SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 4
BIBLE VERSES:
“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:9-12)
CAIN AND ABEL (vs. 1-26)
Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. Cain worked the soil while Abel kept flocks. Cain brought fruits as offering tot he Lord while Abel brought fat portions of the first born of his flock. The Lord accepted Abel’s offering and did not look with favor Cain’s offering. Cain was very angry. In his anger, he killed his brother Abel. Then the Lord asked Cain: “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain replied: “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord replied: “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground” (vs. 10-11). As a result, Cain was driven out to become a wanderer. His work on the ground will no longer yield crops. But the Lord promised Cain that he won’t be killed by anyone. Cain married and had a son called Enoch. The next generation were: Irad, Mehujael, Methushael, Lamech. Lamech married two women – Adah and Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal and Jubal. Zillah gave birth to Tubal-Cain and Naamah. Adam and Eve gave birth to a son named Seth to replace Abel. Seth had a son called Enosh.
THOUGHTS:
Cain brought a bloodless offering from the cursed earth. His offering may be sincere but it was not accepted because he did not follow God’s word that offering must involve sacrifice of blood. Our offering to God must be in accordance to His Word.
The sin of anger leads Cain to jealousy, jealousy leads to hatred and hatred to murder. So beware of becoming angry. Know how to control anger before it destroys you.
After Cain sacrifice was rejected, God gave him the chance to right his wrong to try again. But Cain refused to give up his jealous anger and became a victim of sin. When someone suggests that you have done something wrong, correct the mistake. Take an honest look at yourself and choose God’s way instead of Cain’s way.
Cain became the first murderer of human history. But God raised up Seth to take Abel’s place as leader of a God’s faithful people.