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Genesis: Cain and Abel
October 14, 2017

Last week we saw how Adam and Eve were influenced by the serpent to disobey God; as a consequence they were driven from the Garden of Eden. This week we encounter Adam and Eve as they start their family with sons Cain and Abel.

Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a a farmer. Both honored God with an offering; yet God respected the offering of Abel and did not have this respect for Cain's offering. Why God respected the offering of Abel over Cain is not made clear from the scriptures. Perhaps Abel did a better job of providing a better quality offering. Perhaps Abel took personal stock in who he was as a person and why he needed God in his life, and Cain did not. The Biblical record shows that in time God woulld require both animal and grain offerings from the Children of Israel, so the difference in the type of offering was probably not the issue. We know that Cain did not like why God did not respect his offering and this made him angry to the point where he killed Abel. And so it has been throughout the course of human history, that whenever something does not go as expected, it is easier to blame somebody else for the problems we face rather than see the source of error within us so that we might correct it. Ownership of personal faults with an active desire to improve who we are as a person is huge, and when coupled with an attitude of respect for God and why we need Him in our life will place us on the path to giving offerings to God that will garner God's respect.

Genesis 4:1-8
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel.  And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  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: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.  And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  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.  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. 

Genesis shows that Cain had some level of remorse in taking the life of his brother and that Cain saw that his life was over, after God punished him for the murder. As a farmer, Cain's harvest would be less than before. He would be exiled from God as a fugitive. Cain accepted his punishment and left from the presence of God but feared he would be hunted by those who thought they might be doing God a favor. God showed mercy to Cain even during a time of disfavor by protecting him. Anyone who would harm Cain would have a more horrible punishment than Cain.

Genesis 4:9-16
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?  And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 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.  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.  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.  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.  And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Cain married and the family had a child named Enoch. The city that Cain built was named after his son. Through the descendants of Cain came the shepherds, nomads, and musicians, and the history of murder continued as Lamech took the life of a young man.

Genesis 4: 17-26
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. And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. 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. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. 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. 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.

Adam and Eve had another child, Seth, and to Seth was born Enos. It was at this time that people began to respect and call upon the name of the Lord.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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