1. V A N I T Y , V E X A T I O N O F S P I R I T !
Ask what is vanity and vexation of spirit.
V A N I T Y , V E X A T I O N O F S P I R I T !
Life outside the garden is hard, all too quickly the natural man becomes weary, and without God, life is empty.
Adam and Eve start with hope, but as this chapter unfolds, the way back is difficult, long, and prone to failure.

2. HOW DOES EVE HERE SHOW HER FAITH?
Gen.4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain <7014>, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
7014 Qayin {kah'-yin} AV - Cain 17, Kenite 1; 18. From 7013 “qayin” spear. They thought Cain would smite the serpent.
“eth Yehovah” =“I have gotten a man, the Yahweh” Unfortunately the translators poorly translate v.1 because of their understanding of the meaning of Yahweh (“he who shall be”).
Eve thought Cain was (“eth Yehweh”) “the he who shall be” showing her faith in God’s promise but she is not the only one to make this mistake, Rev. 12.
1Jn.3:4-5,8,11,12 sin is lawlessness and of the devil in not loving his brother.

3. WHAT seems to SHOW CAIN & ABEL WERE NOT TWINS?
Gen. 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel <1893>. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
1893 Hebel {heh'-bel} AV - Abel 8; 8, (Abel = breath, emptiness, vanity, transitory).
The meaning of the name Abel. It would take time for them to feel the “empty”, “transitory”, “vanity” of life. which is the meaning of the name they gave Abel.
It would appear that Cain’s job was what God wanted, Gen.3:23.

4. QUESTION --– WHY was it “more excellent”?
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent <4119> sacrifice than Cain, …
4119 pleion {pli-own} AV - more 23, many 12, greater 5, misc. 16; 56
God requires we worship Him in spirit and truth. Cain’s “spirit” attitude wasn’t right and his sacrifice wasn’t as complete as Abel’s. (or as appropriate)
He didn’t bring the “best” he had as Abel did.
In Mosaic law the blood is a type of the life, and the fat, the inner man, namely the attitude. God requires that our giving must be in spirit and truth. Cain’s offering was lacking in both.
Today’s Church is all love and no truth.

5. Two Religions Law based - Cain Outward veneer of following
rules and instructions.
No emphasis on quality of
of service.
Does not promote love
Of the ground (works based) and not the best
Principle-based - Abel
Bases on the principle of God manifestation
Based on principle of a willing heart
Based on principle of sacrificing self for others
First and fat (best) of the offering & principle of sacrifice.

6. WAS IT THE OFFERING OR CAIN that GOD DIDN’T RESPECT?
Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect <8159> unto Abel and to his offering: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. <8159> And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
(8159 sha`ah {shaw-aw'} AV - look 5, respect 3, dismay 2, turn 1, regard 1, spare 1, be dim 1, depart 1; 15)
ANSWER: Both, v.5 “unto Cain AND his offering”.
John 4:23 “…when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”

7. The story of false religion
Outward appearance of truth
Law-based legalistic
Envy/anger
Judgmentl towards others
Persecution
Murder

8. The Same Old Sad Story Cain versus Abel Ishmael versus Isaac
Esau versus Jacob
Sons of Jacob versus Joseph
Saul versus David
Princes, priests prophets and people versus Jeremiah, Jer.26
Scribes, Pharisees and chief priests versus Christ
Saul versus ecclesia
Beast system versus saints

9. Important doctrinal observation
Today there is the common notion:
Believe in God, & worship Him your own way
But Cain believed in God
And Cain sacrificed to God
Yet God rejected Cain’s sacrifice
for We must worship God in spirit and in truth!

10. HOW DO WE MASTER THE WILD ANIMAL NATURE WITHIN?
Gen. 4:6 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 master it." (NIV)
Scripture makes skillful use of the question approach. The point is that sin is crouching as a wild animal and you must master it.
Scripture loves to personify words. Sin is personified as a wild animal which you must rule over. v.7, “blood”as crying in v.10 and earth opening her mouth v.11.
ANSWER: By following Jesus who countered his nature by: (a) the power of scripture, (b) the hope, the joy set before him and ultimately (c)
by crucifying it.

11. The Accusation of Blood The judgment seat of Christ!
Murder:
The Accusation of Blood
“What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” 4:10
What was Cain’s response?
Selfish -- They will slay ME!
Self-sympathy – my punishment is greater than I can bear.
What makes this come alive for us?
The judgment seat of Christ!

12. Crime and Punishment Adam Cain
and he ate it… and they hid from the LORD God
Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him
“Where are you?”
“Where is your brother?”
“The woman you put here with me - she gave me…”
“I don’t know… am I my brother’s keeper?”
“Cursed is the ground because of you”
So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden
“[the ground] will no longer yield its crops for you. ”
So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence… east of Eden.

