After they were kicked out of the garden, Adam and Eve had to learn to live in a world that wasn't perfect anymore. They had to learn to live with a spouse that wasn't perfect anymore. And they had to learn to raise children who wouldn't be perfect.
Genesis 4:1-2- And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Adam and Eve had twins! The very first children on the earth. Can you imagine? I wonder how Adam and Eve felt when they started fighting, or when they cut themselves and hurt themselves, or when they were untruthful. I'm sure it was a little sting to them every time their children committed a sin.
Not only did Adam and Eve have to learn to live in this new world, but so did their children. Abel and Cain seemed to be two totally different people. Cain liked the dirt. He loved to plant seeds and watch them grow. He enjoyed harvesting the fruit of his labor. Abel liked the animals. He was a keeper of sheep. He spent his days protecting them, guiding them, making sure they had enough to eat. Totally different!
Not only were they different in their professions, but they were different in their approach to God.
Genesis 4:3-4a- And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
Here they both bring an offering to the Lord. The Bible doesn't tell us if Adam and Eve offered to the Lord, but their boys learned from somewhere how to do this. But God has his own way of doing things, and He has his own rules that He goes by.
Genesis 4:4b-5- And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
God had shown Adam and Eve in the garden that a sacrifice of blood was required to cover their sin- remember the lamb? God had a certain way for man to ask for forgiveness, and He expected his way to be followed. This made Cain very mad!
Genesis 4:6-7- And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
God didn't want Cain to get mad! God wanted Cain to learn from his mistake so he would grow- it was another life test! God told Cain that there was a proper way for Cain to ask for forgiveness. But, he also warned Cain that there was a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. You see, when we sin we get the consequences of sin laid on us, and they don't go away. They get into every area of our lives and slowly ruin us until either we repent or we die.
What was God's way of asking for forgiveness?
Leviticus 17:11- For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
You see, the blood that flows through our veins gives us life. If we lose too much blood we can die. The only way to cover sin is with blood- blood gives life. That's why Christ had to die for us. He had to shed his blood so we could get our sins covered and receive life.
God told Cain all he had to do was bring blood and he would be accepted. Do you think Cain listened?
Genesis 4:8- And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
I wonder what Cain and Abel talked about. It always makes me curious- was it peace talks, was it about the exchange of goods, what was it that made Cain so mad? I don't know. But, I do know that Cain got so upset that he killed his brother.
This was the first human death in the Bible. A brother killing his twin. And guess who knew? God! God sees everything, remember?
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?
Did God really lose track of Abel? Nope. Again, God was giving Cain the chance to confess his sin, just like he did with Adam and Eve. But Cain hadn't learned that lesson either.
Genesis 4:10-12- And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Oh no! The consequences of sin. The punishment of sin. Cain lost what he loved. He liked dirt, planting, growing things. Now, the earth wouldn't grow things for him. He also had to leave his parents. He lost everything!
Do you think he knew he would lose everything? Probably not. We don't always know what the consequences of our sin will be until we start reaping the punishment. I can guarantee you this- sin always costs us more than we want to pay. It destroys our lives. It destroys others lives!
Think of poor Adam and Eve! They lost both their sons! Abel was dead and Cain was a fugitive. I bet they didn't think they'd have to pay that much for disobeying God. But they did. Sin always hurts us for a long time!
Oh, now Cain was sorry! He was afraid of the consequences.
Genesis 4:13-14- And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 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.
God's punishment for Cain was for him to live with the guilt of what he had done. He had to learn a lesson. And it would be a very hard lesson to learn!
Genesis 4:15-16- And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
God put a mark on Cain. It was a mark that everyone could see, and that everyone would know what it meant! What do you think it was? Many people think God turned his skin black- like a birth mark. The Bible never tells us what the mark was, but I do know that it was on him the rest of his life. How do I know? Because that's how long the consequences of sin can effect us!
