.
First, in the beginning God made the heavens in the earth, meaning that God made everything!
Everything you see is not a mistake, not an accident, not a happen chance.
Everything you see, including you and I, was not a cosmic mishap or a random 1 in an infinite number of possibilities.
But, everything is Created by God, for God, and To God.
God did this in 6 days and on the 7th day He rested.
Then in chapter 2 we see us zoom into the creation of Humanity, the Adahm, or Adam.
We see the dominion given to Adam to name the animals, and we see Eve given to Adam.
We discover the beautiful garden and the joy of God walking with His creation.
Then Chapter 3 begins and we discover that famous and most disheartening scene in the Old Testament.
The serpent deceives Adam and Eve and instead of following God they give into the lie that they could be “Like God.”
We discover this was a half truth, because like God, they now knew the difference between good and evil.
However, instead of becoming like God, in the rest of the ways of God, they became disconnected and separated from God.
They were removed from the Garden, but not before God promised one that would come and crush the head of the snake.
One who would be born of a woman who would conquer where Adam and Eve failed.
It is here that we begin our journey into Chapter 4.
Let us open our Bible’s or turn them on if that is your preference to the very first book of our Bible.
Genesis Chapter 4 and beginning in verse 1.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
As we enter into chapter 4 we begin outside of the Garden in the new home of Adam and Eve.
We are not given a time frame, but we are given an update on the couple.
First we see an interesting phrase, one that is not normally used in our day in age.
The phrase in the english is knew.
We use this term for many reasons, but sexual relations is usually not one of them.
Yet, that is what is being spoke of here because the context tells us the result of the “knowing” is the conceiving.
The result of the conceiving is a son.
Thus we now know what knew means.
But, we must pause here to grab better hold of this understanding because there is an fascinating picture displayed in this word that is lost in our day.
Yes, Adam knew Eve is the full personal sexual union of a Husband and a Wife.
But, I believe it is also important to note that this relationship and action is because they completely committed and fully embraced each other.
To enter into this type of intimacy and purpose is to know someone in fully.
Because at this point nothing is hidden, no secrets remain,
Full exposure leads to a vulnerability, a submission, a comfort, and an intimacy that was previously unknown.
God designed this not to be scary or frightening but to be beautiful.
In this moment, the connection, the closeness, the togetherness is the complete union of a man and a woman, the fullness of knowing.
In the garden there was a desire of the knowledge of good and evil, this lead to a rebellion against God.
Here there is a knowledge of each other that is not a rebellion but obedience.
It is doing what God has called couples to do in marriage and engage in the knowing of each other to the greatest of degrees.
The more we understand the purpose and fullness of that purpose, the more we should see this “knowing” as sacred and to be cherished and treasured.
This knowing is such a vital importance to the marriage that Paul encourages this knowing to not be forsaken or forgotten.
The Songs of Songs of Songs of Solomon is a book in the Old Testament that with vivid detail speak of the joys and wonders of this type of connection.
When it is not in this way, it is not due to God’s design, it is due to our brokenness and the brokenness around us caused by sin.
Even with the positive and personal being the focus here, we must not ignore that the enemies of God, even our own flesh on the inside, want to corrupt what is good.
Everything lovely and amazing by God is turned into something evil and degenerate by the devil and our own sinful nature.
Pornagraphy as an example is one of the great wicked and vile realities of our current culture and is seeks to destroy the heart and mind and cheapen its purpose and joy.
What is absolutely horrifying is that statics say that over 42% of practicing Christians have a porn addiction.
50% of practicing Christians have viewed porn in the last month.
This next statistic absolutely blew my mind. 57% of pastors and 64% of youth pastors say they have struggled with porn currently or in the past.
The pastor at the United Methodist church down the street was fired when it was discovered he was viewing porn on the church computers.
There is a possibility that this “knew,” in connection to your life and relationship, is not a joyous celebration of the intimate connection in which God intended due to sin.
There is a possibility that it is hard to fathom what a true connection like this must be, due to all of the damage others have done to us.
Or that we have even done to ourselves.
But, we must stretch our minds to engage in this reality because God’s ways are perfect and God’s plan is good.
It is when the Spirit gives us eyes to see the evil within and evil around that we can begin to separate the good from the bad.
To see the wonder of God’s plan in the midst of brokenness.
What we see here, is the purpose and plan of God being carried out for our good and His glory.
And it is actually God’s plan that is the forefront of what happens next.
Because of God’s prophecy in the previous chapter, that the results of this knowing, would be the birth of a child.
Let’s remind ourselves of this prophecy.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
What was prophesied was about to happen.
