WHOSE TO BLAME FOR THE WAY CAIN TURNED OUT?
Gen. 4:1-16
Morning Meditation 5/18/2015
Genesis 4:1-16, "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. 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: 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. 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. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: 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 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.. 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. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."
Did Adam and Eve fail in the way they trained Cain? Who is to blame for the way he turned out? Let's take a look at the story and see if we can get some insights.
ADAM AND EVE CREDITED GOD WITH GIVING THEM CAIN
This is brought out in Gen. 4:1: "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." Some have believed and taught that Eve thought that this son would be the "Promised seed" who would redeem and restore man in her day. Let's note the following:
1. Children are an heritage of the Lord was believed by Adam and Eve. Psalms 127:3, "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
Adam taught his sons about the LORD. He instructed them in the proper approach to the Lord in worship. Hebrews 11:4, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." Nothing can be offered by faith without a divine revelation. Abel's offering was offered by faith in the offering of a blood sacrifice.
God intervened personally to correct Cain's wrong sacrifice. 1 John 3:12, "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." Cain is identified in Scripture as being of "that wicked one." Jude 1:11, "Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core." In Jude Cain's way has developed to where it is called "the way of Cain." I take that to mean a theology of works and rebellion against God. Cain refused to repent. Any religion who takes repentance out of the gospel is going in the way of Cain.
2. Some of the characteristics of Cain:
- He got mad if he didn't get his way; vs 5.
- He lost control in his displeasure toward the Lord because He would not accept Cain's offering.
- He was jealous and vindictive; vs 8.
- He was very selfish. He had no respect for others; vs 8.
- He refused to accept responsibility; vs 9.
- He was a liar; vs 9.
- He believed God was unjust; vs 13. And he was a whiner.
- He was a worshiper of Satan; 1 John 3:12.
- He taught a false way; Jude 1:11.
3. Why Cain turned out the way he did:
- Not because his father failed.
- Because he made a wrong choice; vs 3.
- Because he refused to correct his sin when given the opportunity. He stands at the head of those who blatantly reject God's offer of grace.
WHERE DOES GOD PLACE THE BLAME FOR CAIN'S WICKEDNESS?
1. He does not blame the father or mother.
2. He blames Cain; Genesis 4:7, "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."
3. He punishes Cain, not Adam, for his sin; Genesis 4:11, "And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;"
4. Every man will stand before God and give an account for his own sins. God has the record. The only possible way to avoid this certain judgment is to trust Jesus, God's Lamb, who is pictured in Abel's sacrifice. There is no salvation apart from the blood; Hebrews 9:22, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
