Bible Study: Genesis

Lesson 5: Genesis 4 And 5: East Of Eden

Expanation of the Cain and Abel Narrative, Part 3

E. Reflections on the Cain and Abel narrative

1. Comparing and contrasting the fall with Cain and Abel

a. There are numerous features of both that lead us to look at them together:

i. The sin is quickly stated and conversation takes up most of the story. ii. God questions the one who has sinned. iii. The clothing of Adam and Eve compares with the mark on Cain. iv. The violators are dismissed from the presence of God.

b. There are also significant differences:

i. The dimensions of sin expand: it is no longer personal, it is social. ii. Sin is now within man; there is no tempter, evil arises from the heart.

c. The similarities bring the differences to our attention. The point seems to be that sin is growing, developing. It's scope and effects are gaining ground.

2. Cain's punishment

Cain's punishment corresponds to his crime. He has disrupted the life of the community by killing his brother. His sin had social dimensions. Therefore, Cain is exiled from the community, he is to be a wanderer. Notice also that Cain complains that he is not only being separated from his family, but also from the face of God. This may suggest that although Adam and Eve had been cast out of the presence of God, God was still among them. And now Cain would be separated from the people among whom God lived, therefore, he recognizes that he is also driven from God. This separation from God's people is later found in the Law as well as in the NT practice of excommunication.

3. applications

a. The first point to be made is that worship without faith and clean hearts is not acceptable to God. As mentioned earlier, the difference in acceptance lay in the heart of the giver. This is a common theme in the Old Testament. Because OT worship was characterized by outward displays, it was not uncommon to find many going through the motions without true faith. The prophets often spoke out against such hypocrisy:

i. "Hear the word of the Lord ... bring your worthless offerings no longer, ... even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of bloodshed. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight." --Isaiah 1:10-16

ii. "For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." --Psalm 51:16-17

b. As children of God we should always respond to God's chastisement with repentance. We can see this by the reaction of Cain. When his sacrifice is not accepted he is not repentant or sorrowful. Rather, he becomes angry. Faith would have accepted the rebuke and sought to improve. Likewise, when we experience God's correction we must not become angry or bitter, but repent and change accordingly. Hebrews 12:7-11 says, "It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? .... All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

c. Notice the anxiety that is characteristic of sin and guilt. When God banishes Cain, Cain panics, fear overcomes him. "'There is no peace for the wicked,' says the Lord" (Isaiah 48:22). "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing" (Proverbs 28:1). Only those who can rest in the providence of God can enjoy peace. Those that know they have guilt sense that they must somehow pay for that guilt, yet they do not know from where that retribution will come. Only forgiveness can bring peace (Romans 5:1).

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