One Promise - Two Seeds
Genesis • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsDespite the multiplication of sin, God remains faithful to his promise.
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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.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 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, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 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 contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 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. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Introduction: I look like my dad and my son looks like me
Introduction: I look like my dad and my son looks like me
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.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 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, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 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 contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 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. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
This becomes the primary point of . That the children of Adam and Eve resemble their parents in their sin.
And as Adam and Eve are fruitful and multiply, so does the effect of their sin
We should remember God’s commission to Adam before the fall was to be be fruitful and multiply. And while much has changed since the fall , one thing that has stayed the same is that Adam and Eve are continuing to multiply.
The theme of having children permeates this whole chapter
God’s commission to Adam before the fall was to be be fruitful and multiply. And we are here after the fall and should recognize that this command has not been removed.
English Standard Version Chapter 4
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel.
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.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
And again with Cain’s descendants.
And we don’t just see in these verses, but we see it again with Cain’s descendants.
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
And again at the end of the chapter
English Standard Version Chapter 4
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth
We are being introduced to an important theme that will show up throughout the rest of the Old Testament and right into the New Testament.
The theme being a that of a family tree.
And this family tree is important because of God’s promise back in ch 3
15 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.”
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 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.”
So as we are introduced to the children that come from Eve, we should be reminded of God’s promise. We should be anticipating arrival of the wounded victor. The one who would crush the head of the serpent while simultaneously having his own heel wounded.
So as we are introduced to the children that come from Eve, we should be reminded of God’s promise. We should be anticipating arrival of the wounded victor. The one who would crush the head of the serpent while simultaneously having his own heel wounded.
In this chapter we are to be mindful of God’s promise
and we trace that promise into the two sons that come from Eve
But this chapter comes to us with mixed emotions doesn’t it?
But this chapter comes to us with mixed emotions.
First we are filled with hope!
As we are introduce to the two sons of Eve we are reminded are hopeful that one of these sons will be the promised one from Ch 3. We are hopeful that he will be the wounded victor!
But quickly we see that there is a problem as only one of their sacrifices are accepted by God
English Standard Version Chapter 4
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 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, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.
And so we begin to look earnestly to Cain as the promised one we would think that the firstborn son, Cain might be the promised one from ch 3
But after his offering is is rejected by God our hope in Cain turns to doubt… and so we begin to look at his younger brother Abel. Is he the one?
English Standard Version Chapter 4
So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 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 contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
And just like that, any hope we had in either of these sons being the wounded victor is gone.
We see that in Cain he is unable to defeat the temptation of the serpent, but instead he gives into the temptation of the serpent… just like his mom and dad did before him
And Able is not the wounded victor, but only the wounded victim.
And Able is not the wounded victor, but only the wounded victim.
Able did not defeat the serpent, but instead the serpent defeated him
What is the purpose of this being in the story of Genesis?
We see here that the sin of Adam and Eve…
The sin of their disobedience to God’s word
The sin of not believing God at his word but instead believing the depicts of the serpent…
The original sin has not stayed with Adam and Eve
Original sin has infected every person
Original sin has infected every person
No in fact as Adam and Eve are fruitful and multiply… so does their sin.
God’s commission to Adam before the fall was to be be fruitful and multiply. And we are here after the fall and should recognize that this command has not been removed.
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.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
And we don’t just see in these verses, but we see it again with Cain’s descendants.
Because:
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
We are being introduced to an important theme that will show up throughout the rest of the Bible:
Original sin has infected every person.
Original sin has infected every person.
Where does Cain’s sin begin?
Where does Cain’s sin begin?
That being family origins.
This is important because of God’s promise back in ch 3
14 The Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
15 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.”
This is important, because God promised that Eve’s son would be the one to destroy the serpent, but
And this is a tremendous problem for us as we anticipate the seed from Eve that is supposed to crush the serpent… because every person that will be born from eve is infected by sin.
And that sin not only infects Eve’s sons, but it ultimately will defeat them. Rendering them unable to defeat the serpent.
Paul said it best:
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
But let me try to anticipate any objections that some might have… because odds are, most of us in here aren’t murderers. And even some might believe that we are good!
And so let us trace back from the murder of Abel to see where Cain’s sin began
So first, did Cain’s sin begin with the murder of Abel?
So first, did Cain’s sin begin with the murder of Abel?
Because if that was where it began, then most of us are off the hook this morning right? Because most of us haven’t commited murder lately.