There would be a war that would rage between the offspring of the woman and the offspring of the serpent.
Now, how could this be, especially if the serpent cannot reproduce. (cough cough)
This prophecy was not speaking of a physical seed of the serpent but a spiritual seed of the serpent.
That the sons of the devil would be in rebellion against God while the seed of the woman would be in rebellion against the serpent.
There would be offspring that would be Holy and set aside for God.
There would also be an offspring that would be wicked, and used by the serpent.
Because this prophecy is also pointing to Jesus, we also see that Jesus would one day be an offspring of woman, a descendant of Eve.
Jesus would be a real human like you and I, though we would also discover, to be truly God as well as conceived by the Holy Spirit.
But, this is jumping ahead, so let us go back to our verse.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
A son was born, Cain arrived on the scene and there was much rejoicing, much celebration, so much that Eve exclaims:
“I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
Now there is some debate over what did Eve actually mean by this.
One aspect that is lost in the English translation is how the word “gotten” and the name “Cain” in the Hebrew sound alike.
They are not the same word, but they sound very similar.
So, it would seem like there is some sort of word play going on here.
One thought is what we see before us, that it is a rejoicing over the Lord’s providence in providing a child.
Another thought is that in which Martin Luther held:
He believes it is translated “I have received a man, namely (or even), the Lord.
Which would mean that Eve is directly thinking (and mistakenly so) that Cain is the promised Messiah that was prophesied.
Perhaps, Eve was thinking that Cain would be the fix to “Original Sin” and the return to the tree of life.
Lastly, there is a thought that what Eve is exclaiming arrogance.
“I have created a man, equally with the Lord”
In other words, God created and now look at me, here I have created.
To understand what is being said, we must use the surrounding context to try to grasp context.
This must be done because the author here did not use Emoji’s to help bring out the meaning.
Having teenagers I’ve sometimes wondered what the Bible would look like today if it was written teens.
I grabbed my Oldest’s phone a while back to tease with him about who he was texting at the time.
I knew who he was texting, but I wanted to mess with him, so I grabbed his phone.
Here I was thinking I was going to get some juicy information or a way to tease him and all I got where emojis!
His phone was littered with emojis! Entire conversations were happening without a word being typed.
Here we are trying to teach proper English and maybe we should be teaching proper smileys or sad faces and how to use them properly.
I think I would rather exegete Scripture in the Hebrew and Greek than try to Exegete a yellow circle.
So, maybe I am thankful that there was no smiley face with hearts, or a smiley saluting.
So, the way we understand Scripture is by looking at the context and applying proper hermeneutics to the interpretation.
In doing so we discover the gratefulness and partnership with the Lord for this child and an anticipation of the Messiah.
In other words it would seem that both are right in some aspect.
As for giving praise to God,
We know that children are a gift from the Lord.
We know that God is intimately involved in the creation of each child.
That God knows the child even before the child knows itself.
And this also fits in with giving glory and honor to God for all things, which is going to be Cain’s difficulty coming up.
So, we should read it as we see here and see it as Eve giving glory to God and enjoying His providence in her life.
However, the anticipation of the Snake Crusher would have also been on her mind, so it would more than likely be a praise of providence in excited anticipation.
God blesses again and we see a second child born next, let’s look at verse 2.
And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
Two areas of importance to look at with verse 2.
First we see that Eve bore a second son and then we see the professions of each.
Let’s begin with Abel.
One fascinating discovery I made during my studies that I hadn’t seen before is the name Abel in the Hebrew is:
Hevel.
The same word used at the start of Ecclesiastes.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
This word being translated as vanity means breath, vapor, or nothing.
Abel’s life, if we jump ahead and know what is about to happen, is one of a breath.
His life was like a vapor, it came and went as if nothing.
The fact that Abel’s life was so short could be a prophetic reason for this name.
Or, it could be the inspiration behind this term that would be used by the author of Ecclesiastes.
Abel’s life, in comparison was but a breath, a vapor.
Whether it is the intention of his name and connection to Ecclesiastes is up for debate,
But what is not up for debate is that that Abel was born and was a shepherd.
Cain on the other hand, worked the land in order to produce food through plants and trees.
We should note that God gives each abilities and passions in which to carry out for the good of each other and the glory of God.
These desires are meant to help humanity flourish and give additional reasons to praise God.
What skills, abilities, desires, has God given you.
What talents and expertise have you cultivated for the good of your family, the good of the church, and the worship of God?
These skills that Cain and Abel refined allowed them to thrive in a post-Garden world.
Just like you and I, Cain and Abel were to take these gifts that they received, and give an offering back to God.
Not that God needed anything from man, but as a recognition of thanksgiving and adoration.
