Sermon Cloud

Genesis Chapter 4 The Problems With Pride Cain, Abel, And Seth

A. (1-8) The Murder Of Abel

1. (1) The Birth Of Cain

a)     Adam Knew Eve His Wife

While this verb is also used after Adam and Eve ate from the tree of Knowledge and "Knew" they were naked this word "Knew" is a beautiful way to describe sex. It speaks of relationship through physical intimacy.

b)    Cain=Acquired

It appears Eve believed Cain was the fulfillment of the promise of Genesis 3:15

2. (2) The Birth Of Abel

c)     Abel=Breath / Vanity

3. (3-5) The Offerings

d)    Abel's Offering

Firstborn of his flock and their fat.                 Very ugly offering - messy, bloody...

e)     Cain's Offering

An offering of the fruit of the ground.

that mināh, “offering,” can refer to a grain offering as well as to a meat offering.

The text makes a distinction between Abel’s offering of the “first” and Cain’s offering of “some”

We know from Hebrews 11:4 That Abel's offering was more excellent. (Context - Faith)

1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Opposite of love - (Hate)

Comparison (Evil / Righteous)  Could Very Well Be Pride

f)      The Lord's Response

Respected . . . did not respect: We don't precisely know how Can and Abel knew their sacrifices were accepted or not accepted. Probably, there was some outward evidence which was obvious (Consumed By Fire).

There are Biblical examples of having an acceptable sacrifice consumed by fire from God (Example 1 Kings 18 - Elijah & Prophets Of Baal)

Often in Scripture either symbolically or literally describes the cherubim (Arch Angels) right in front of the presence of God.   

Even As Hezekiah prayed before the Lord in 2 Kings 19:15, and said: “O Lord God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

The Cherubim were protecting the Tree of Life at the edge of the Garden. God's presence must have been there for them to bring their offerings.

Question: Where is God's real presence in our life? Or where has He set up His altar of sacrifice for you?  And are we offering an acceptable sacrifice?

Probably at your job, in your marriage, family, church, relationships. This is the place where you and I die to self and give Him our lives as a living sacrifice.

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

4. (6-7) The Lord Reaches Out To Cain

g)    (6) Depression First Usage

Depression: a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies

Cain was Angry and his countenance fell. He was filled with disappointment.  His offering was rejected and so his countenance fell.

Question: How can God reject our offering if we give Him what He wants?

There are times of mental darkness and depression in this world of sin. What shall we do? Resort to entertainment, or fantasy, or forgetfulness produced by the drugs or drinking? No; we need to look to Jesus Christ. You see The Lord is our light in Dark times.

Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Psalm 4:6-7 There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

h)    (7) The Solution To Cain's Depression

Do Well in God's eyes.  Acceptance by God is the antidote to emotional difficulties.

Question: How can God reject our offering if we give Him what He wants?

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Cain came full of pride and without faith.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Jude 8-11 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

5. (8) The Murder Of Abel

murder, the taking of another human being’s life illegally.

God prohibits Murder;

God gave Noah capital punishment for murder...Genesis 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

God said (Exod. 20:13; Deut. 5:17) In the 10 Commandments, you shall not murder

B. (9-15) The Lord's Response To Cain

1. (9) Allows Cain Opportunity To Confess

Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. (10) Abel's Blood Cries Out

i)      God Uses The Death Of Saints

Abel Is A Reminder Of God's Ability To Use A Righteous Person's Death To Speak To The World About Faith

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Hebrews 12:24 Says Jesus' blood speaks of better things then that of Abel's. While Jesus' blood obviously speaks of payment for our sins, Abel's speaks of righteous faith in God.

Also the Word Witness (Grk Martyr)

Martyr: Simply put, martyrdom refers to the act of choosing death rather than renouncing one’s faith in Christ at the hand of another.

j)      God Will Avenge The Death Of Saints

Revelation 6:9-10 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

3. (11-15) Cain's Curse And His Response

C. (16-24) The Family Of Cain

1. (16-18) Cain Builds A City Called Enoch

Enoch- Dedicate / Initiate

Later on we will read of Enoch of the line of Seth (those who called upon The Lord.  This other Enoch was the one of whom it was pointed out that he walked with God (Maybe a metaphor for dedicated)  Two forms of dedication: Building cities after your name (pride) or dedicating your life to following God (faith).

2. (19-24) The Life Of Lamech

First Problem - Two wives

The Bible never uses an example of more than one wife positively and here the first usage is clearly negative.  Lamech was a loser!

He was full of pride - Could be the very problem of those of Cain.

D. (25-26) The Godly Line Family Of Seth

1. (25) Adam And Eve Still Looking For The Promise

It appears both Adam and Eve desired to walk with God by faith.

Even Names this new child Seth (Means Appointed)

"God has appointed another 'seed' "  she was still looking for Messiah.

2. (26) Then men began to call on The Name Of The LORD