13. ARE WE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER?
Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper (2:5 keep – Jews kept the garden but devour and put Jesus to death)?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Who is my brother?
The parable of the Good Samaritan, Lk.10:29- says we are.

14. How appropriate was Cain’s punishment?
Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; (cp Gen 3 and Cain cursed as the serpent.)
Psa. 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Cain was cursed from receiving benefits from the ground, from enjoying the fruits of it or being able to settle and dwell in it.
The ground was cursed having received the blood of his brother.
The ground was where Cain’s offering came from and where Abel’s blood went..
This curse forced Cain to become a fugitive and a vagabond and to say his punishment was more than he could bear. Spiritually Cain couldn’t produce fruit.

15. WAS CAIN’S PUNISHMENT MORE THAN HE Could BEAR?
Gen. 4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength (use up the ground Lk.13:7); a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment (guilt) is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Cain saw in his punishment more than what God had declared. He saw himself hid from God’s face which meant that he saw himself excluded from redemption.
Trying to kill Cain was real. Under Mosaic Law it was the duty of the avenger of blood. Today it is the justice system.
Back in Cain’s time we do not know what the Edenic laws were for murder but they must have been severe for God puts a mark on him.

16. Cain as an allegory of Israel
Legalistic outward veneer of true religion
Persecuting spirit against the true believers
Inability of religion to bear fruit
No removal of inquity/guilt
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins

17. WHAT WAS THE MARK SET UPON CAIN?
Genesis 4:15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark<226> upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
226 'owth {oth} AV - sign(s) 60, token(s) 14, ensign(s) 2, miracles 2, mark 1; 79
Rev.13:16 speaks of a mark in their right hand and forehead but the Revelation is a book of sign and symbol.
Genesis is first literal, therefore this mark is thought to have been literal.
There is no direct Biblical support for what this mark was. It has been suggested it may be a serpent because of :
John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, …” which points back to Cain a “murderer from the beginning”.

18. IT IS THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL PLACE OF WORSHIP located on the edge of the garden of Eden WHERE THE CHERUBIMS AND FlAMING SWORD WERE.
Gen.4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod <5113> on the east of Eden.
5113 “Nowd” = wanderings
What happened to
Israel – wandering Jew

19. WHERE DID CAIN’S WIFE COME FROM?
Genesis 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
Bible genealogies do not mention the birth of daughters.
Cain must have married his sister and Scripture, not wanting to establish a precedent, does not give the details.
Cain built it, but his punishment as a vagabond and fugitive meant he didn’t live in it, nor was it called by his name.

20. T I M E M A R C H E S O N !
Gen.4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. [20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. [21] And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. [22] And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
Here is the introduction of polygamy contrary to the one flesh of Gen. 2:24.
Introduction of commerce (Jabel), pleasure (Jubel) and power (Tubalcain).
What is wrong– Jude 14 – building, instruments nothing wrong but used an ungodly way = kingdom of men.

21. Who else used the figure 70 X 7
Gen.4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. [24] If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
(Companion Bible) “I can kill a man for wounding me, and a young man for hurting me.”
Jesus who turned this boast of pride of killing to forgiving! (Mt. 18:22 – forgive 70X7)
What a contrast between the seed of the serpent and that of the woman!
This means that if Cain’s death would be avenged 7 fold, Lamech was so powerful that if anyone tried to kill him his death would be avenged 77 fold. Lamech was warning people that he could kill whenever he wished, and people better watch out if they thought to try to avenge the death.

22. Seed of the woman Seed of the serpent
Gen.3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; …
James 4:4 know ye not that the friend-ship of the world is enmity with God?

23. SEED OF THE SERPENT (CAIN) CONTRASTED TO THE SEED OF THE WOMAN (SETH).
John 8:44 Ye (non-believing Jews) are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He (Cain) was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Jesus builds on the natural division in the beginning.
Important question: In the time before the flood, what happened to this division, to Seth’s seed?
Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God (woman’s seed) saw the daughters of men (serpent’s seed) that they were fair; and they took them wives of all …

24. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called<7121> his name Enos: then began men to call <7121> upon the name of the LORD.
7121 qara' {kaw-raw'} AV - call 528, cried 98, read 38, proclaim 36, named 7, guests 4,invited 3, misc. 21; 735
Identical phrase: Gen.12:8 … and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
It is thought prayer was introduced as distinguished from earlier worship where man talked with the angels, (Gen. 3:8-19; 4:1-7).

25. Life outside the garden is hard, vain, and vexation of spirit but there is hope and a way back.
We must not become weary, empty and without God but, as Jesus did, make God’s word our meditation, counter our nature and with God’s help grasp the tree of life.

26. THE FOUNDATIONS ARE IN GENESIS TO:
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

27. And the foundations are all in the book of Genesis!