The First Violent Criminal

“And Cain…rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (Genesis 4:8-9)

Genesis 4:1 says, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man from the LORD.” (Genesis 4:1) God had promised them a Redeemer after they’d sinned. Eve may have thought Cain would be the Redeemer. She also gave birth to Abel not long after. As the Bible says, “…Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” (Genesis 4:2) So Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer.

As time went on, the boys grew into young manhood. They offered sacrifice to God: “…Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.” (Genesis 4:3) Abel also brought “…of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” (Genesis 4:4) Genesis 4:4-5 also says, “And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.”

Here is why God respected Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. Adam and Eve were both looking forward to the coming Redeemer. We know that because Eve said she had gotten a man from the Lord. It’s also fair to say that Adam would have instructed both sons on how to offer sacrifice properly, not just Abel. How else would Abel know to bring a firstborn lamb, “…the firstlings of his flock…” and the fat? They had likely seen Adam do sacrifice this way throughout their childhood years, but when they became old enough to offer sacrifice on their own, Abel was obedient but Cain was not.

When God disregarded Cain’s offering, “…Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4:5) If Cain had obeyed, God would have respected his offering. God told Cain, “If thou doest well, shalt not thou be accepted?” (Genesis 4:7) God warned Cain not to sin by offering a disobedient sacrifice: “…and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” (Genesis 4:7)

Genesis 4:8 goes on to say, “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and…Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Why did Cain kill Abel? What did Abel do? Was this a crime of passion, committed in a rage? Maybe. Yet 1 John 3:12 tells us, “…Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” Cain was unrepentant about his disobedient, self-willed sacrifice.

Cain also showed his disdain for God when God asked him where Abel was and he said, “I know not: am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) What a blasphemous reply! God, of course, knew what had happened. He even showed mercy in sparing Cain’s life after he murdered his brother, yet in the end, Cain showed no repentance toward God: “…Cain went out from the presence of the LORD,” (Genesis 4:16)

Abel sacrificed obediently, trusting that God would provide a Redeemer to atone for his sins. In that respect, his sacrifice was a preview of the death of Jesus, who would atone for our sins by dying on the cross. Cain’s disobedient sacrifice, however, was based on trusting in his works to earn him favor with God.

Many people, sadly, are like Cain. They’re not murderers, but they think their works will gain them favor with God and get them into heaven. Yet Isaiah 64:6 says, “…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;” Works can never atone for sin. Don’t trust your works to get you to heaven. Jesus already paid the atonement price of death for you, was buried, and rose again. If you are unsure you’ll be in heaven but you want to be sure, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”

Brian Miller 1/9/2021

Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822