Creation
Lesson Five - Cain and Abel
by Patricia Dailey

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And Adam knew Eve his wife;
and she conceived, and bare Cain,
and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
And she again bare his brother Abel.
And Abel was a keeper of sheep,
but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:1-2

Ye are of your father the devil,
and the lusts of your father ye will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning,
and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:
for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:44

Eve conceived of Adam and bare Cain. In speaking of the child she had borne, she said she had gotten a man from the Lord.

There is a doctrine called The Seed of the Serpent. This doctrine states that Eve had a relationship with the serpent, and conceived Cain by him!

In Genesis 1 we read that each living part of God’s creation multiplied after its kind. You don’t find a whale bearing an eagle, nor a cow bearing a butterfly. Neither do you find anything bearing mankind but mankind.

The devil came in the form of a serpent to beguile Eve in the garden. He is the father of SIN. Sinners don’t have the devil as their literal father. The devil is the father of their sins - the author of their sins.

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.
And wherefore slew he him?
Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:12

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6:16

This is one of the Scriptures used to back up the Seed of the Serpent doctrine. Further searching in the Word, however, shows us that this verse isn’t referring to the serpent causing Eve to conceive Cain.

If we yield our members over to obey sin, we are actually yielding them to the devil. On the other hand, if we yield them to righteousness, we are yielding them to the Lord.

CAIN WAS THE FIRST BORN OF THE HUMAN RACE! God formed Adam of the dust of the earth; then He made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs.  But Cain was the first person ever to be born.

He was the eldest son of Adam and Eve, their first-born. In Genesis 4:1-2 we read that Adam knew Eve; and she conceived, and bare Cain.  Cain became a tiller of the ground.

And in process of time it came to pass,
that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground
an offering unto the LORD.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock
and of the fat thereof.
And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:3-5

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood;
and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Hebrews 9:22

Cain and Abel both seemed to have a knowledge of God, both bringing Him offerings.

Take note that if our sins are to be forgiven, God demands a BLOOD sacrifice.

This was why Cain’s offering was rejected: he brought his own works, giving to God what he chose, rather than what God demanded.  Thus, Cain’s offering wasn’t accepted by God because it was bloodless.

For there is no respect of persons with God.
Romans 2:11

And the LORD said unto Cain,
Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?
and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Genesis 4:6-7

... God, who is rich in mercy,
Ephesians 2:4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy ...
1 Peter 1:3

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

The Lord gave Cain a second chance.  This is a reflection of God's mercy.

The blessings of God flow as a result of our obedience to Him.

But Cain refused to budge!

Yes, Cain refused to bring the acceptable blood offering to God. He REFUSED to repent, and do things God’s way!

Cain was angry when God didn’t respect his offering. His temper got the best of him - and, in a fit of rage, he KILLED his brother.  Cain DELIBERATELY and WILLFULLY rebelled against what God had told him. He committed WILLFUL sin in murdering his brother.

Cain knew what God required. He had witnessed what Abel offered unto the Lord, and how it was accepted. All he had to do was to offer the same acceptable offering - then everything would have been fine!  But Cain was stubborn and rebellious. He was set in his ways, determined not to change - even for God.

And, oftentimes, this is the way it is: I’m not going to change! Nobody’s going to tell me!

There are so many religious groups who determine to establish their own righteousness. They are determined to establish their own way of worship, without considered what God would say in His Word. As a result, instead of true salvation, all they have is mere religion.

God deals with sin and rebellion. We find He dealt with Cain to give him another chance. He told Cain that sin lay at the door - but Cain wouldn’t heed His warning.

Cain saw that Abel was accepted. And he would have been accepted, too, if he had merely repented and done things God’s way.

But he offered up the works of his own hands - and that was not what God required. It was an offering given to God, yes - but it was not the offering of blood that was necessary for salvation.

We can see that Cain was a very stubborn young man.

Having hardened his heart through stubbornness, Cain had no respect for God. His conscience had become seared.  His heart had become so hardened that he had no fear of God. And, in this state, he rose to slay his brother.