We see this happen next.
Genesis 4:3–4 (ESV)
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.
We see gifts being brought based on their occupation.
Cain from the land, and Abel from the herd.
Before we see the results of the offering there are two things that I want us to look at to better understand what is happening and to grasp our application.
First the purpose of the offering, and second the content of the offering.
First, the purpose.
As I mentioned a moment ago, it is not that God has any need that man can provide.
Anytime someone says the words, “God needs” you can stop them right there.
God needs of no one or no thing.
It is us who needs God, not the other way around.
So, if God needs nothing, then why does Cain and Abel give an offering, and for that matter, why is it that we give an offering even today?
While we could create a whole series on this topic alone, let me briefly mention that the offering is for us to honor and glorify God.
The offering is for our good and His glory.
When I say it is for our good, I mean it helps us to realize that everything that we have is because of God’s providence and blessing in our lives.
The job that you have, the car that you have, the place that you live, the family that you receive, it is all due to God’s gracious providence.
Even this church and community that you have is a gift and providence of God.
You all are a blessing and a gift to me and my aim is through God’s purpose and plan is to be a blessing to you.
Therefore, because of everything that we have is a gift of God, we give of our time, talents, and treasures to God as a way of worship and mission.
When we give of our time, we are doing so knowing that every moment we have is a gift of God and so we honor God by giving a portion of our time to the mission of God.
When we give our talents, we are doing so knowing that every ability we have is a gift of God and so we honor God by using our talents to the mission of God.
When we give of our treasures, we are doing so knowing that every dollar we have is a gift of God and so we honor God by giving a portion of our finances to the Kingdom building efforts of this area through this congregation.
How should we go about doing this?
Paul gives us a direction in Colossians.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Whatever we do, we do it heartily, as for the Lord, because we are serving God in this way, we are honoring God in this way.
Paul shares further in Corinthians.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Everything we do we are to do it for the glory of God, we are to do it to the best of our ability.
Now, that we have the purpose in mind let us look closer at what was actually done to find clues to how God will respond.
Let’s get our verse in front of us again.
Genesis 4:3–4 (ESV)
In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.
At a first glance it would appear that they both brought an offering.
At first glance it would appear that they were both being faithful and obedient and honoring God with the blessing that God has given them.
However, if we look closer, we will see two areas stick out that will give us a clue to the heart behind the gift.
First we see that Abel did not just bring an offering, but he brought the firstborn of his flock.
The most treasured is the firstborn. The first profit from an animal is their firstborn.
The firstborn is the beginnings of the growth of the flock. To take the firstborn and offer it is to take the first gift and giving it back to God.
It is recognizing that this gift is from God, and we honor God with it knowing it is His to grant more or take away.
The more we look at all of the benefits and the value and meaning behind the firstborn and see that this is what Abel gave,
The more we will see how valuable this offering really was and how sacrificial it really was.
It lets us see the value of the gift and the honor that Abel is giving God by giving him this firstborn.
When compared to Cain’s gift we do not see Cain bringing the firstfruits of his harvest but just a general offering of fruit from the Ground.
Secondly, we see Abel also giving their fat portions.
The fat portions would be seen in the Old Testament sacrificial system to be those that belong to God.
Here again we see Abel bringing forth an offering that would be pleasing to God.
While we are not told the requirements God had set forth, we see, based on future laws, that what Abel did is the example of future offerings.
Ultimately, while what we bring is important, it is also the heart behind what we are doing that is just as important, if not more important.
We are to bring forth offerings out of faith, not out of requirement. Faith not begrudgingly.
This means there is an actual physical aspects, but there is an emotional and mental aspect that is just as important.
Our offerings are first a product of our heart, and second a product of our action.
Let’s now see how God responds to the two offerings.
Genesis 4:4–5 (ESV)
And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Cain and Abel both brought forth, from their blessings of God, an offering.
Cain brought forth some and Abel brought forth much.
One was done out of faithfulness, the other was done out of obligation.
Remember we can do good things and still not be giving God glory for them.
The result is that it will be rejected.
We can do the right things with the wrong motives and it will still be rejected.
We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
What if God where to tell you that your greatest works are like polluted garments, dirty rags, and my personal favorite, filthy diapers.
Apart from the right heart and the proper honor and glory to God, all of our righteous and good deeds are detestable to the Lord.
How did Cain respond to this? Did he repent, and fix it?
Genesis 4:4–5 (ESV)
And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
No, Cain displayed the true nature of his heart and of his gift.
Cain became very angry and his face fell.
Today, as we look at what happened with Cain and Abel, we too can be challenged with what it is we bring to the Lord.
