Cain and Able

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In Chapter 4, we learn that Adam and Eve had three sons, Cain, Abel and Seth.

  1. Cain was the first son. He was a farmer. He brought fruit, which he had grown, as a sacrifice to the Lord.
  2. Abel was the second son. He was a shepherd. He brought the "fat portions" of the first born of his flock as a sacrifice to the Lord.

The Bible says, "The Lord had regard for Abel's sacrifice but no regard for Cain's sacrifice". Why did God accept one sacrifice and not the other? What was indicated about these two men by these sacrifices?

  1. This was their means of worship. It established a direct line of communication between man and God which had been broken when sin came into the life of Adam and Eve.
  2. It should have been done out of the desire to please God, not out of necessity.
  3. As in any worship, the hypocrites may be found and many times seem to be "outdoing" the best of God's people.
  4. God is no respecter of sacrifices. His acceptance or rejection is of the worshipper not the sacrifice.

Cain brought his sacrifice first and probably with as much ceremony as did the Pharisees, but Cain was a wicked man. His sacrifice was an act of vain obligation. Abel was a righteous man; he brought only the best that he had. His heart was right with the Lord and his worship was sincere and humble. Therefore, God accepted his sacrifice and rejected Cain's.

The result is well known. Out of jealousy, Cain killed Abel. Then God pronounced judgment upon Cain.

  1. The ground would no longer yield to him its fruit.
  2. He would be a fugitive and a wanderer for the rest of his life.
  3. He would never again see the face of the Lord.
  4. His burden would be so great that he would welcome death but death would not come. Anyone that would slay Cain and put him out of his misery, would be cursed seven fold.

The chapter ends with the listing of the descendants of Cain. We are not told where he got his wife, but it is presumed she came from the land of Nod.

Adam and Eve had a third son, Seth. He was God's appointed and through him came the generations of Christ.

So we see that the major theme of these two chapters, chapters 3 and 4, is "God's Judgment".


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