Genesis 4: Cain and Abel- continued destruction, increased corruption
on the face of earth; and we see that in Genesis 6.
Genesis chapter 4 has the following sub headings:
- The
birth, employment, and religion of Cain and Abel. (1-7)
- Cain
murders Abel, The curse of Cain. (8-15)
- The
conduct of Cain, His family. (16-18)
- Lamech
and his wives, the skill of Cain's descendants. (19-24)
- The birth of another son and grandson of Adam. (25,26)
[Malice in the heart ends in murder by the
hands. Cain slew Abel, his own brother, his own mother's son, whom he ought to
have loved; his younger brother, whom he ought to have protected; a good
brother, who had never done him any wrong. What fatal effects were these of our
first parents' sin, and how must their hearts have been filled with anguish!
Observe the pride, unbelief, and impenitence of Cain. He denies the crime, as
if he could conceal it from God. He tries to cover a deliberate murder with a
deliberate lie. Murder is a crying sin.
Blood calls for blood, the blood of the
murdered for the blood of the murderer. Who knows the extent and weight of a
Divine curse, how far it reaches, how deep it pierces? Only in Christ are
believers saved from it, and inherit the blessing. Cain was cursed from the
earth. He found his punishment there where he chose his portion, and set his
heart. Every creature is to us what God makes it, a comfort or a cross, a
blessing or a curse. The wickedness of the wicked brings a curse upon all they
do, and all they have. Cain complains not of his sin, but of his punishment. It
shows great hardness of heart to be more concerned about our sufferings than
our sins.
God has wise and holy ends in prolonging
the lives even of very wicked men. It is in vain to inquire what was the mark
set upon Cain. It was doubtless known, both as a brand of infamy on Cain, and a
token from God that they should not kill him. Abel, being dead, yet speaketh.
He tells the heinous guilt of murder, and warns us to stifle the first risings
of wrath, and teaches us that persecution must be expected by the righteous.
Also, that there is a future state, and an eternal
recompense to be enjoyed, through faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice.
And he tells us the excellency of faith in the atoning sacrifice and blood of
the Lamb of God. Cain slew his brother, because his own works were evil, and
his brother's righteous, 1 John 3:12. In consequence of the enmity
put between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent, the war broke
out, which has been waged ever since. In this war we are all concerned, none
are neuter; our Captain has declared, He that is not with me is against me. Let
us decidedly, yet in meekness, support the cause of truth and righteousness
against Satan] 1. Mathew Henry’s
Commentary on Genesis 4:8-15.
This is a
warning for all of us who read this because Cain lost all godly reverence and
fear and failed to walk in God’s ordinances. It is even possible to know much
Scriptures and failed to know the God of the Bible. Hypocritical professors of
God’s Word who dissemble and trifle with God very often does something
scandalous because the Word of God does not descend to their hearts to be
fruitful. Very often in this world we see such people throw off that form of
godliness because they have been a reproach and they finally end up denying the
power of God. Cain went away from God, God of all comfort and lost all his
comfort and dwelt in the land called Nod, which means “trembling” or “shaking”.
Cain was restless and uneasy in his spirit and this will be the finale of any
one who chooses to depart from God and do things on their own.
Conflict and turmoil and wickedness
continue to increase in the face of the earth. The first member recorded in the
Bible who broke the law of marriage was found in the generation of Cain. Cain’s
wicked race Lamach took for himself two wives and started worldly things and
broke the first Divine institution and its law and brought tremendous disgrace
to God. It is no wonder this pattern has continued in this universe ever since.
Wicked people set their hearts on the things of the world and they are very
industrious about doing those things because they are carnal. In today’s
context people want their children to be educated and getting high income jobs,
but only very few are keen on educating their children in the laws and the
ordinances of the Lord Most High.
When Seth was born, Adam and Eve were
comforted because the name Seth means “settled” or “placed.” It was from Seth’s
generation the Messiah; Jesus Christ was born who redeemed humanity form the
law of sin and death. It was awe inspiring to note, Cain was a wanderer and was
apostate; while Seth walked with God just like his brother Abel who was
murdered and from him came the true church. God gave Adam and Eve to see the
true revival of religion in their own family. In Christ and His Church are the
true religion and true settlement.
We have a
choice here to follow either the path of Cain or Seth. Where is our true
settlement?
End Notes:
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Book References:
1. Millard
J. Erickson. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids
2. R.T.
Kendall. Understanding Theology,
Developing a Healthy Church in the 21st Century, 1996, p. 357-364.
3. Jay E.
Adams. A Theology of Christian
Counseling, More than Redemption. Grand
Rapids
4. Louis
Berkhof. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids
5. Robert P Lightner. Handbook
of Evangelical Theology, Historical, Biblical, and Contemporary Survey and
Review. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1986, p.527-544.
6. Charles
Ryrie. Basic Theology. Chicago
7. A. H. Strong. Systematic
Theology. New Jersey
8. Wayne Grudem. Systematic
Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids
9. Steven
W. Waterhouse. Not By Bread Alone, An
Outlined Guide To Bible Doctrine. Amarillo: Westcliffe Press, 2007,
p.188-191.
10. John
Theodore Muller, Th.D. Christian
Dogmatics, A handbook of Doctrinal Theology for Pastors, Teachers, and
Laymen. St. Louis, Mo: Concordia Publishing House, 1934, p.384-386.
11.
Prayers To Move Your Mountains. Nashville
12.
John White. Parables, the Greatest Stories ever Told. Illinois
13.
ESV Study Bible. English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, Wheaton , Illinois
14.
The Matthew Henry Study Bible. King James Version. Iowa falls: World Bible
Publishers, Inc. 1990.
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