Or have we?
Remember the teaching of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matt 5:21-
So we see that Cain’s sin proceeded his act of murder. Look back to 4:5
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 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 contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Was it in Cain’s anger?
Was it in Cain’s anger?
Is this where his sin began for Cain?
If so there are many of us who while being guilty of being angry this week, maybe there are some that have had self-control today and come to church feeling like you are able to worship because you are righteous!
If so there are many of us who while being guilty of being angry this week, maybe there are some that have had self-control today and come to church feeling like you are able to worship because you have managed to go 24 hours without being angry!
You haven’t murdered, you haven’t been angry: your good right?
You’d be wrong.... because Cains sin preceded even his anger
but it was in vv 3-5
4 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, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 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, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Cain’s first sin was hidden, and even unmentioned until we see that his sacrifice unable to please God.
Cain’s first sin was hidden, and even unmentioned until we see that his sacrifice unable to please God.
It appears that in comparison to Ables firstborn from his flock and the fat that is offered to God… Cain gave a common “sacrifice” that really wasn’t a sacrifice
14 “If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain.
22 And Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
Isa 15:22
Now I we would do well to not wander into speculation as to what kept his sacrifice from being pleasing to the Lord. But one thing that is clear in this text is this:
Original sin has infected every person.
Original sin has infected every person.
Not only has sin infected the children of Adam and eve… but
Paul said it best:
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Sin cannot be silenced or hidden
Sin cannot be silenced or hidden
Sin cannot be silenced or hidden
Sin cannot be silenced or hidden
We aren’t even explicitly told what Cain did that would make his offering to the Lord unacceptable… and further we don’t need to know what it was do we?
Because the point is that God knows what it was…
And God was knew even the hidden secrets of Cain that would cause his worship of the Lord to be rejected
And just as he knew what Cain’s secret sin was, he also knows what our secret sin is.
Even if it isn’t murder or anger.... God looks beneath the external signs of our worship and he sees the heart and motive behind our worship.
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matt 6:2
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
: 5
God has no regard for our worship when it is done out of an impure heart! And he knows the hidden secrets of our heart.
And even this morning I am painfully aware of even a few or my sins:
I am much like the man who seeks to justify himself in
When being told to love my neighbor I would ask, ‘well who is my neighbor’
Do you remember Jesus response? He tells the parable of the good Samaritan.
I find myself acing like the priest and the Levite in that parable even this morning… more concerned with my pastoral duties than with loving my neighbor… or my wife…
Or even now as I preach… I know what I ought to feel. I should echo that of John the Baptist… when being told that those who were his disciples were going to Christ he says these words:
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
and yet I find myself before Christ’s bride this morning… and I must admit I feel the temptation of the serpent whispering to me…
Josh what do you suppose this congregation thinks of you…
You better impress them with your sermon…
with your insight…
with your whit, your humor, or your humility…
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I say these things this morning not to put up a front of humility:
But to demonstrate that even on my best day where I might be able pass theology exam with my mind
I often fail that test in my heart and with my actions
If it were up to me to save myself, or anyone else, I would make a terrible savior.
And so would each and every one of us.
And these are only a few of the sins that I am aware of… not to mention any hidden faults or presumptuous sins that I might not recognize.
But even still, there are some of us who even when hearing me preach would like maintain the facade of having done nothing wrong.
But in doing so we continue to only show how similar we are to Cain and also like his parents before him
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 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.
Gen 4:8-
Let me remind us again:
Sin cannot be silenced or hidden
Sin cannot be silenced or hidden
It is interesting language that is used here:
Your brothers blood is crying to me from the ground
notice how many times ground is repeated in these next verses:
English Standard Version Chapter 4
11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
Notice how ground has been personified
as the one who is a witness for Abel against Cain
As the one who will execute God’s judgment against Cain
I found Calvin’s reflection to this so helpful as he said “there was more humanity in the earth than was in man himself”
Consider this: when God speaks all creation obeys him
Creation bends at his word
We see this especially when Jesus speaks and he calms the storm:
and do we remember the what the disciples said?
27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
All creation is obeys God… except for the children that come from Adam and Eve.
And even though Cain would like to cover his sin, the creation itself stands as a witness against him
And if we seek to hide our sins we must know that it will be exposed… for God will shine a light into that dark place in our life. He will expose it and he will judge us for it if we seek to keep it hidden.
God sees every sin, even those that we believe have been silenced.
