Sin Takes Root Series

August 31, 2024

Last week we were introduced to the Villain. He planted the seeds of distrust and rebellion through the power of an idea – God cannot be trusted. The central question in the rest of the story will be, “Who is telling the truth – God or the Villain?

One thing is certain, sin moves quickly and takes root without much effort – shame, fear and blame were its first leaves.

Time goes by….. Cain is born. Once again, the Hebrew poses a problem for scholars. Most translations read something like this, “I have brought forth a man child with the help of the Lord.” However, there is another option that points back to the promise God made to Adam and Eve regarding the coming Savior. The translation, “I have received a man-child – the Lord,” suggests that they believed Cain to be the promised Savior….. How wrong that belief would prove to be.

Abel followed soon after. The Bible tells us that Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil.

The sin weed sprouts a few more leaves: self-righteousness, anger and resentment.

One day, Cain and Abel brought offerings to God: Cain brought the fruits of the soil. Abel brought the choicest parts of the firstborn of his flock. We are told only that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but did not accept Cain’s.

Hebrews 11:4 indicates that faith is what drove Abel to bring the sacrifice that he did. Faith in what? Faith in the “hoped for, but not yet seen” atoning sacrifice of the promised Savior. Pointing us back again to God’s promise in Genesis 3:15.

Cain – on the other hand – brought the work of his own hand. By doing so, he was making a statement, “I don’t need a Savior. I am my own savior. I can take care of the problem myself.”

This was very much in keeping with his parents attempt to cover their nakedness by sewing fig leaves together.

Popular religion and the world want us to believe that we really are NOT that bad, we CAN be good enough in ourselves, we don’t NEED transformation ---- in other words: righteousness by me. Righteousness by my own effort.

Scripture paints a decidedly different picture…………..

This is an important concept because until we believe what God says about himself – that he IS holy – and what he says about us – that we ARE that bad and sin IS that deadly and only the death of Jesus can fix the problem – we will never take hold of the remedy he has promised – to cleanse us and heal us and transform us.

Genesis 4:5 - So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Despite Cain’s strong reaction, God, personally, reached out to him:

Genesis 4:6-7 - "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

This was a preemptive strike on God’s part. Attempting to get Cain to see his sin and repent of it before sin could get a deeper hold, “sin is at the door. It desires to have you, but you must master it.”

Despite God’s direct intervention, another leaf sprouts: pre-meditated murder.

Genesis 4:8 - Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Again, God chose to engage Cain directly, “Where is your brother?”

Did God know what had happened? Of course he did. God was not looking for information, his question was intended to lead Cain to the recognition and repentance of his sin.

How did Cain respond? “I don’t know…. Not my problem.”

Clearly Cain had opened the door to the sin waiting outside.

Abel’s blood cried out for justice - God declared judgment on Cain - and another leaf sprouts: sorrow for the consequences rather than sorrow for the actual sin.

Instead of repenting, Cain cries that the punishment is too severe and then proceeds to misquote God:

• God said – “The ground will no longer yield food for you and you will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

• Cain said – “You are driving me from the land. I will have to hide from your face. I will be a restless wanderer AND whoever finds me will kill me.”

Despite his lack of repentance, God still extended grace to Cain and placed a mark of protection on him. Did this do anything to soften the heart of Cain or lead his descendants to follow God? Not necessarily.

-The Genealogy of Cain and those who did not follow God-