Genesis 4

Lets Read

Whats Going On

• Cain and Abel 1. Cain: “Fire from God” 2. Abel: “Breath” or “meaningless”

Cain's Offering

• Cain’s offering to God is not accepted while Abel is accepted. Cain gave some of the fruit (v.3). • 1 Samuel 16:7 (AMP) 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

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• 1 Samuel 16:7 (AMP) 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Heart Issues

• Apparently there are heart issues within Cain. The way it is written, perhaps Cain’s offering was casual. Do we give God the best of our abilities, do we approach God when we are rested or when we are tired? The issue was not about the type of offering however, it was the intent of the giver. Cain’s heart was not fully in it.

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• Hebrews 11:4 (AMP) 4 [Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.

Anger

• First Murder -Cain became angry- It is important to see that God continues to come to Cain over and over with love and mercy.

Scripture Support

• • 1 Corinthians 10:13
• • Genesis 4:7

Be Careful!

• God warns Cain that he must be careful not to fall to sin. However, Cain does not listen. What sin is crouching at the door of your heart? Pride, envy, anger, lies, selfishness, lust, etc. These are all thing that we need to bring to the Lord and allow him to take them from us.

Cain’s Issues
• Impiety (v.3)
• Anger (v.5)
• Jealousy, Deception, and Murder (v.8)
• Falsehood (v.9)
• Self-seeking (v.13)
• Alienation from God (v.14;16)

First Murder

-v.8: The first murder monstrous as because it was committed with intention.
-v.9: God comes to Cain again, looking for Cain to repent, however Cain shows that he still only cares about himself.

Matthew 23:35 (NIV)
35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Cain’s loss is eternal

He is banished and chose to live in Nod (which means flight and banishment-this is a contrast from Eden)

When Cain is banished, God does not say that I don’t want to see you again, however Cain chooses to leave.
Cain is the first person to put under curse. Once Cain leaves God’s presence there is no mention of God.

-v. 17 Cain built the first city

Culture, Art, progress.

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• The key to this chapter seems to lie in Cain’s constant resentment towards God. Cain does not rejoice in Goodness or Joy with regard to what God has done for him. Instead he is angry and resentful.

•Lesson from Cain
We learn how quickly sin grows in our hearts.

• God rejects failure and sin

• If we repent then God is merciful

•Lesson from Cain
We learn how quickly sin grows in our hearts.

• God rejects failure and sin

• If we repent then God is merciful

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