A Tale of Two Brothers

Sin is not a popular topic, but if we are to understand ourselves, God, Jesus, and why the Cross is necessary we will have to dig deep on the subject.

It has been said that sin will take you further than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you wanted to stay. Adam and Eve sinned. We saw in Chapter 3 the shame, the blame, and the consequences God judged them with.

Today we will see how their sin nature was passed on to their children. The downward spiral of sin and its consequences cannot be overstated.

James 1:12–15 HCSB

A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

The Backstory that led to murder

Genesis 4:1–7 HCSB

Adam was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the LORD’s help.” Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain’s name sounds like the Hebrew word for gotten.

One a shepherd, the other a gardener.

Verses 3-7

Abel’s offering was accepted and Cain’s was not.

Maybe because of blood sacrifice, but there are first fruit sacrifices too.

Hebrews says that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted because it was made ‘by faith’ God looks for us to offer to Him from the heart, not out of our own flesh.

Cain got mad about it. Isn’t interesting how many times people get angry at the thought that they aren’t acceptable to God. They get angry at the thought that they must accept Jesus, and that there is no other way to God.

Cain had two options.

Correct his offering

Get mad at the thought that his offering was not acceptable.

1 John 3:12 HCSB

unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

God pursued him with three questions

1. Why are you angry

2. Why is your face turned down

3. why not do the right thing

God made three observations

Sin is crouching

sin is against (next verse says Cain rose up against his brother)

Sin must be ruled or it will rule.

The Murder

Genesis 4:8 HCSB

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Here is the climax of the story, It is short, but powerful. 7 verses have led up to it and 7 verses will follow, but only 1 verse tells the tale.

We see the murder is premeditated. How long we don’t know? but we are reminded again of what James said about sin maturing and bringing forth death.

We see the murder is performed

Here me well. I am not trying to say everyone in this room is or will be a murderer. But if you don’t take your sin seriously you will die and go to Hell. And if you know the Lord and don’t take your sin seriously you will walk at a guilty distance, not enjoying all that God has for you. This is a call to walk CLOSE AND CLEAN.

Think of the heart break their parents felt. No doubt, they were realizing the fall-out of their sin passed on to their children. Things have unraveled in one generation to the point of murder.

God’s Response to the murder

Genesis 4:9–15 HCSB

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” Then He said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed, alienated, from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” But Cain answered the LORD, “My punishment is too great to bear! Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the LORD replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.

Cain misses a chance to come clean verse 9

Two judgments 10-12

God speaks of the land as crying out.... Holy Land.

Cain loses the cooperation of the soil 11-12

Cain becomes a fugitive and wanderer.

Once again there is mercy in 13-15

I can’t do this. 13-14

You will not die 15