Genesis 4—Cain and Abel I. How does Genesis three compare to Genesis four? The following chart will help us to see the contrast: Genesis 3 Genesis 4 The Beginning of Sin The Progress and Fruit of Sin Sin in the First Family Sin Spreads to the Family of Man Sin Against God Sin Against Fellowman Enmity Prophesied Enmity Evidenced

II. What is the general outline of chapter four? A. The Birth of Cain and Abel (4:1-2) B. The Two Offerings (4:3-5) C. The Response of Cain (4:6-7) D. The Murder of Abel (4:8-10) E. The Curse on and Punishment of Cain (4:11-16) F. The Progeny of Cain (4:17-24) G. The Birth of Seth (4:25-26)

III. How does the conflict between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the Woman begin in Genesis chapter four? A. The Two Sons 1. The Birth of Cain (Gen. 4:1) a. The name “Cain” means “acquired” or “possessed.”

Various translations of verse 1: I have gotten a man for the Lord. –Lamsa With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man. –NIV I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord. –NAS I have gotten a man—the Lord. –Beck

b. Cain was a tiller of the soil (Gen. 4:2). c. Cain would end up being a huge disappointment.

2. The Birth of Abel (Gen. 4:2) a. The name “Abel” means “breath” or “vapor” (Jam. 4:14b). b. Abel was the first shepherd. The word “keeper” literally means “feeder.” c. Abel’s eventual death would mean another huge disappointment for Adam and Eve.

B. The Conflict of the Two Seeds 1. Satan obviously interpreted the birth of Cain in a similar way to that of Eve. He saw this new child as a threat to him. 2. With the birth of Abel, Satan began to worry even more and developed a plan. He would fill the heart of Cain with pride and use him to kill His brother Abel. Eve bore another son, Seth, who became the head of the new godly line from which Messiah would come (Gen. 4:25-26). The name “Seth” means “appointed.”

IV. What does Genesis four reveal to us about worship? A. Three foundations for worship Genesis four gives the foundation or basis for all future worship in both the Old and the New Testaments. It teaches us three things: 1. God is to be worshipped. 2. God is to be worshipped on the basis of sacrifice and the shedding of blood. 3. God is to be worshipped by faith, that is, according to His prescribed order.

B. Three aspects of worship 1. A place for worship a. God had established the Gate of Eden (Gen. 3:24). This was a place designed to keep the way to the Tree of Life. This was the place that had the cherubim and the flaming sword.

This was a place where they could commune with God (Num. 7:89; I Sam This was a place where they could commune with God (Num. 7:89; I Sam. 4:4; II Sam. 6:2; II Kgs. 19:15; I Chr. 13:6; Ps. 80:1; 99:1; Is. 37:16). This was most likely the place where they set up family altars to offer sacrifice to the Lord. b. Cain and Abel brought their sacrifices (Gen. 4:3-4a). There was a place to bring them.

2. A time for worship (Gen. 4:3) Barnes states, “This may denote the end of the week, of the year, or of some longer period. The season of the year was probably the ingathering, when the fruits of the earth and the firstlings of the flock would come in, and when it was not unnatural for the first family to celebrate with a subdued thankfulness the anniversary of their creation.”

Clark’s Commentary states, “…it is more probable that it means the Sabbath, on which Adam and his family undoubtedly offered oblations to God, as the Divine worship was certainly instituted, and no doubt the Sabbath properly observed in that family.”

3. A way of worship God’s way of worship was simple. Man could only present Himself before God on the basis of blood sacrifice. That is, man could only come by faith in the shed, innocent blood of another.

C. The two offerings of worship 1. The offering of Abel was acceptable. It was acceptable because: a. He came God’s prescribed way. b. He came through the shed blood of the Lamb. c. He came with the right spirit and attitude.

2. The offering of Cain was unacceptable. a. He came with the works of his own hands (Is. 64:6). b. He came with the product of the cursed earth (Gen. 3:17, 4:2). c. He offered a bloodless offering to the Lord (Ex. 12:13, 23; Heb. 9:22). d. He came with a certain pride in his heart. Question: How did God show his acceptance or approval on Abel’s offering?

V. What were the sins of Cain that led to the curse on him? The Bible warns those who follow after the way of Cain (Jude 11). What is the way of Cain? Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain… A. Cain’s first sin was to come to God on his own terms. B. Cain’s second sin was a stubborn refusal to repent when confronted by God with the truth (Gen. 4:6-7).

1. When God confronted Cain He gave him an opportunity to recover. 2. When God confronted Cain He was at a vulnerable moment. C. Cain’s third sin was to kill his brother Abel rather than repent and change (Gen. 4:8). D. Cain’s fourth sin was to lie to God about what he had done (Gen. 4:9).

VI. What became of Cain? A. Cain and his works were cursed by God (Gen. 4:10-14). B. Cain would end up as a fugitive on the earth (Gen. 4:12, 14). The land of Nod literally means “wandering” (Gen. 4:16). C. Cain received a mark (Gen. 4:15). D. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord (Gen. 4:14, 16).

E. Cain became the father of the ungodly seed line (Gen. 4:17-24). Question: Where did Cain get his wife?