Cain Murders Able

Genesis 4:8–15
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Cain’s religion was characterized by four things:

1. Force (v. 8) - Before it was an hour old, Cain’s religion produced the first murder.

2. Falsehood (v. 9) - False religion in God’s name propagates a gigantic lie.

3. Futility (vv. 10-12) - False religion made Cain a fugitive and vagabond.

4. Fear - (vv. 13-15) - There was no repentance in Cain’s religion, just resentment.

Cain did not heed the warning of the Lord. Anger opened the door, and sin devoured him. The Lord brought Cain to trial immediately. After Cain kills his brother Abel he is questioned by God in a similar manner as his father was for the sin he had committed. Cain was evasive and claimed both ignorance and  innocence. Of course this was a lie and God knew all about this the same way He knows about everything we do.

The results of Cain’s sin and unrepentance were twofold (v. 12):

1. The ground would not yield crops when tilled by Cain which meant that he was driven away from his vocation of farming.

2. God condemned him to a life of ceaseless wander­ing and to seeking out a living in whatever manner he could.

Cain immediately complained to the Lord saying, “My punishment is greater than I can bear"  (v.13). The punishment troubled Cain, not the sin. Think of it, he has just killed his brother and now he is blaming God for being too harsh with him. People today are the same way. They complain about the trouble they have, when it is a result of their sinful way of living. Though totally undeserving Cain received mercy from the Lord who hated the sin, but loved the sinner.

Application

Perhaps one of the most  needed teaching in homes today is the fact that God sees and knows about everything we do. I need to constantly be reviewing this truth with people under my influence.