TWU Genesis 4 The First Murder

Introduction

Today, is our fourth episode of The Word Unfolded.

I truly appreciate all the support this new podcast has been receiving and look forward to our future studies as well.

But today, we find ourselves in Genesis 4, which of course deals with the first murder in human history.

Now to break down this chapter for those maybe not as familiar with it, I do encourage you to read it for yourself of course, but in this chapter we find…

Both Abel (a keeper of sheep) and Cain (a worker of the ground) are brothers from Adam and Eve.

At some point, when they were old enough, Able brought an offering to God for worship as did Cain, but Abel’s was accepted and Cain’s was rejected.

Now, we are not given a reason for this, all we know is that Abel’s was don’t the way God required it and Cain’s was not.

Genesis 4:6–7 ESV

6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain, because he was so upset, murdered his brother Abel over this and when God sought out Cain to see if he would tell the truth about what happen we read…

Genesis 4:9–10 ESV

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.”

Now there are a couple of things I want us to consider from this chapter.

First I want us to be clear on the difference between…

Murder & Killing

Aren’t They The Same Thing?

Many believe that killing someone and murdering someone are synonymous in every way.

This is why you have many religious people demanding that the death penalty be forsaken and they appeal to the bible for justification for making this demand.

Exodus 20:13 KJV 1900

13 Thou shalt not kill.

To be clear, all murder involves killing but not all killings are murder.

By that I mean, God allows for the taking of a life or killing someone if they are deserving of such, he does not allow the murder of someone or taking of the innocent life.

Exodus 20:13 ESV

13 You shall not murder.

God has, for a very long time, allowed for those that have taken a life to have their life taken in return.

Genesis 9:6 ESV

6 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.

Exodus 21:12 ESV

12 Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death.

Leviticus 24:17 ESV

17 Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death.

Even in the New Testament we see that governments have the authority to take the life of the one that has done wrong.

Romans 13:3–4 ESV

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Summary

The point is there is a difference between murder and killing someone, and it’s in the details of such.

Another thing I want us to consider from this chapter is…

We Are Our Brother’s Keepers

Cain Didn’t Want To Believe This…

Now listen, I don’t mean that we are going to be held responsible for the sinful actions our family.

Adam and Eve were certainly not held responsible for Cain’s actions nor Cain for the sins of Adam and Eve.

Ezekiel 18:20 ESV

20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

What I am saying is that we are responsible for doing everything we can to help family, both physically and spiritually, get to heaven.

If we sit by and do nothing or simply ignore the sinful behavior of our family, which will keep them out of heaven for an eternity, we have sinned ourselves.

This is what was happening in the church at Corinth and Paul called the church out saying…

1 Corinthians 5:2 ESV

2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

1 Corinthians 5:6 ESV

6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Summary

The point is, we do have a responsibility to “try and help” our family stop sinning, and thus in a way be our brother’s keeper.

Galatians 6:1–2 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

James 5:19–20 ESV

19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Lastly, I want us to consider from Genesis 4…

Our Faithfulness Has A Lasting Impact

Notice Abel’s Faithfulness Endured

In the great “Hall of Faith” chapter of Hebrews 11 we read in Hebrews 11:4…

Hebrews 11:4 ESV

4 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.

Let me illustrate this truth with two powerful illustrations of such.

I know a man that was raised as an atheist, but in the military he found himself placed in the same apartment with a faithful Christian young man.

A mother & father raising their children faithfully.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Summary

Our faithfulness will have an impact on others and some of which we may never even know about.

Our faithfulness to God has a lasting impact not just on our life for eternity but on the one’s that are inspired to fight the good fight of faith as we are.

Or as the apostle Paul would put it…

Philippians 3:17 ESV

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

Conclusion

Yes, Genesis 4 is about the first murder but it certainly has a lot more to teach us.