When we sin, if we insist on continuing to go our own way, rather than to repent, our conscience can become seared.

After Cain’s offering was refused, God gave him time to repent and to offer an acceptable offering like his brother’s. But Cain merely hardened his heart. HE REFUSED TO CHANGE!

Cain was the first murderer - and the first person to commit fratricide.

Fratricide
the act of killing one's brother

When asked by God where his brother was, Cain lied. He said he didn’t know: Am I my brother’s keeper?  In John 8:44 Jesus said the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and was the father of lies. And we find here that Cain yielded himself over to the devil - committing the first murder; and lying to God.  The devil had caused Eve to believe his lies. And now we find he has gotten Cain to lie to God.

And now art thou cursed from the earth,
which hath opened her mouth
to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
When thou tillest the ground,
it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength;
a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Genesis 4:11-12

We can’t blame God for all of this. Cain was given an opportunity to change. Instead, he hardened his heart against the dealings of God.

God wants to bring us to the place of being partakers of His holiness. He will deal with us and will chastise us. But it’s up to us to yield to His dealings.

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;
for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers,
then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us,
and we gave them reverence:
shall we not much rather be in subjection
unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure;
but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Now no chastening for the present
seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth
the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby.
Hebrews 12:6-11

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:
be zealous therefore, and repent.
Revelation 3:19

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD;
neither be weary of his correction:
For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth;
even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 3:11-12

The dealings and chastenings of God may not be pleasant - but afterwards they bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby.  Realize that God chastens us because He loves us as a Father His son.

The sooner we yield to God and say, YES, LORD! - the quicker it’s over. We can either prolong the chastening of the Lord, or we can yield to Him right away.

Listen, when God deals with you, be quick to yield and make amends. Be quick to turn from going your own way, and begin to go God’s way. Don’t allow your heart to become hardened, to where your conscience is seared and you have no fear of God.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
beholding the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3

... ye have sinned against the LORD:
and be sure your sin will find you out.
Numbers 32:23

I am the Almighty God;
walk before me, and be thou perfect.
Genesis 17:1

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness;
but is longsuffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

Cain ignored the fact that God is all-knowing. He lied to try to conceal his brother’s murder. He thought he could hide his guilt from God Almighty.

Realize that God knows al things. There is nothing we can conceal from Him.  God is omniscient.  God knows when there is secret sin in someone’s life. It can’t be concealed from Him. There is nothing that is hid from Almighty God.

Some might feel they are secure, that nobody knows what they have done - but there is One who knows ALL!  Maybe the law hasn’t caught up with them. But God’s law will one day judge them, unless they turn to Him in true repentance and confession while they can.

God knew that Cain had slain Abel. He gave him a space of repentance. He was being merciful in giving Cain a second chance - but Cain refused to budge!

There is one thing about God - He is a merciful God. He will deal with us in His mercy, to lead us to the right path.

Cain had opportunity to repent and offer an acceptable blood sacrifice: but he chose to go his own way. He established his own way of worship. He was going to do it CAIN’s way.

Omnipotent:
infinite in power;
almighty

And Cain said unto the LORD,
My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth;
and from thy face shall I be hid;
and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth;
and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
And the LORD said unto him,
Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,
vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.
And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD,
and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
Genesis 4:13-16

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain,
Jude 11

Cain was fearful. He pled with God, lest others would slay him. As the result, vengeance would be taken seven-fold on anyone who would kill Cain.

After Cain disobeyed the second time, God was still merciful. He put a mark on him to protect him. God was being very merciful to Cain, but still he refused to repent. Instead of repenting, he complained to God about his punishment and judgment.

All Cain was concerned about was how difficult his punishment would be to bear. He had no concern about his sins. He had no desire to repent. He didn’t cry out for forgiveness - all he did was complain about his punishment!

And, isn’t that the way it often is? When God has to chastise us about something, instead of repenting, the tendency is to murmur and complain. We feel sorry for ourselves, rather than feeling sorry that we have sinned, and forsaking that sin.

