Show Fresh Respect - Genesis 4:1-16, 25-26 - January 18, 2009

Sunday School Lesson – Show Fresh Respect – January 18, 2009

This is lesson three (3) in our Bible study entitled “Do You Need a Fresh Start?”

Our scripture is Genesis 4:1-16, 25-26.

This lesson focuses upon the importance and preciousness of life. We began our series of study on January 4 with Psalm 19. David wrote of the glory of GOD and everywhere a person looks he or she is reminded of the handiwork of GOD. To me the greatest handiwork of GOD is the human body. It is the very body each of us live in every moment of every day. It is wonderfully made and extremely intricate. We can eat food and it is converted into energy that keeps our body functioning. We can see, hear, smell, taste and feel. Each of these senses is extremely complex but we do not have to understand how they work to use them and enjoy them. Just think you are living a miracle of GOD’S handiwork. When we were conceived we grew in our mother’s body and breathed embryonic fluid until we were birthed. We went from breathing fluid to breathing air in a matter of seconds.

Life is wonderful and sacred. Yet many of us take life for granted. We read in the newspapers and hear through the media of all the lives that are taken each day. Our society has rationalized that the life conceived in a mother’s womb is not a person until it is born. But if that life is left to grow, mature and be born it is a living person.

I know some reading this study may have had an abortion and may feel the guilt of having an abortion. When we confess the wrongs we have done in life and ask GOD to forgive us, HE does. That is why CHRIST came into the world. HE shed HIS blood to cleanse us of all sin when we acknowledge HIM as our SAVIOR. HIS blood saves us from eternal death and washes away all sin and keeps all believers whiter than snow for all eternity. Our scripture deals with taking a life. This is the first murder and it came at the hands of a family member of the first family.

Let’s read Genesis 4:1-2:

1 Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.”[1] Lit the Lord 2 Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land.

These verses give us a quick summary of the first family. Adam and Eve’s firstborn is a son who they named Cain meaning “I have acquired” or “I have made” and their second child is a son who they named Able meaning “breath”.

The scripture fast forwards and we learn that Cain was a farmer and Abel raised sheep.

Let’s read Genesis 4: 3-8:

3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord.[2] Ex 23:19; 34:26; Neh 10:35 4 And Abel also presented [an offering]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. —some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast.[3] Lit and his face fell 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why are you downcast?[4] Lit why has your face fallen 7 If you do right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[5] Sam, LXX, Syr, Vg; MT omits Let’s go out to the field And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

I used to get out-of-sorts about this story thinking how unfair GOD was to find Abel’s offering more acceptable than Cain’s offering. But we have to look at the attitude of each brother’s heart toward GOD. Produce was an acceptable offering as well as the offering of an animal. But notice that Cain presented some of his produce whereas Abel presented the firstborn from his flock, the best. The attitude of each giver is important to GOD. GOD looks upon the heart when a person gives an offering to HIM. It is important to GOD that we give out of love, respect, a willing heart, honor and worship to HIM. It is all about the attitude of our heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7: 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Hebrews 11:4 also gives us information how GOD looked upon Abel’s offering:

4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain[5] Gn 4:3–5 [did]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. . By this he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through this.

Notice the word “offering”. Abel offered an offering that would not be reproduced. Once the animal was offered or sacrificed that was it and Abel had to depend upon GOD to replace what was offered to increase his sheep fold. This reveals that Abel depended upon GOD to take care of him and willingly gave the best to GOD. It was a matter of the hearts of both Cain and Abel.

GOD knew Cain’s heart and confronted Cain about his attitude and what he was harboring inside. GOD knew what was coming but HE did not stop it. GOD gives every person, including believers, the right to choose. When we choose we are also accountable for the choice we make. GOD knew the heart of Cain. GOD tried to engage Cain in a conversation regarding his innermost thoughts and feelings toward GOD and his brother. That was Cain’s opportunity to tell GOD that he was really mad at HIM. GOD already knew it but gave Cain the opportunity to confess it which could have opened the opportunity for healing. GOD told Cain that if he changed his attitude and did right, GOD would accept his offering or else the jealousy crouching in Cain’s heart would result in sin.

GOD gave Cain an opportunity to confess his innermost thoughts and feelings. It was an opportunity for Cain to master his feelings toward his brother and GOD. Cain had the opportunity to be the big brother that takes responsibility and be willing to obey GOD. GOD urged Cain to “do right”. Instead Cain took matters into his own hands. Cain’s flesh solved the problem and concluded that eliminating Able would make his offering acceptable to GOD. Cain eliminated the competition. Jealousy blinds us and leads us to do things we will likely regret. Jealousy will consume a person and rob him or her of the joy of living. For a believer, it robs him or her of the joy of the LORD in his or her life. Believers can become very jealous of fellow believers and especially when the LORD works in their friends lives in a mighty way. If that happens in your life, you need to ask the LORD to show you your heart. Such feelings reveal the fact that you are out of fellowship and relationship with GOD and both need to be restored.

When Cain took action against Able, he was striking out at GOD.

Believers often get angry with GOD and want to hurt HIM by taking their anger out on others. When believers have these inner feelings, it is wise for them to ask GOD to show them their heart. They may need to seek Christian counsel to deal with their feelings.

