DRAWING NEAR
Cain and Abel were brothers, but a problem arose in their relationship when God only accepted Abel’s sacrifice. How does jealousy play a role in family dynamics? What is typically the end result?
THE CONTEXT
Adam and Eve have left the garden of Eden to begin a new and very different life in a fallen world. Everything has changed: animals have become hostile to them and to one another; thorns and thistles have sprung up where once only edible plants had grown. Worst of all, there is something completely new: suffering and death.
We do not know how much time passed between Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the garden and the birth of their first son, Cain, but it probably was not more than a few short years. Some people have suggested that Cain and Abel were twins, though the text does not specifically say so. It is likely, either way, that the two brothers were fairly close in age. It is also probable that Adam and Eve had other children besides Cain and Abel during this time, though they are not specifically mentioned in Genesis. Genesis 4 is not concerned with any other siblings, because the story of Cain and Abel is the central focus.
The context of this chapter suggests that God had explained to Adam and his family how to enter His presence with proper sacrifices. The law of Moses had not yet been given, so the full array of sacrifices and offerings was not yet in practice. However, as we saw in the previous study, God Himself made the first animal sacrifice in the garden of Eden, setting the example for Adam’s family of what was required: the life of an innocent animal. Fruits and vegetables just wouldn’t suffice.
KEYS TO THE TEXT
Read Genesis 4:1–8, noting the key words and phrases indicated below.
TWO BROTHERS: Cain and Abel arrive on the scene. One becomes a farmer, the other a shepherd.
4:1. ADAM KNEW EVE: This Hebrew word is used in many ways, but most frequently it denotes a deeply intimate knowledge. In this case, it is used to describe the sexual intimacy between man and wife. In the previous chapter of Genesis, it was used in reference to mankind’s newfound intimacy with evil. Both of these intimacies bear fruit in this chapter.
CAIN: The name Cain means “to possess.” Eve made a pun on the name when she said that she had “acquired a man from the Lord.”
ACQUIRED A MAN: Some have suggested this is a reference to the promised Redeemer of mankind—that Eve anticipated Cain would fulfill the promise of God concerning “the seed of the woman” (see Genesis 3:15). If that was the case, she was going to be doubly disappointed.
2. THEN SHE BORE AGAIN: We do not know what other children were given to Adam and Eve during this time, but the text seems to suggest that Cain and Abel were the first and second born, respectively. We can safely surmise that Adam and Eve had daughters soon after, since both sons were married as adults.
ABEL WAS A KEEPER OF SHEEP: The two oldest professions are farming, which Cain took up, and shepherding, which was Abel’s profession. These are the two facets of Adam’s original calling prior to the Fall, as he was created to have headship over all creation—caring for the animals and tending the garden of Eden.
TWO OFFERINGS: Evidently, Adam and his family understood that God wanted them to bring offerings to Him with some regularity, and what sort of offerings He desired.
3. IN THE PROCESS OF TIME: This phrase indicates that years had passed—Cain is now a married adult (see verse 17).
CAIN BROUGHT AN OFFERING OF THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND: At first glance, this seems like a legitimate act of worship on Cain’s part. After all, he was a farmer, so it would be natural for him to give a tithe of his produce to the Lord as an indication of love and worship. The problem was that Cain did not get to make the rules about what offerings were acceptable before God. Cain knew what God wanted, but he ignored God’s command and brought what he wanted instead.
4. ABEL ALSO BROUGHT OF THE FIRSTBORN OF HIS FLOCK AND OF THEIR FAT: This also seems natural, since Abel was a shepherd. A closer look, however, reveals a distinction in the wording: Cain brought “an offering of the fruit of the ground,” while Abel brought “the firstborn” of his sheep and included “their fat.” This suggests a generous gift in that Abel set apart God’s portion before selecting his own portion. He chose the very first fruit for God, and he did not stint in his generosity. The fat of the lamb makes it clear that the sheep were sacrificed—they shed their blood and died. This is at the heart of God’s chosen offering, as He demonstrated in the garden of Eden. “Without shedding of blood, there is no remission” of sins (Hebrews 9:22).
THE LORD RESPECTED ABEL AND HIS OFFERING: Notice the wording here: God respected Abel and his offering. Many theologians today claim that God was not happy with Cain’s “heart attitude” when he brought his offering, but this is not supported in the text. It is the offering itself, not the attitude of the one bringing it, that concerns God. The Lord’s acceptance of Abel was based on his offering, not on anything that he had said or done.
