Stay in the presence of the Lord!
Cain’s mistake!
Let’s walk through Gen 4 tonight and see what we can learn from this powerful book.
I will expose the scripture verse by verse for you.
Genesis 4:1-24
[1]And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
Cain means possession, also the first man ever that was born on earth.
[2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Abel means Breath – He was the first man to loose his breath on earth in death.
[3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
What did he bring? Everything that he possessed, what he accomplished through His own hands.
[4] 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:
Abel brought what he had wasn’t His efforts. He leaded the sheep and now He brought in humbleness to the Lord that which belongs to Him anyway.
He was also faithful and obedient for God installed the blood sacrifice before this.
Genesis 3:7 and the eyes of them both were
opened, and they knew that they
Were naked; and they sewed fig leaves
together, and made Themselves aprons.
This was the best they could do out of their efforts. What would happen if I give you all here tonight a sewed pair of fig leaves and say that you’re not allowed to change them for next week? What will happen? Chaos!
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife
did the Lord God make coats
of skins, and clothed them.
T’was already here where the scripture pointed to the cross. Where Jesus would die for us and pay the price in full.
Note that there had to be blood for God to get the skins. This is interesting! Blood had to flow for man to get the skins to cover them. This blood will cover the sin of the people but only Christ’s Blood will cleanse.
Hebrews 9:12-14 Neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood he
entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption
for us.
[13] For if the blood of bulls and of
goats, and the ashes of an heifer
sprinkling the unclean, sanctified to
the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God?
This is why the Lord respected Abel’s offering. He knew about the blood offering. He could only shepherd the sheep.
[5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Face fell)
[6] 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.
God warns Him here that sin lies and waits and that he should reign over sin and not sin over him
Notice Cain’s rudeness! God talks to him and what does He do? Ignores Him!. He didn’t even hear those words.
(This is when you say to your children “Look at me when I’m talking to you!)
[8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
[9] And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
What a good question: Am I my brother’s keeper?
Note that he is already doing what his Daddy was doing.
What was that?
Defending himself just like Adam.
Genesis 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom
thou gavest to be with me,she gave me of
the tree, and I did eat.
One of two things happens when Holy Spirit convicts you:
You either:
a) Defend yourself.
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive
ourselves,and the truth is not in us.
Or you
b) Repent:
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.
The nature of man is to defend….. That’s why we need God’s nature. That’s why we need to be born again.
God wants you to repent.
2 Peter 3:9 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.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men every
where to repent:
Answer is Yes he was his brothers keeper. He needed to pray for and with his brother.
[10] And he said, what hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground.
[11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
Here comes a curse on Cain
[12] When thou till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Notice that now Cain is talking to God. He is having a conversation with God. Must be good for Him….. Show God’s mercy.
[13] And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
[14] 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 find me shall slay me.
God shows mercy here, but is waiting for those words! There is something missing, Cain! God is waiting for Cain’s repentance. You see I believe that if Cain had fallen on his knees and asked forgiveness that God would have forgiven hem.
You might say “But, pastor he’s murdered his brother!” That’s true, so God still forgive the murderer today.
15] And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slay Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
Have you ever heard of the mark of Cain?
Don’t want to sound clever believe lots got it wrong here….
Some say that it is the “Mark of Shame” but was not………
Mark of protection…. God gave him mercy….
Proof God likes to use marks.
Remember Israel in Egypt last plague.
Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood,
and strike it on the two side posts and on the
upper doorpost of the houses, wherein they
shall eat it.
Ezekiel 9:4-6 And the Lord said unto him, Go
through the midst of the city, through the
midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the
foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry
for all the abominations that be done in the
midst thereof.
[5] And to the others he said in mine hearing,
Go ye after him through the city,and smite:
let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
[6] Slay utterly old and young, both maids,
and little children, and women: but come not
near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin
at my sanctuary. Then they began at the
ancient men, which were before the house.
Now comes a devastating scripture:
[16] And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
I believe Cain had a change while in the presence of the Lord but now He left the presence of the Lord.
2 Thess. 1:9 Who shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the
Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Rev. 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that
overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
This is the same choice sinners take. They walk away from God, make His voice silent in their hearts.
This will also be their doom in eternity.
Notice that he chose his land away from the religious ones, as far as possible.
Rev. 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the
earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city: and fire came down
from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
[17] And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Builded a city
Now we know his intentions he is there to stay.
Went to the east side of Eden
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he
placed at the east of the garden of Eden
Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned
every way, to keep the way of the tree of
life.
He was chasing wealth—City Adam living in tents.
He settled in NOD meaning trembling –
Show of the uneasiness of his soul restless.
Here are his descendants.
Note that you will only find their names here, nothing more!
[18] And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
Except lamech! He follows in his great, great Granddads steps, with one difference He kills two people.
19] And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. [20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
[21] And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
[22] And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
[23] And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
[24] If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
Come my friends, don’t make the same mistake that Cain did . Stay in the presence of the Lord
