BASIC BIBLE STORIES
Cain & Abel
(Genesis 4:1-16)
We continue now in our Basic Bible Stories Series with the story of Cain and Abel. Previously we looked at Adam and Eve in the garden and the Fall of Man. Today, we see the “fruit” of that fall: children born into sin (Psalm 51:5).
As I reviewed the text, meditated on it and examined it, I saw a series of “two’s” or pairs; something I hadn't ever seen before. And it is by way of these “two’s” that I will present the story of Cain & Abel today.
Now remember, the Bible says, that these things were written for our LEARNING. So let’s not be so quick to dismiss the “old” story of Cain and Abel, and let’s not be too quick to think that we “already know it.” The Lord may just show us something we didn't realize before, and thereby using His Word to transform us today, more into the image of His Son.
1. TWO Sons (Cain and Abel)
Time had passed since Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden after disobeying God’s command NOT to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. And Adam “knew” his wife and she conceived and had a son. When the Bible speaks of “knew” in this way, it is indicating a very intimate knowledge, a close personal relationship, and in this case, it meant a close physical relationship which resulted in Eve becoming pregnant.
Now Eve had two sons: one, Cain, the other Abel. Although Adam and Eve had many children (Genesis 5:4), Eve was excited perhaps because she may have thought that this son was the answered prophecy of Genesis 3:15. Perhaps they were expecting it within their lifetime. Nevertheless, Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve and their paths would eventually become polar opposites.
2. TWO Careers (Farmer and Shepherd)
We read in verse 2 that Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer (tiller of the ground). They both had two careers or roles to play; one no more important than the other. We need fruits and vegetables just as we need the wool of sheep. There was nothing evil of itself in being a farmer or in being a shepherd.
The Lord directs our steps and Cain and Abel had jobs to do in the new world as each of us do now. But as we shall see, whatever our position or role or career, we are to behave ourselves in faith without offering God the fruit of our labors which tends to boasting (comp. w/ Romans 3:27; 1Corinthians 1:29; Ephesians 2:9), but rather faith in His Word.
3. TWO Offerings (Pride and Faith)
The Bible says that in the process of time (Genesis 4:3) that Cain and Abel brought offerings. Interestingly, it gives the impression that they knew that they had to bring offerings to a specific place at a specific time, in order to address their sins. The Bible says in Hebrews that these sacrifices only temporarily addressed sins (Hebrews 2:4-5, 11). And, when Adam and Eve sinned, the only thing that could be done was to cover the sins until the time came to have them removed. This is the beauty of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His blood did not just cover our sins, but removed them in the sight of God (Hebrews 10:12, 9:28; 2Coritnhians 5:21; et. al.).
Now Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, while Abel sacrificed one of the herd. Cain’s sacrifice was not inappropriate because the Lord did require offerings from the fruit of the ground from the Israelites (Numbers 18:12), though nothing is mentioned at this time. But, the Bible tells us something about HOW Cain offered his sacrifice.
He did it without faith (Hebrews 11:4). On top of that, Abel’s sacrifice was considered more “excellent.” So we have a sacrifice made by Cain without faith, and that was not as excellent as Abel’s. Furthermore, in 1John 3:12, Cain’s works were declared outright “evil.”
What was so evil, faithless, and “non”-excellent about Cain’s offering? Well, if you remember back to the Garden after Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. However, obviously this was unacceptable to God because God made them coats of skins, implying that animals had to die to provide these coverings; i.e. blood was shed. And, in Hebrews 9:22, it is the blood that God considers when it comes to addressing the problem of sin. Now, until Christ, these sacrifices could only cover the sins, but not “cleanse” them. Nevertheless, a blood sacrifice was ought to have been made. Therefore, Cain’s sacrifice did not consider the need for blood: God’s acceptable, prescribed way. Cain thought he would bring of his own labor to the offering; presuming that the fruit of his labor was all he needed. Is it not the same today?