TWO RESPONSES FROM GOD: God accepts Abel’s offering, and therefore Abel himself, but He rejects Cain’s offering. Cain is in grave danger.
5. HE DID NOT RESPECT CAIN AND HIS OFFERING: Here again it is the offering that is underscored, not Cain’s attitude in bringing it. God’s rejection of Cain was based on his offering, not on some preference for one brother over the other. God is no respecter of persons; He demands the correct sacrifice from every human being, regardless of race or background or financial status or upbringing or any other factor. The sacrifice is what opens the way into God’s presence, not the person bringing it. There was unquestionably a problem with Cain’s attitude, but that attitude led to the sin—it was not the primary offense itself.
CAIN WAS VERY ANGRY: This is our first clue to the problem that underlies Cain’s sin: he wanted to have his own way. If he had merely been ignorant of God’s commands concerning animal sacrifices, he might have been embarrassed, but he would not have grown angry.
HIS COUNTENANCE FELL: Cain pouted. This underscores the fact that he was determined to have his own way. He evidently knew that God wanted a sacrifice of shed blood, but that may have been inconvenient for him; perhaps he only raised crops and did not own any livestock. Yet if he had been sincere in his desire to please God, he would have even then rushed out and secured an animal sacrifice—perhaps trading with his brother in exchange for some of his crops. A person who sincerely desires to please someone else does not become angry and petulant when he discovers what is pleasing to the other person; rather, he goes out of his way to do what is pleasing, even if his first attempt failed.
6. SO THE LORD SAID TO CAIN: If there was any question about Cain’s knowledge of what was pleasing to God, it was removed here. Even if Cain had not known previously what sort of sacrifice God desired, he understood now. Notice that God, once again, went out of His way to be reunited with mankind, even to the point of speaking directly to a man who was in danger of error.
GOD’S GRACE: Both Cain and Abel have equal opportunity to find acceptance before God, as the Lord now explains to Cain.
WHY ARE YOU ANGRY: Rather than being repentant for his sinful disobedience, Cain was hostile toward God, whom he could not kill, and jealous of his brother, whom he could kill (see John 3:12; Jude 11).
7. IF YOU DO WELL, WILL YOU NOT BE ACCEPTED? Just as God demands the correct sacrifice from all men, so He also offers His grace and salvation to all men alike—regardless of heritage or social class or any other factor. In Cain’s case, “doing well” meant bringing the correct sacrifice before God: a sheep whose blood has been shed. God was calling Cain’s attention to the underlying problem in his attitude—stubbornness. God was warning Cain that mankind does not have the right to enter His presence on his own terms—we must accept God’s terms or be denied access. Without a suitable offering, Cain faced God’s rejection.
SIN LIES AT THE DOOR: Cain’s insistence on having his own way led him into stubbornness, and his stubbornness led him into anger. If he continued on this path, he would go through the door of anger into murder. The wild beast of sin lurked just beyond that door, waiting to tear him limb from limb. God urged Cain to turn back from this self-destructive path while he still could.
ITS DESIRE IS FOR YOU, BUT YOU SHOULD RULE OVER IT: This is the same phrase that the Lord used when He explained the curse to Eve (see Genesis 3:16). God was warning Cain that he was in danger of turning the created order upside down—the very sin that Adam committed in Genesis 3. God called on Cain to have lordship over his own emotions and decisions, just as He had called Adam, but Cain’s desires were trying to gain mastery over him. The New Testament pictures Satan as a ravenous beast who lurks in dark corners, waiting to pounce on the unwary and rend them limb from limb. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8–9). God warned Cain of this danger but also exhorted him to vanquish that foe—which Peter addressed when he encouraged us to resist the devil, standing “steadfast in the faith.”
GOING DEEPER
Read Hebrews 11:4 and 1 John 3:4–12, noting the key words and phrases indicated below.
ABEL STILL SPEAKS: The writer of Hebrews points to Abel as an example of faith—an example that we are called to imitate.
