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Category: Genesis
Scriptures:
Genesis 4:1-4:16
Genesis 4:1-4:16
1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
3 As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
7 If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
9 Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
13 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me out today from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. Whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, so that anyone finding him would not strike him.
16 Cain left Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Commentary
Cain murdered his brother Abel out of jealousy.
God knew exactly what Cain had done and He knew Cain was lying. It was as if Abel’s shed blood was crying out to God that a terrible murder occurred. Cain’s final punishment would be to die. But before that, God told Cain about the curses he would face. The ground wouldn’t grow as much food for him, and he would have to work harder. He would have to move around and worry that others would try to kill him.
Cain complained that the punishment was too much. He did not say he was sorry. He did not admit that he had done a terrible thing. But God did not want other people to take revenge on Cain, and so he put a mark on Cain to remind people not to kill him.
Cain picked the road that leads to death, choosing to be selfish. He chose to trust in himself instead of God, amd he chose to think about his hurt pride. The Bible calls this the way of Cain (Jude 1:11). We must remember that when we get mad, sin is waiting to pounce on us too. We must remember that hating others is like murder (1 John 3:15). We must ask God to help us rule over ourselves and sin. We must try to care for others as our brothers and sisters.