Bible Materials

Genesis 4:1-26

by Paul Choi   05/12/2022   Genesis 4:1~26

BibleNote


CAIN REJECTS GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

 

Genesis 4:1-26 (Read 5:1-32)   Lesson 5

Key Verse: 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

The consequence of Adam’s fall succeeded to next generations.

Human society and city were established and developed with the increase of sinfulness.

This chapter teaches us how to deal with sin.

  1. Read 4:1-5.  Who were Cain and Abel and what sacrifices did each offer to God? Why did God accept Abel and his offering, but not Cain and his offering? (Heb 11:4) How did Cain react to God's rejection of his offering? What does this show about his view of himself and his attitude toward God?

Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. Both offered from each crop.

But God accepted Abel and his offering, but not Cain and his offering. Why?

Abel brought his firstborn and the best to God while Cain brought some of its fruit.

Exodus 23:19… “Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.”

What is better offering?  Better attitude---with gratitude and willingness.  The Lord God looks at our hearts while people look at outward appearance.

Luke 21:1-4; the Widow’s offering…this poor widow has put in more than all the others…

God accepted Abel first and his offerings.

Cain was angry because he did not accept God’s sovereignty. He did not accept God’s message. He was self-centered.

 

  1. Read 6-8. How did God counsel Cain? Why?  When Cain was angry and downcast, how did the Lord counsel him? What motivated the first murder? (8) (Jas 1:15)

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

God counselled Cain because he loved him even though he sinned. God always gives another chance to repent.

You must master (rule over) your anger, control your sinful desire, anger…We need anger management.

He did not listen to God’s gentle message of repentance, rather he followed his own emotion, evil desire.

We must listen to God and master our sinful desire, especially anger. If not, we may easily make mistake.

Love is not easily angered. 1 Cor 13:5.

Anger: Pro 14:29, 15:18. 2 Ti 2:22, Eph 4:26, 31, Col 3:8  1 Ti 2:8 Jas 1:19

Eph 4:26:  “In your anger do not sin…”

  1. Read 9-16. What does Cain's response show about his attitude toward God?  How did God punish Cain? How did he protect him? Describe Cain's life under God's curse. (11-16) What does it mean to be a restless wanderer?

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[f] east of Eden.

Cain didn’t repent. He made excuse to avoid God’s punishment. He lied that he didn’t know where Abel his brother was even though he killed him.

Cain was hidden from the presence of God. He was exposed to all danger and threat of death. He became a restless wanderer like a homelss.

A restless wanderer---he became slave to fear, fear of death.

God promised to protect Cain by giving him a mark---which guaranteed his safety.

  1. Read 17-26. Describe Cain’s descendants. What might have been Cain's motive in building a city? What does Lamach's family and life show about human culture without God? How are they different from Seth’s descendants? (4:25-5:31) What are the signs of hope in Seth's line?

17 Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. 19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of[g] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

23 Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.
24 If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.”

25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[h] saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on[i] the name of the Lord.

This is the written account of Adam’s family line.

When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind”[j] when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died. When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father[k] of Enosh. After he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died. When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 After he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Altogether, Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died. 12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 After he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Altogether, Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died. 15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. 16 After he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Altogether, Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died. 28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah[l] and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” 30 After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Altogether, Lamech lived a total of 777 years, and then he died. 32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Cain built a city in order to establish his own utopia. All human culture, agriculture, music, came through the descendants of Cain.

Seth means ‘granted.’ God gave Seth through Adam in the place of Abel. The descendant of Seth began to call the name of the Lord. They began to worship God and serve him, obeying God’s word.

 God continued the work of salvation through a woman’s offspring.


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