Sermon – Genesis 4 – Cain & Abel

Genesis 4:1-8 (NLT – Cain and Abel) … (1) Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” (2) Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. (3) When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. (4) Abel also brought a gift – the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, (5) but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. (6) “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?” (7) You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (8) One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
Our text today begins with Adam and Eve fulfilling a command from God.
- Genesis 1:28 (NLT) … Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply” …
So, Adam and Eve were fruitful and they multiplied and were given two sons.
- Cain was the first born, and his name in Hebrew means “acquired,” because with the Lord’s help Adam and Eve acquired a son.
- Abel was the second born, and his name in Hebrew means “breath,” and this foreshadows that his life would be brief – just like a breath.
When the two boys grew up, they each had different jobs.
- Cain cultivated the ground – tilled the ground – farmed the fertile land.
- Abel became a shepherd – keeper of flocks/sheep.
In the process of time – during the harvest – both Cain and Abel brought an offering to God.
- Cain brought an offering from the ground – “some” produce in many translations.
- Abel brought the first or best from his flocks with the fat portions.
It is worth noting, that it was during the harvest that both Cain and Abel brought their offering to God. It was not in the dead of winter, when nothing would be growing and all Cain had to offer was just “some” vegetables; and be at a disadvantage to his younger brother Abel. It was during harvest, when the crops would be coming in and Cain would have many choices as to what to offer to God.
It is also worth noting that nowhere in Scripture do we see a command from God for either of these two men to offer a sacrifice so why did they do it?
Hebrews 11:4 (NLT) tells us that it was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts.
And why did Cain offer his sacrifice first, and then Abel follow it, and why did they even choose their jobs? … Since Cain was the oldest, why did he not choose to raise animals and then have Abel be the one that toiled in the fields?
If you believe that the first sacrifice was made in Genesis 3:21, when the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and Eve, then perhaps Cain (and Abel) were continuing this. If this sacrifice was because of sin, then perhaps Cain and Abel were sacrificing for sins they had committed or they were offering more sacrifices to try to make up for the mistakes of their parents.
Another theory is that Cain chose to take the job as a farmer – a tiller of the ground – as self-punishment for the sins of his parents; or to take some of the blow off his parents – he chose to be a farmer, so his parents would not have to.
- Genesis 3:19 (NLT) … By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.
Another theory is that Cain was trying to give back produce – fruit if you will – to God. This would be because his parents took forbidden fruit and sin and Cain was trying to make up for this for growing more and trying to appease God.
And the last theory, at least that I will share as there could be many more, is that Adam and Eve thought the man that would come and destroy the serpent was Cain and not someone else.
- Genesis 3:15 (NLT) … And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike you head, and you will strike his heel.
If they believed this, then they would have told their son this, perhaps many times, and perhaps all his life. If Cain believed this, then perhaps he had made many offerings before – maybe he offered his very best and when the curse of sin was not lifted, he was disheartened; but nevertheless, kept offering sacrifices with the condition of the next getting worse.
Regardless of why sacrifices were offered or how long they were offered, there was a vast difference in what was offered and the attitude in which they were offered.
In verses 4-5, we read that the Lord God accepted what Abel offered, but He did not accept Cain and his gift.
It is interesting that not only did God not accept the gift that Cain brought, but he also did not accept Cain. The gift that Cain offered can be explained easily enough – it wasn’t the best that could be offered. Cain could have offered the first produce he offered and/or the best produce.
Cain, himself though, would be a little harder. Was his attitude wrong? Did he no longer want to worship God? Was he just jealous of his younger brother? Was it something else?
After God did not accept the Cain or the gift; Cain became very angry and look dejected.
Cain must have had contact with God to know that his gift was not worthy; and this contact continued in verses 6-7. “Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
The same warning that God gave Cain, is the same warning He gives to us when we are debating whether or not to sin, especially when we are angry. We are all tempted by different things and we all debate whether or not to give in. Some of us may debate for a very brief moment and quickly come to the conclusion that we will not give in. Some of us may debate for a longer time and then still come to the same answer to not sin, but after thinking about if anyone would really know or it would be that big of a deal. Sadly, others will give in, either right away or after thinking about it.
If we do the right thing – which is to not sin – to not break God’s commands, then we will be accepted. If we do the right thing – which is to follow what God wants us to do – to live holy – to preach the Gospel – to be salt and light – to fulfill the Great Commission – to make disciples and to baptize them. If we do those things then we will be accepted by God.
However, if we do not do what is right, then we need to be aware that sin is crouching at the door, eager to control us. If we give in once, then the next time will be easier, and the time after that easier, and then the snowball just continues and before we know it we are controlled by sin and are committing sins each day – multiple times a day – and that sin is all we want to do and at all costs.
Romans 6:12 (NLT) … Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have a new life. So, use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
Romans 8:5-8 (NLT) … Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So, letting your sinful nature control your minds leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
Now we get to the passage that always comes up each time we are together.
Galatians 5:19:26 (NLT) … When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirits’ leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Cain was jealous of his brother and was very angry and allow his anger to cloud and control his judgment. Sin was crouching, wanting to attack and control Cain and it did just that; he talked his brother into going out in the fields one day, and then attacked and killed his brother.
Cain committed a sin – albeit a large one – one that is forbidden in the 10 Commandments (which were given long after this) – and one we would be appalled at – because he allowed for his pride and jealously and wanting his own way to happen instead of listening to God and follow His way.
1^st John 3:11-13 (NLT) … This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. So, don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
1^st Peter 5:8 (NLT), gives us the same warning God provided to Cain before he sinned … Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
To help us stay alert: We need to stay in church and gather together at each opportunity. We need to stay in prayer. We need to study our Bibles. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to get us through each and every day. We need to produce the Fruit of the Spirit and wear our spiritual armor.
We cannot do these previously mentioned things unless we are saved. We will not want to be in church, unless it is to fool people, unless we are saved. We will have no desire to pray unless we are saved. We will have no reason to study our Bibles, unless it is to prove it wrong, unless we are saved. We cannot wear the spiritual armor, produce spiritual fruit, or rely on the Holy Spirit unless we are saved. And to be saved, we must Admit we are sinners and need a savior, Believe in Jesus, Confess our sins and Jesus as Lord; as well as obeying Jesus’ example of being baptized and enduring in the faith until the very end.