As a matter of fact, because it was not offered in faith; that which is not faith is called “sin” or “evil”: Romans 14:23 … for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Thus, Cain’s offering was evil because it was NOT of faith; it was faithless because it demonstrated a disbelief of God’s way and prescribed manner of addressing sin; and it was un-excellent because it was basically not good in God’s eyes.
Meanwhile, Abel offered one of the firstlings (firstborn) of his flock. Blood was shed and the fat offered up to God. This sacrifice demonstrated Abel’s faith in what God had indicated. Thus Abel’s sacrifice was in faith; it was excellent; it was good, and it was acceptable to God.
4. TWO Responses from God (One Rejected, One Accepted)
From Scripture, it is clear that without faith it is impossible to please God:
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Therefore Abel’s offering was accepted while Cain’s was not (verses 4-5). Cain brought his best; a noble and humanly thought, but NOT what God wanted. And until now it is the same deception of pride: give God what we think He wants: our best: Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. But, until now, our best is NOT good enough, and it never will be.
5. TWO Choices (Do Well or Don’t Do Well)
Now, even though Cain offered his offering in pride, God was still patient, caring, and gracious to Him. God did not condemn Cain for his offering, but counseled him in verses 6-7: And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (7) 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.
The LORD counseled Cain to do right: walk in faith. If he would do that, then he would be accepted. If Cain however chose to continue walking in his pride, then evil was right there waiting for him. And it is the same for us until today: If we choose to walk in the pride of life, and in the imaginations of our hearts, surely sin is all around us. It’s hard enough for a believer who is trying to avoid the evils of this world, how much more the evils of this world are upon the heels of those who are walking in the sin and the flesh.
And the beauty of God’s counsel was that if Cain would “straighten up and fly right,” Abel his brother would be subservient to him. In other words, he could still be the “wise” big brother to Abel; and lose none of his authority or “glory” as a leader. God gave Cain a chance to recover from his fall. How loving, kind, and gracious of the LORD. Nevertheless, Cain did not heed God’s wise counsel but slew his brother: he killed innocent, righteous (Matthew 23:35), unknowing Abel. And why, because: 1John 3:12 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.
Oh the jealousy and envy that is still aroused today when someone does right in God’s eyes! In churches today, how many Cains criticize, attack verbally, or assassinate the characters of dear brethren who only want to love the Lord and serve Him in faith.
6. TWO Examples (The World vs. God)
The Bible gives us a clear differentiation between the two men:
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
And the Lord Jesus Christ warned us that the world would also hate Him:
John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
1John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
And why? Because their works are evil (1John 3:12), and the Lord brings them to light. Those who do evil hate the light (John 3:19-21). And those brethren today who will be faithful to God will be hated of the world. It is Cain and Abel continually in the world: Cain, those who do not walk in faith against Abel: those who do. Cain hates Abel in his heart because Abel does well in God’s sight. Abel obeys God’s Word; Abel walks in faith; Abel trusts God; Abel worships God in spirit and in truth; Abel comes to God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; and Cain hates him for it.
7. TWO Lessons (Flesh/Religion vs. Faith)
In the ways of Cain, we as a race of men bang our heads trying to think of ways to please God and make ourselves more acceptable to Him, but it’s never enough. It never can be enough. But, this is man’s wisdom which is insufficient for our needs. The Bible (God) says:
1Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God;
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
And if you are trusting in anything that you have done to be acceptable to God, you are severely mistaken. It wasn't acceptable to God then, and it isn't acceptable to God now, for He never changes. Do not trust in your works, your efforts, your accomplishments, your success; your fruit of the ground. But by faith in the finished and complete sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 19:30), which God has accepted (comp. w/ Acts 17:31), approach God.
From the story of Cain and Abel we can see:
Two sons
Two careers
Two offerings
Two responses
Two choices
Two examples
Two lessons
Which teach us that we are faced with two paths in this life: one path is paved with pride; the other by faith. Which path are you walking today?