Which each of us ought to rejoice in this wonderful truth!
This means that the cries of unborn that are killed in the womb… are heard by God
The cries of any victim who silenced by death… are heard by God
The cries of those who are living and suffering, but we are unaware of … are heard by God
The cries of those who are afflicted in secret.... are heard by God
Peter would pick up on this in his first letter as we writes those who are persecuted:
those who suffer from corrupted leaders
those who suffer from unjust masters
Even to wives who have husbands that do not obey God’s word.
Peter quotes the psalmist in saying:
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Imagine how sweet this truth would have been to the first readers of Genesis. The Israelites who were afflicted by their taskmasters
7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,
This is a sweet sweet truth for those who are suffering unjustly
I would propose to you that the Israelites who first read this would identify very closely to Abel in his suffering. And they would rejoice that God is a God of justice.
35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.’
The children of Israel would have loved the justice of God… until they realized that they too were much like Cain… Look at the punishment that comes with Cain’s sin:
10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
Gen 4:10-
Who else would have been a wanderer for 40 years?
Who else would face the consequences of allowing the serpent’s words to cause them to doubt the promise of God when they were about to go into the promised land?
Israel…
You see… while on one hand Israel could identify with Abel in his suffering, they would have too looked much like their first parents who were exiled from Eden the first land that was flowing with milk and honey.
God sees all of our sins… the sins that we may not see… and even the sins that we try to keep hidden.
And so hear the exhortation from John
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1
Which leads us into the surprising next point
Though we are wicked sinners…
God is surprisingly gracious towards sinners
God is surprisingly gracious towards sinners
Listen to Cain’s reply to God’s punishment
14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Gen 4:14
Who is this God who is so gracious?
We already saw theme introduced in
God’s justice and his mercy…
The day you eat of the tree you will surely die…
and while they did spiritually die that day, they did not die physically, but instead God would kill an animal in their place to cloth them. To cover their nakedness and shame.
Just because this is a repeated theme two weeks in a row, doesn’t mean we should move just assume without giving it our attention
We should no more do ignore this repetition, than we should not remind our loved ones of our love for them daily!
In fact, I need to be reminded of God’s grace not just every week, but every day!
And not just every day, but every hour!
And not just every hour, but every moment…
so that I won’t be driven to despair because of my sins
May we never take God’s grace for granted. Because we are in desperate need for his grace each day
May we never take God’s grace for granted. Because we are in desperate need for his grace each day
Because like Cain… we deserve to die, because his sin is the same sin that is in us
Because like our parents before us… Adam and Eve… we deserve to die, because we have trusted the word of the serpent instead of the word of God…
And we haven’t just sinned once…
but we have sinned against God time and time and time again
And so we need to hear of God’s amazing grace time and time and time again…
we need to sing of God’s amazing grace time and time and time again…
And as daily recipients of his grace, we will have fuel to keep the flame of our worship burning hot…
So do not regard lightly the grace of God.
Let’s go back into the text:
17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
Gn 4:17
Cain the wonderer would build a city… is the curse being reversed?
18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Gen 4:18-
This section can seem rather strange but let’s notice the pattern being established
Cain builds a city…
His and from there his family begins to make significant advances in society…
they begin to dwell in tents… they are able to domesticate livestock
they make advances in music through the lyre and the pipe
they even begin smelting bronze and iron
This seems like a strange detail to add… but it is crucial that we see what is being established, because what we are led to hope for is that with the advancement of human flourishing would come significant advancements in man’s ability to obey God and to reverse the effect of sin
Or the way the world would like put it
With cultural development comes man’s ability to become more human…
Ideas pertaining to social justice become the many people’s solution and hope for fixing the problems that sin has caused in the world
But look where the text goes
23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
What we have here is one of Cain’s descendants Lamech
Gen 4:23-
Distorting God’s design for marriage
Where back in ch 2 it is A man and A woman becoming one flesh
Now we see Lamech is taking what he desires, and that is two wives
and notice that word back in v19
And Lamech took two wives.
That word should remind us of another time someone took what they wanted
English Standard Version Chapter 3
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate
Lamech distorts God’s design for marriage
And he strikes fear into his wives by singing a song about how cruel he is
And and in doing so we see God’s justice is being distorted as well
Where God told Cain
15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
Now Lamech says
23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
Despite man’s flourishing, sin continues to multiply
Despite man’s flourishing, sin continues to multiply
The effect of sin multiplies despite our best efforts to reverse its effect.
