Genesis Ch. 4: Cain and Abel.

1. Gen 4:3-5

3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

1> First recorded Offering/Sacrifice to God

                a. It is not recorded whether Adam gave offering to God. (We assumed he did)

                                It is not recorded whether God gave any direction to Adam regarding the offering.

                                We assumed that God did although it was not recorded.

                                In detail direction was recorded in the book of Leviticus.

    b. It is possible Abel and Cain got direction about offerings.

                    We assumed that Abel followed God’s direction

                    We assumed that Cain did not follow God’s direction. (V7)

2> Abel’s offering: Acceptable to God

Abel’s action was righteous (1 Jn 3:12)

Abel offered better sacrifice. (Heb 11:4)

            Not because it was an animal

Not because it was the best of what he had.

            But because we assume that Abel did what is right

         we assume that Abel followed God’s direction regarding offering.

3> Cain’s offering: Unacceptable to God

Because he did not do what is right. (V7)

His actions were evil. (1Jn 3:12)

We assume that Cain received the right direction regarding offering from God.

But he did not follow God’s direction regarding offering.

4> Regarding Offering/Worship

1> the Sovereignty of God in worship

God has authority to accept it (V4) and to reject it (V5).

2> How to worship God?

According to His way: His direction. (Detail commands in Exodus, Leviticus)

                        Not according to our desires/cultures/demands

Not to make people happy or excited or welcomed

But do what is right before Him.

Worship should be God-centered, not human-centered. 

We must review the whole bible so that we can worship Him accordingly.

Gen 4:7

7 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.”

1> Cain’s offering was not accepted is because Cain did not do what is right. (False worship)

2> Sin:

: miss the mark; not able to meet the standard of God

            : lawlessness; break the law

3> You must master the sin.

                God demands us to master the sin; to do what is right.

                God is the absolute standard of what is good and what is evil.

Gen 4:15,16

1> Mark; he was under divine protection.

2> the Bible does not explain in detail about this mark.

What kind of mark is it, we do not know.

            Later, Lamech abused this mark of protection.  (v24)

Gen 4:17-24

1> Descendants of Cain: Unbelievers’ Generation

1. Adam; Cain, Abel, Seth

2. Cain: (Builder) killed his brother Abel;

received God’s mark for protection;

Built a city (Builders)

3. Enoch

4. Irad

5. Mehujael

6. Methushael

7. Lamech; bigamy (19); violent and murder, ( 23) mocking God’s grace (24).

8. Jabal: (Herdsmen) father of those who live in tents and raise livestock (20)

                Jubal; (Musicians) father of all who play harp and flute (21)               

                Tubal-Cain: (Artificers/manufacturers) forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron (22)

2> Cain’s descendants are those who God did not show His grace upon.

                They developed secular cultures without God.

                                They wanted to find the joy, true happiness without God.

                                                Our eyes and ears can not be satisfied without God.

                                                They continuously developed their own entertainment cultures.

                They corrupted more and more morally (v23-24)

                                Bigamy (V19); rebellion against God by violating marriage (Gen 2:24)

                                Violent Murder (V23)

                                Godless; Mocking God’s protection and grace (V24)