Genesis 4:1-16 “And Adam had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man,” she said. Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.
Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”
Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” “Not so! ” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”
“Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. So in the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the LORD, while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.” Cain is the firstborn in the family and raises crops while Abel keeps sheep. But when the two brothers bring offerings, God approves of Abel while disregarding Cain. What has gone wrong? Is God playing favorites?
There are some teachers who feel that Abel’s offering is acceptable because it is a blood sacrifice; however, at no point is it recorded that God has demanded blood sacrifices. Abel has offered the best portions of the firstborn of his flock, taking a risk that this is the only lamb his flock will produce. Perhaps Abel has loved that lamb and has even made a pet of it; he still offers it to God anyway. Cain has brought some of the fruit of the soil; there’s no indication that this produce is either the first fruits of Cain’s efforts or the best Cain has available. It’s quite likely that Cain has kept the best produce for himself and has given God left-overs. Notice something else: while Cain is busy getting angry at God, at no point does Cain ask God what kind of a sacrifice he might offer that would be acceptable. Cain is not the slightest bit repentant, but instead his attitude is “O.K., God. Here’s my sacrifice. Take it or leave it!”
“Why are you angry,” said the LORD to Cain, “and why has your countenance fallen? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” God has no illusions as to the evil in Cain’s heart. Cain is rebelling against God and refuses to be taught or corrected. Cain chooses to believe that he is fine just as is and that God has no right to demand anything else from him.
“Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I do not know!” he answered. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain can’t take revenge on God, so he decides to target Abel. Cain’s misbelief is that if Abel hadn’t offered such a great sacrifice, God would have been satisfied with Cain’s left-overs. Cain doesn’t understand that God is all-knowing and all-seeing and that God knows Cain’s heart better than Cain does. Cain murders Abel and then tries to deny it.
“What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” No matter who occupies a land, the land will remember the evil or the good done on it. Cain has polluted the earth so that the earth can no longer respond to his efforts.
We have lived in several different cities in America that were originally involved in the slave trade. Even though slavery has been illegal for more than 150 years, evil still lingers in parts of each of these cities. Sometimes the spiritual climate changes from block to block. When we have toured slave forts in Ghana, the ancient misery has been nearly palpable. The land remembers.
“But Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” “Not so! ” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.” Is Cain repentant? Not in the slightest! Cain has murdered his brother, depriving him of life; now Cain is feeling sorry for himself because God is punishing him. God is actually being merciful; later, when God is giving the Israelites the Law, murderers are to be put to death.
The tragedy of Abel’s murder is compounded by Cain’s unwillingness to repent. There are murderers who have repented, received forgiveness from God, and who have even gone on to minister to others. The Apostle Paul confessed that he was responsible for putting a number of Christians to death; yet, God forgave him and used him mightily when Paul repented. Cain’s sin is terrible, but he still might receive pardon and forgiveness if he repents. But Cain persists in believing that he has done nothing wrong; Cain’s only worry is staying alive himself.
When we sin, God will forgive us if we are truly sorry, turn away from our sins, and confess them to God, seeking forgiveness. There may be consequences that we must face, including prison sentences, paying restitution, etc. When we repent, we can have peace with God. But no repentance, no peace.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to search our hearts and to confess anything that is keeping us from Your presence. Help us to truly turn away from our sins and live new lives full of Your grace. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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