This is why we must seek to have and maintain an intimate, loving relationship with GOD. We must die to self and allow GOD to direct our lives. When the flesh rules it means trouble. GOD did not overrule Cain’s right to choose, neither does HE overrule ours. But we are responsible for our decisions and the consequences for our decisions.

Based upon this scripture we know that GOD and Cain communicated with each other. Believers also communicate with GOD and have the right to choose. Do we depend upon GOD, WHO tells believers, “Vengeance is Mine says the LORD.” or do we depend upon ourselves?

When GOD, through the HOLY SPIRIT, reveals our heart, do we take it seriously and seek to do something about what is revealed? GOD could be offering us an opportunity to “do right” before we do something “wrong” and not only violating GOD’S desire for our lives but also man’s law and having to suffer the consequences.

Let’s read Genesis 4: 9-12:

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! 11 So now you are cursed [with alienation]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed.[6] Lit blood from your hand 12 If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”[7] Dt 28:16–18; Isa 26:21

GOD knew that Cain had killed Able. But GOD asked Cain “Where is your brother Abel?” GOD knew the answer but HE gave Cain an opportunity to confess and ask for forgiveness. Cain’s answer revealed that his heart had not changed. Cain first lied, “I don’t know,” then he gave, what seems to me a smart-alecky reply, “Am I my brother’s keeper or guardian?” Sin compounds itself. Cain sinned by murdering Abel and then lied to cover it up. It revealed that Cain did not know GOD as being omnipresent or omniscient. Nothing is hidden from GOD, not even our innermost thoughts. GOD already knows all there is to know about us so do not try to hide anything.

GOD let him know that HE knew everything. Cain may have thought GOD would have protected Able since Able seemed to be more favored by GOD. Cain prided himself in raising products from the ground and the very thing he prided himself in and apparently loved to do, GOD took away. Cain’s action resulted in Abel’s blood being absorbed by the ground he loved to cultivate. Cain did not want to cultivate a relationship with GOD or his brother, Abel.

GOD told Cain that he would be a restless wanderer and if he tried to work the land, it would never produce a crop for him. That means he would have to depend upon other farmers for his produce. There is no mention of what he would do for meat. Does that mean Cain would raise animals? We do not know but it would not surprise me if Cain became a shepherd. It would be a constant reminder of his sin.

Let’s read Genesis 4: 13-16, 25-26:

13 But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment[8] Or sin is too great to bear! 14 Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”[9] Nm 35:26–27 15 Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case,[10] LXX, Syr, Vg read Not so! whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.”[11] Or suffer severely And He placed a mark[12] Ex 9:4; Rv 13:16–17 on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. 16 Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
25 Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for [she said,]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. “God has given[14] The Hb word translated given sounds like the name Seth. me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of[15] Or to worship, or to proclaim or invoke the name of the Lord.

Cain still thought GOD was being unfair to him. He did not repent.

Unrepentant sin drives a person from the presence of GOD. Cain said he had to hide from the presence of GOD. Cain still did not get it. GOD is everywhere. The attitude of our heart can block us from fellowship and relationship with GOD. It can also open the flood gates of joy when we seek GOD’S forgiveness and our desire is for our relationship to be restored.

Cain was now very concerned with his own mortality. He wanted GOD to protect him. He was worried about people killing him. GOD showed him mercy and placed a mark on him to identify him and forbade anyone from killing him. GOD let it be known that should anyone kill Cain he or she would suffer the vengeance of GOD seven fold. Cain left the presence of GOD and went to the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Many wonder what mark GOD placed on Cain. I have heard many speculations but none seem plausible to repeat. We do not know but the offspring of Cain seem to follow a life of crime. Cain’s descendants are covered in verses 17-24.

We need to note that the mark GOD gave Cain was given to him to protect him. Cain had committed an awful act but GOD still showed him mercy. This in turn shows us the heart of GOD.

Adam and Eve had another son who they named Seth. Eve looked upon Seth as a gift from GOD to replace Abel. But those who have lost a child know that another child, although a blessing, will never replace the child that has gone to be with the LORD. CHRIST gives us the joy of knowing that one day we will be united with our loved ones when we enter heaven.

The last part of verse 26 reveals that the people began to call upon the LORD which means they began to worship GOD. Did the people see GOD in a new light when HE dealt with Cain, the first family’s firstborn? GOD does not have favorites. Sin is sin. If CHRIST had sinned then HE would have been dealt with by HIS FATHER. HE would not have been the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind.

Genesis 5:4 tells us that Adam and Eve had more children:

4 Adam lived 800 years after the birth of Seth, and he fathered sons and daughters. 5 So Adam’s life lasted 930 years; then he died.

Keep in mind that GOD loves children. JESUS said in Matthew 19:13-15:

13 Then children were brought to Him so He might put His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Then Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is made up of people like this.”[5] Lit heaven is of such ones 15 After putting His hands on them, He went on from there.

Life is precious and sacred from conception until we die naturally. Life is a gift and every person must respect life. GOD’S Word allows us to defend ourselves and protect our family.

Just think how wonderfully made the human body is. We all live in a miracle upon earth. This is why I call our bodies our earth suits. It is the only thing that gets us around earth and ties us to earth. When a believer experiences the miracle of rebirth, GOD has chosen for them to remain on earth to be HIS witness and to obediently serve HIM. When our earth suits die our spirits go immediately to be with GOD, until CHRIST returns to earth the second time. At that time all believers will receive their glorified bodies for eternity.