CAIN AND ABEL
4 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
vs 1 Cain is the firstborn son of Adam. The beginning of procreation as we know it has begun. Eve may have hoped that this was the promised seed that would crush the head of the serpent, that was not to the case.
vs 2 Abel is the first sibling. This is the first person born to have the opportunity to show envy, and jealousy.
vs 3-5 Both brought an offering from there jobs. Both appear to have been offering fruits of their labor in worship to Yahweh. Did God prefer barbeque rather than fruits and vegetables?
This is the first teaching of God about how to approach Him in worship. The author does not highlight any fault in the substance of the things being offered, but chooses to focus our attention on Cains reaction to God. There are several different responses that I can think of that Cain could have had, other than wroth. Cain's relationship to God is the problem, by extension, if Cain's responds to God this way, we can assume that his other relationships were treated with similar disrespect.
vs 6 God asks questions to elicit a change. At this time God the Father was present, today the Holy Spirit dwelling within us provides this benefit.
vs 7 Words of instruction and warning. This is the first reference to sin in scripture, which means to miss the mark. Sin is patient, subtle, and will make itself seem desirable. Sin is pictured as waiting to pounce, Cain must choose to rule over it. Paul explains the consequences well in Romans.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
vs 2 Abel is the first sibling. This is the first person born to have the opportunity to show envy, and jealousy.
vs 3-5 Both brought an offering from there jobs. Both appear to have been offering fruits of their labor in worship to Yahweh. Did God prefer barbeque rather than fruits and vegetables?
This is the first teaching of God about how to approach Him in worship. The author does not highlight any fault in the substance of the things being offered, but chooses to focus our attention on Cains reaction to God. There are several different responses that I can think of that Cain could have had, other than wroth. Cain's relationship to God is the problem, by extension, if Cain's responds to God this way, we can assume that his other relationships were treated with similar disrespect.
vs 6 God asks questions to elicit a change. At this time God the Father was present, today the Holy Spirit dwelling within us provides this benefit.
vs 7 Words of instruction and warning. This is the first reference to sin in scripture, which means to miss the mark. Sin is patient, subtle, and will make itself seem desirable. Sin is pictured as waiting to pounce, Cain must choose to rule over it. Paul explains the consequences well in Romans.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SINS CONSEQUENCES
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12 when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
vs 8 Cain talked with Abel. How do you think that went. Cain the first born who's offering had been rejected. Cain's future was to rule after Adam, and to be the ancestor of all of Earth's inhabitants. His offering was rejected and Abel's was accepted, and he blames God and Abel for his shortcomings. The solution to his failure is to remove Abel, not to understand how Abel's sacrifice was sufficient. Cain can be seen as the father of religion or works without faith, and Abel as works as a result of faith. Works without faith, claims entitlement to Gods gifts based on what we do, not on our relationship. Jesus came to clarify the truth of the way to God.
vs 9 God gives Cain an opportunity to confess, however like his parents chooses not to. Rather than blame someone else for his actions, he lies to an all knowing God. Then asks God why is he being questioned. Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40 answers Cains disrespectful question,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
vs 10 Prosecutor. Witness.
vs 11-12 Judgement
vs 13-14 Plea for mercy
vs 15 Mercy granted. An opportunity for repentance extended. Separation from family and God due to the consequences of sin.
vs 9 God gives Cain an opportunity to confess, however like his parents chooses not to. Rather than blame someone else for his actions, he lies to an all knowing God. Then asks God why is he being questioned. Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40 answers Cains disrespectful question,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
vs 10 Prosecutor. Witness.
vs 11-12 Judgement
vs 13-14 Plea for mercy
vs 15 Mercy granted. An opportunity for repentance extended. Separation from family and God due to the consequences of sin.
CAIN CAST OUT
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
LAMECH
19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
SETH
25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.