Brother Killing Brother (Genesis 4)

Brother has been killing brother since the beginning and our world still hasn't learned to love instead of hate: Hutu killing Tutsi, China threatening Taiwan, Russia attacking Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, the unwelcomed refugee, the unwelcomed innocent unborn child. Let’s explore the first such callous attitude in Genesis 4.

What kind of attitude did the first child have? Does God want empty religious offerings or a changed heart?

The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.” Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. As time passed, Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground. Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of its fat. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering, but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. (Genesis 4:1-5 WEB)

Why did God honor Abel’s sacrifice? Was there something deeper than just an offering? Was righteousness by faith involved?

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 11:4 NKJV)

Why did God have no respect for Cain’s sacrifice? Does Isaiah teach us what God really wants?

What should I think about all your sacrifices? says the Lord. I’m fed up with entirely burned offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts. I don’t want the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from you, this trampling of my temple’s courts? Stop bringing worthless offerings. Your incense repulses me. New moon, sabbath, and the calling of an assembly— I can’t stand wickedness with celebration! I hate your new moons and your festivals. They’ve become a burden that I’m tired of bearing. When you extend your hands, I’ll hide my eyes from you. Even when you pray for a long time, I won’t listen. Your hands are stained with blood. Wash! Be clean! Remove your ugly deeds from my sight. Put an end to such evil; learn to do good. Seek justice: help the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:11-17 CEB)

Did God warn Cain? Did Cain choose to listen? Did his subsequent actions reveal what was in his heart?

The Lord said to Cain: What's wrong with you? Why do you look so angry? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don't let it! Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let's go for a walk.” And when they were out in a field, Cain attacked and killed him. (Genesis 4:6-8 CEV)

What did God say to Cain? What was his punishment? Was it the death penalty or was God merciful?

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:9-12 ESV)

What was Cain’s complaint? Did God hear him? What was the mark, a tattoo, a scar or something else? We do not know.

But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.” Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:13-16 HCSB)

Did God bless Cain with descendants? Who were some of the key people?

Later, Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain founded a city and named it after his son Enoch. Irad was born to Enoch. Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. Later, Lamech married two wives. One was named Adah and the other was named Zillah. (Genesis 4:17-19 ISV)