HEBREWS 11:4. BY FAITH: This is the core of both Cain and Abel’s sacrifices: the question of faith. Both men had been told what God demanded for a sacrifice, but only Abel accepted that on faith. Abel had faith that God would keep His word if he obeyed with the correct sacrifice. Cain, however, chose to place his faith in his own efforts and schemes.
A MORE EXCELLENT SACRIFICE: As we’ve already stated, the difference between Cain and Abel was not in their personalities or talents but in the sacrifice which each brought. God demanded a sacrifice of shed blood—the blood of an innocent lamb. By his faith-filled obedience, Abel became an example for us today. We must be like him, acting in faith that God’s final sacrifice shall indeed save us from our sins.
CHILDREN OF GOD OR THE DEVIL: John tells us that a Christian’s life will be characterized by righteousness and love for others. Those who live like Cain are children of the devil.
1 JOHN 3:6. DOES NOT SIN: That is, “keep on sinning.” The Christian’s life is characterized by an ongoing struggle against sin, not a compliance with sin. This obviously does not mean that Christians never sin; it means that Christians never give up the battle against sin.
WHOEVER SINS HAS NEITHER SEEN HIM NOR KNOWN HIM: Again, that is, “whoever continues to sin,” making sin a habit or lifestyle. The person who makes sin his master has not submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
8. OF THE DEVIL: John contrasts the children of God with the children of Satan in terms of their actions. While those who are truly born again reflect the habit of righteousness, Satan’s children practice sin.
10. THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: These two types are found in Abel and Cain, respectively. The second half of this verse typifies Cain: he did not practice righteousness, nor did he love his brother.
UNLEASHING THE TEXT
1) Whom have you known that reminded you of Abel? Of Cain?
2) Why do you think Cain stubbornly rejected God’s plan of sacrifices? Why did Abel obey?
3) In your opinion, was God’s response to Cain too harsh? Why or why not?
4) What should have been Cain’s response?
EXPLORING THE MEANING
God is not a respecter of persons. God does not play favorites. He makes the same demand equally to every human on the planet: the demand for an acceptable sacrifice for sin. That sacrifice is the blood of Jesus Christ—and there are no exceptions.
Abel found favor in God’s eyes for the simple reason that his sacrifice was acceptable to God. He brought a suitable offering for his sin, and God accepted that offering. The same is true for Christians: we find favor in the eyes of God simply because He has seen the blood of Jesus covering our sins. If we did not have that blood covering our lives, we would not be permitted into His presence.
In today’s world, it is important that people understand this basic concept of the gospel. There are not “many paths” to God—there is only one way, and that is through the blood of Christ. There are no exceptions.
God’s grace is freely available to all, without restrictions. Just as God is no respecter of persons concerning sin, so also He is no respecter of persons concerning grace. Cain had the opportunity to receive God’s grace when he brought the wrong sacrifice—and he rejected that opportunity.
Yet even then God did not completely cut him off. As we will see in the next study, even after Cain murdered his brother, God gave him another opportunity to repent and ask for grace. Even the sin of murder can be forgiven!
The truth is that there is no sin that cannot be covered by the blood of Christ. God is eager to extend His grace—without restrictions.
Those who reject God’s grace become children of the devil. These are strong words in the eyes of Christians in the West. They sound so judgmental, so harsh and “noninclusive.” However, this is the teaching of the New Testament. Cain deliberately rejected God’s plan for sacrifices and eventually followed in the footsteps of the devil: he became a liar and a murderer.
What we need to recognize is that there are only two choices: to serve Jesus Christ or to serve the devil. There is no in-between ground, no “gray area,” no other option. Those who persistently resist the grace of God will gradually become more and more like the devil, who is their father. The only hope for redemption from this desperately downward spiral is to be reborn into the family of Christ.
REFLECTING ON THE TEXT
5) Is God unjust when He insists that there is only one way to salvation? Why or why not?
6) What does it mean to be a child of God? A child of the devil? What does each look like in practical terms?
7) In what ways does it require faith to be like Abel? Why is salvation in Jesus Christ only possible on the basis of faith (rather than on the basis of our good works)?
8) Why would the Lord go out of His way to tell Cain what was wrong with his sacrifice and warn him about his attitude? What does this teach us about the grace of God?
PERSONAL RESPONSE
9) Are you a child of God or a child of the devil? How do you know?
10) Is your approach to God more like Abel’s or Cain’s? What about your approach to the people around you?