 Punishment for sin in the lake of fire will be greater than one can bear! Yet, there will be multitudes who find themselves in that place - because they rejected the mercies of God.

Realize that sin will separate us from God. We don’t want to go the way of Cain. Cain completely departed from the presence of the Lord. He gave no recognition to God from then on.

In summary, here are important truths to learn from the errors of Cain:

• Cain went about to do things HIS way - instead of God's way. He established his own way of worship.

• Cain had no sense of sin, nor any awareness of a need to atone for sin.

• He offered up the works of his hands, instead of offering a blood offering for sin.
  

Let's look at Cain's brother Abel and highlight a few differences between the two:

And Adam knew Eve his wife;
and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said,
I have gotten a man from the LORD.
And she again bare his brother Abel.
And Abel was a keeper of sheep,
but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:1-2

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.
And wherefore slew he him?
Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
1 John 3:12

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 51:17

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation
not to be repented of:
but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7:10

If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous:
And he is the propitiation for our sins:
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 1:9 & 2:1-2

These are the things that Cain lacked:  a repentant spirit, a contrite heart, a godly sorrow. It was bad enough that he had tried to buy his salvation with good works: but when God dealt with him, giving him another chance, he still had no sorrow for his sin!

When he killed his brother, he hardened his heart yet more against the dealings of God.

The sacrifices that God looks for are a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. Without these, our sacrifices aren’t acceptable to Him.

Some feel they are offering acceptable sacrifices for sin by going to church, or by giving money, or by reading the Bible and praying.  But in order to have our sins forgiven and washed away, we must offer the sacrifices of repentance and godly sorrow - asking the Lord to cleanse us with His Blood.

Some cry over their sin, yet walk away to do that thing all over again! Oh, they are sorry: but they are not sorry because of their sin. They are sorry because of the result of their sin.

God is looking for that godly sorrow, that sorrow which works repentance not to be repented of again. This is the sorrow that causes us to confess AND to forsake our sin.

We cannot take undue liberty and do things that are contrary to the Word of God. We must do things God’s way, or we’ll be dealt with. If we do things any other way than God’s way, that is sin.

And we must never forget that the Blood of Jesus Christ is the ONLY remedy for sin.

Cain tried to gain salvation with good works - but, as we see in this Scripture, good works are to FOLLOW those who have been saved, those who have applied the blood of Jesus to their sinful heart.

We can’t EARN our salvation by good works. It is through grace that we are saved, receiving the free gift of Jesus Christ. This is what will cleanse our heart from sin. There is no other way than the Blood of Jesus. We must come to God HIS way, not trying to establish our own righteousness - see Ephesians 2:8,9.

Down through the generations, there have always been those who were determined to establish their own way of approaching God.  Oh, they may admit that Jesus is the Son of God - but they go about establishing their own way of worship. They don’t want God’s way.

They take the blood out of their religion; and thus have no means of true salvation - because it is ONLY through the Blood of Jesus Christ that we are able to be saved.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

This is even the case with some true Christians. They find the dealings of God upon their life because they decided to do things their way, rather than God’s way as presented in His Word. And, in order to get back into their rightful place with God, they need to repent and turn to go God’s way.

Cain had no sense of sin. He was angry when God didn’t respect his offering, instead of repenting and offering an acceptable offering. He was determined to do it HIS way - regardless!

Some are so set in their way that nobody can show them anything. Their way is the best (as far as they’re concerned) and they’re not about to change.

In the things of God, we can’t continue on in our own way - because our way is not the right way. We have to turn, and start going God’s way. Our way will only lead to destruction.

We cannot change our ways without turning to the Lord. Even after we are saved we find we have ways that are not pleasing to God. The only way to change is to surrender our ways to the Lord, letting Him do a work in us.

We can’t change our ways merely by trying to change. We tried that before we were saved. And we found we were helpless in trying to stop ourselves from going further and further down the broad way.

We can’t go about establishing our own righteousness. WE HAVE TO GO GOD’S WAY. And, as we get into the Word of God, we will find out what His way really is.