Let’s summarize what has happened to Adam and Eve since taking the fruit. and being cast out of the Garden of Eden.

• Paradise was lost
• Childbirth would be painful
• Perfect equality ended
• Work became wearying and tiresome
• Tree of Life is denied
• Lost fellowship with God

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. Genesis 4: 1-2

Because the ground is under a curse, Cain and Abel share in the work. The ordinance of sacrifice preceded Moses and the Law. It began when God killed the animal to cover Adam and Eve’s sin.

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. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. Genesis 4: 3-4

It was not easy for Abel to sacrifice one of his lambs. But through the atonement of the innocent lamb, Abel’s sins were forgiven, and he was able to have communion with God.

Cain is pleased with what he has grown, and decides within himself, to bring what he wants to offer, having full knowledge that God required a sacrifice.

But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 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.

Cain rejects God’s way, and chooses his own way. God did not favor Able above Cain, the sin-offering of Abel was the difference. Instead of accepting God’s requirements, Cain becomes angry with God – and then directs this anger towards his brother.

And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Able his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4: 8-9

CAN YOU HEAR THE SNEER IN CAIN’S QUESTION – AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?

And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground. And now thou art 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. Genesis 4: 10-12

 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. 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. Genesis 4: 13-15

This is the first murder, indeed, the first human death since the beginning. Cain was more concerned about his own punishment, than repentance and making things right with God. He expressed no grief over the murder of Abel. Does he worry about his parents? No. He only worries about himself.

Two significant things happened to Cain. God took away his ability to grow things – something he had been very proud of before. Additionally, God sent him away from his family, to become a vagabond and fugitive. Cain – belonging to the evil one – tried to take away God’s only method for man to reconcile with Him. The New Testament tells us exactly why Cain killed his brother.

10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as 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. 1 John 3: 10-12

THIS TRAGEDY DEMONSTRATES THE ENMITY OF THOSE THAT FOLLOW SATAN TOWARDS THOSE THAT FOLLOW GOD – THE WICKED ALWAYS HATE THE RIGHTEOUS.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. Psalm 37: 12

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. Psalm 37:32