Genesis 4:1-15
4 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—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. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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 rule over it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[f] east of Eden
The first story after Adam and Eve have been exiled is the tale of two of their children. We know it so well that it is not as shocking as is should be to us. These brothers are working the land and each give an offering to God. Abel gives the first of his flock, while Cain gave some of his vegetables. The Lord blesses Abels offering but not Cain’s. He warns Cain that ‘If you do what is right (good), will you not be accepted (raised up)? But if you do not do what is right (good), sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Apparently the world is full of temptations to sin now and we must be on our guard against them.
What made Abel’s offering pleasing to God was not that it was larger or of a better material. It was that it was the first of his flocks. Abel gave God priority in his life and offered him the first portion of his income. This showed that he recognised that God was his provider. He did not take what he needed and leave the rest to God (as it seems Cain did) but he gave God the first of his herds. He wanted God to receive first, showing deference and honour to him. His offering was a rich act of worship, trust and honour. God blessed him.
Cain wanted the blessing but without the sacrifice. He wanted favour but without faith. As he saw God bless his younger brother he grew bitter and resentful. There is something ugly that happens inside us when we start comparing our lives with others. Jealousy divides and diminishes us. For Cain it led him to the first act of murder.
I wonder how Adam and Eve must have felt watching this unfold. Seeing the growing tension in their relationship, watching as one drew closer to God the other more resentful. Discovering the loss of their son at the hands of his brother. And knowing that it was their failure that led them here. This is the worst problem with sin. It is neither personal, nor private. It affects everyone around us and we see the echos of our sins affecting our children and their children.
Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
This is the way of the world outside the Garden.
• Where does comparison creep into your life? What is the effect?
• What does it look like to rule over sin?
