Genesis 4:1-26
Q.1. In what ways were Cain and Abel different? Why did they bring offerings to God? What made Cain’s offering unacceptable? How did he deal with his frustrations? What further curse was added by Abel’s murder? In what way did God protect Cain? – (Gen.4:1-15 c.f. Heb.11:4; 1 Jn.3:11-12)
Eve acknowledged that God was the One Who gave her Cain, her firstborn son. (Gen.4:1). Cain cultivated the land for a living, and his brother Abel shepherded flocks. These animals would not have been used for eating, but for making woollen and leather clothes and shoes (c.f. Gen.1:29). Both Cain and Abel knew that it was appropriate to bring an offering to God, probably based on the ‘covering’ God provided for Adam and Eve – 3 … Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions and the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering (Gen.4:3-4 c.f. Gen.3:21). Abel gave a blood sacrifice, whereas Cain brought the fruit of the ground. Abel accepted that he needed a blood-sacrifice, whereas Cain refused to come to God in the way that God had directed. He reacted angrily to God’s rejection of his offering. He suffered guilt, knowing that he was acting wilfully against God’s direction, given through his parents. God intervened and challenged him – If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it (Gen.4:7). Sadly, Cain did not want to deal with sin in the God-prescribed way. Because – by faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous … Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him (Heb.11:4; Gen.3:8). God had made an appeal to Cain, to control his jealous rage, but he refused to listen. He lied in order to cover the murder of his brother. God asked – … “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said (with the immortal words), “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Gen.4:9). God held Cain responsible – He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground (Gen.4:10). Murder further increased man’s burden – When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth (Gen.4:12). Nevertheless, God opposed the idea of payback killing, and protected Cain – So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord appointed a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him (Gen.4:15).
Q.2. What place did Cain give to God? Where did Cain get his wife? What enterprise came through his descendants? How did polygamy start? How did social conflict increase? What attitude was displayed toward God? – (Gen.4:16-24 c.f. Gen.5:4)
It was recorded – Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden (Gen.4:16). What this seems to convey, was that Cain moved away from anything that would remind him of God. Cain was probably already married to one of his sisters – 4 Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. 5 So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died (Gen.5:4-5). Adam’s third son, Seth, was born when Adam was 130, so Cain could have been older than a hundred when he moved away. We next are given a history of Cain’s descendants – some seven generations before the Flood. With a near perfect gene pool, the capacity of man to live for many years was astounding – Cain built a city, which he named after his son Enoch (Gen.4:17. Five generations passed. Next, we read about a godless man, Lamech (Gen.4:18). He introduced polygamy when he married two wives. His son Jabal, from Adah – was the father of those that dwell in tents and have livestock (Gen.4:20). Jabal’s brother, Jubal – was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe (Gen.4:21). Cain’s other wife Zillah bore him Tubal-Cain –the forger of all implements of bronze and iron (Gen.4:22). There was an explosion in industry, agriculture, and the arts, leading to inter-family strife. Lamech threatened all comers, and arrogantly warned his wives – 23 … “Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice, you wives of Lamech, give heed to my speech, for I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me; 24 If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Gen.4:23-24). The stage was set for the Flood judgment – 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Gen.6:5-6).
Q.3. What price did Adam and Eve pay for sin in their family? How did they fill the hole in their hearts? How did their trials lead them back to God?
Adam and Eve paid a high price for disobeying God. They forfeited their intimate walks and talks with Him, although they still acknowledged God in their lives (c.f. Gen.4:1,25). Adam had to work hard for a living. The ground no longer produced easily or consistently. Eve suffered the acute pain of childbirth, and the heartache of conflict between her children. Death was introduced prematurely, when their righteous son was treacherously killed by his jealous brother (Gen.4:8 c.f. Heb.11:4; 1 Jn.3:12). They were shocked and devastated, as their family was fractured. Time brought some healing. It was recorded – Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” (Gen.4:25). The name that Eve gave her newborn indicates how she sought to rebuild her family. In time, Seth bore a son named Enosh. We read – … Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen.4:26). The murder of Abel damaged the family’s relationship with God. However, with new life, came fresh opportunities to draw near to God once more.