In order to crush the serpent we need God to fulfil his word… because
We see that as men become more powerful, they don’t trust in the Lord to make things right, but instead they trust in themselves to make it right...
Human’s make terrible saviors
Because instead of making progress against the effects of sin and… we only make things far far worse.
We see this today:
medicine advances
but so do our methods of murder
Sure we don’t worship golden statues and idols
but we devote our lives to the idol of media
or sports
or any other pleasure that we desire
All the knowledge we could ever imagine is at our fingertips
but so is our means of gossip and slander
but so is our constant desire to covent that which we do not own
But so is adultery and lust
And every other distraction that keeps us from knowing God
The secular person would like us to believe that evil is a result of our environment.
That we learn to be violent society is violent
That we learn to be greedy because society is greedy
Or whatever other problem a person might be able to perceive
But that isn’t what Scripture says is it?
No, sin is not something we learn from our culture,
but as we have already made clear it is something that have inherited from our parents
From Adam and Eve
And our children that come after us: their sin is inherited from you and from me
And yet the
And in a world that is full of self help books that talk about how to make better habits,
how to better ourselves
How to better our families
How to better our world
In a world that worships the wisdom and the power of men… the gospel is so clear …
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
We do not boast in our own accomplishments because
Despite man’s flourishing, sin continues to multiply
Despite man’s flourishing, sin continues to multiply
And we find that true wisdom and power is not found in the likes of any person… or so it would seem.
But then we get a glimmer of hope found a new seed, a new son that would come from Eve:
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Did you notice the glimmer of hope?
At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord…
The seed of the righteous has not been destroyed with Abel!
No matter how much sin multiplies, God remains faithful to his promise.
No matter how much sin multiplies, God remains faithful to his promise.
Seth is an important name to remember in this chapter, and one that is often forgotten,
Set is important because in Seth we see that the seed of the righteous has not been destroyed… God’s promise cannot be broken
Because in , we find Seth’s name in the line of Jesus
The true wounded victor
The only one who could
we see through Seth that the schemes of man nor of the devil can thwart the plans of God.
As Jesus told us in , he building his church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
We see in Seth that God is faithful and he will keep his word even when men does not
Just as Paul writes in
11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
See we are not faithful… we are sinful.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar
See we are not faithful… we are sinful.
our hope and confidence is not in ourself, but in God’s promise that has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ
You see God is not like us… While we are faithless, God is faithful.
19 God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
We don’t take our cue from what we see do we…
our hope isn’t on the way that the world is is it?
If your confidence is not found in God’s word that is filled with his promises ,but instead you put your confidence in what you see in the world … your confidence that God will finish the work that he has began is as sturdy as a house of cards…
Because while things may look good one day as people call upon the name of the Lord… that can change so quick.
Because men are faithless… but God is faithful
Let me ask you a few questions and I want you to respond
Was God faithful to his promise to Abraham to give him a son?
Did God go back on his promise when Abraham lacked faith and had a son with Hagar?
Was God faithful to bring the children of Israel into the promised land
Did he go back on his word when they trusted the word of the spies instead of the word of the Lord?
Was God faithful to establish the kingdom of David,
Did God go back on his promise even though David was an adulterous murdering lier?
We could go on but let us be clear. That Jesus Christ is the ultimate evidence of God’s faithfulness
32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,
“ ‘You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.’
And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus,
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Our God is faithful to his promises. Amen?
Communion Thoughts:
Communion Thoughts:
Spurgeon said it in referring to Cain and Abel:
“The natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed.”
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Communion Thoughts:
Communion Thoughts:
Instructions: Please take this time to stay in your seats as the elements will be passed to you.
Fence Table
Spurgeon said it in referring to Cain and Abel:
Invite ushers forward
“The natural and carnal man hated the accepted man in whom the Spirit of grace was found, and rested not until his blood had been shed.”
Elements distributed
Prayer
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Explain: Bread - represents his body broken for us to that ours might be healed. Juice - represents his blood spilled for us so that ours might be spared. This at the cross, was the justice we deserved. But in mercy, God poured out his wrath upon Jesus instead.
Instructions: Please take this time to stay in your seats as the elements will be passed to you.
Fence Table
Invite ushers forward
Elements distributed
Prayer
Explain: Bread - represents his body broken for us to that ours might be healed. Juice - represents Jesus’ blood spilled for us that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.