What our offering is.
We often think that offering is financial only.
This would be incorrect.
But our offering is our time, talents, and treasures.
Meaning the time that we have in the day, the abilities that we are given to use for God’s glory, and the finances that we have.
All are offerings to our God.
This text encourages us to think about what it looks like for us to truly give God honorable and glorifying offerings.
We would do well to consider if we are doing so out of obligation?
If we are doing so out of pride and recognition?
Or if we are giving of our time, talent, and treasures in true offering to our God. (Pause)
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Now, our temptation is to end it here, think about how we fail in this area, and then do our best to fix it.
Our temptation would be to see the purpose and the answer of today’s sermon is to do better, be better, and give better.
Are you giving God enough of your time? If not, give more! Are you using your talents to God’s glory? If not, start!
Are you giving of your first and best to the offering for the purpose and mission of God’s plan in this area? If not, what are you waiting for!
While it is good to test our heart and test our actions and it is wise to be willing to make sure our focus is Kingdom instead of Self,
if that is all we get out of this text then I believe we have missed the greatest point.
It is not that these things are not important, they are, but, if this is all we see, then
I believe we would have failed to see the greatest meaning of these 5 verses.
These verses show us very clearly 3 things: There is a problem, there is a purpose, and there is a solution.
The solution may be shocking…..because it is not, do better, be better, and give better.
Let us close our time today by zooming out and seeing the fullness of context.
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.”
At the beginning we see that Adam knew Eve, and based on the prophecy, while Eve was rejoicing with God’s providence, there was an anticipation.
The reason there was anticipation is because there was a problem.
Sin overcame humanity and a sin nature was brought forth. Original sin became the enemy within.
The problem of this sin nature continues in the offspring of Adam and Eve when we look at the last verse.
but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Cain was not the promised Messiah, but was the promised result of our sin nature.
What caused Adam and Eve to be removed from the Garden and caused Cain to give an unworthy offering is Sin.
What causes us to struggle to give of our time, talents, and treasures in a God glorifying way is our sin nature that we still fight against.
If this is our problem, then what is our purpose? What are we supposed to do.
Abel gives us an example of our purpose.
Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Our purpose is to honor God and walk in faith.
and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,
Abel did this when he brought forth his offering.
Abel gave us the example in which we are to follow as well.
So, this is our solution? Actually, and shockingly enough, no…..this is not our solution, it is our purpose, but it is not our solution.
Why?
Well, to answer this I must give you a sneak peak at next week.
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
The solution was not glorify God.
Because sin put an end to Abel’s life.
Abel’s actions is an example, Abel’s actions is our purpose, but Abel’s actions are not the solution.
Cain was not the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15. Abel was not the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15.
There would have to be an even greater Abel. An even better Abel. Who would be the solution.
Adam and Eve would continue to look forward to when this promised Messiah would come.
You and I, however, have the incredible gift of not anticipating what is to come, but celebrating who Has come.
The solution to sin would be the snake crusher.
The one who would defeat sin and death.
The one that would bind the enemy and put Satan under His foot.
Today, our purpose is to look at our selves and see how we can honor God better and enjoy Him fuller, 100%
But, our solution, is not found in our works and our abilities.
Our solution is found in faith. Specifically faith in Christ. The same faith that Abel had when he offered his gifts to God.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Abel believed in God, trusted in God, honored God, and looked to God’s work instead of His own.
Abel had faith in God’s plan and purpose, and that He would one day bring forth the promised Messiah.
Our solution is the same and rooted in the Messiah.
Our solution is Jesus.
Jesus is the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, Jesus is the one who brought Abel to himself.
Jesus is who will one day resurrect the dead to an eternal life for all who are children of God.
Your actions have a purpose, but Jesus’s actions have Salvation.
Our job is to put God’s gift of faith upon the only one worthy of this faith, and that is upon Jesus.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Thus, we must not look to ourselves, trust in ourselves, rely on ourselves, or find our hope in ourselves.
But we must look to the one, in faith, who not only conquered the problem, not only followed perfectly the purpose,
But also became the solution for us.
It is through Jesus’s life, death, burial, and resurrection, that our rescue was accomplished.
Our redemption was won, our ransom was paid, our restoration was complete.
Instead of looking to ourselves, we now look to Jesus.
Instead of trusting ourselves, we trust in Jesus.
Instead of relying on ourselves, we rely on Jesus.
And instead of finding hope in our actions, we find our hope in Jesus’s accomplishment.
May we see these verses and be reminded of our purpose, absolutely.
But, may we ultimately look to these verses and find our need of a Savior.
His name is Jesus. Amen? Let us pray.