GENESIS CHAPTER FOUR ------------------- The consequences of the fall: All of Adam's posterity were cast under a curse with Adam. Men are born "totally depraved," that is they are born "dead" in their sins. Verse 1, Here we see the first use of the word "knew," relating to the act of coition. We see in Matthew's gospel that Joseph knew not Mary till after she brought forth Jesus. Mt 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Here we see the first man brought into the world under the curse. In chapter 3 we saw the beginning of sin in the world and now we see the progress and fruits of sin. { Cain: that is Gotten, or, Acquired } Verses 1-2, Cain and Abel, And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. {Abel: Heb. Hebel} {a keeper: Heb. a feeder} Verses 3-7, the correct manner of worship and the offerings brought. We see that Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the FAT THEREOF. Le 4:35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him. But Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering; but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. Abel's offering was brought in faith, which shows that he was trusting in the WORD of the LORD, or believed what he said. Heb 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. How could it have been by faith, unless God had spoken of the proper sacrifice before. Ro 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God. Cain became angry and his countenance changed. The LORD then asks him, Why was he angry? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted (or, have the excellency: as the firstborn, over Abel, as the rest of the verse implies)? If thou doest well: Or bring the proper offering. If thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door: Two common interpretations have been rendered here. Fist, that "sin" comes from the same Hebrew word translated "sin offering" else where in the scripture. The other is that if you do not bring the proper sacrifice then sin is "crouching at the door, and like a wild beast is ready to spring upon you and devour you." Gill and Pink both hold to this second view. Verse 8, The first murder. Jam 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. First we see Cain's lust for the wrong offering. Then we see sin, and anger arises, no repentance in his heart. It continues and brought forth death (Abel murdered). Verse 9-10, God questions Cain. Did God not know where Abel was? ("Where [is] Abel thy brother?") Had he not known what Cain had done? ("What hast thou done?") Of course He did! He said, "The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." It was the same as with Adam. God asked Adam, "Where art thou?" And then He asked him, "Who told thee that thou [wast] naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" And Cain is a totally depraved and non-elect, yet God questions him. 1Jo 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. False teachers are identified with Cain: 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. Crying BLOOD: This is the first mention of blood in the Bible. We see innocent blood being shed at the hands of the wicked. This is a picture of Christ's blood being shed at the hands of wicked men. Christ had only worked righteousness. Abel was a shepherd, Christ is our Shepherd! Abel's brother hated him without a cause. Christ's kinsmen (the Jews) hated him without a cause. Cain slew Abel because of envy. Christ was crucified because of envy. Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. Abel was slain by his brother according to the flesh. Christ was slain by his brethren according to the flesh. Abel presented a lamb. Christ, who is the "Lamb of God" sacrificed himself. The offering of Abel was by faith and God accepted it. The offering of Christ was by faith and God the father accepted it. Abel's blood cried unto the Lord. Christ's blood speaks better things. Why did they slay Him? Because their works were evil (religious as was Cain's) and Christ's works were righteous (as was Abel's) (1Jo 3:12). Just as Abel's blood cried to the Lord so too Christ's blood speaks to the Lord on our behalf. Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. In contrast: Abel's blood cried from the ground, but Christ's blood speaks from heaven itself. Abel's blood cried for vengeance, but Christ's blood cries for mercy for those for whom it was shed. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb 9:14) Verses 11-12, The curse placed upon Cain for his deed. Verses 13-15, Cain's complains of his punishment, as though it was more than he deserved. No repentance! No change of mind! The Lord sets a mark on Cain, so that none would slay him. Gill says, that the word translated "mark" is translated "sign" or "miracle" in other places. Gill thinks that it could be that the Lord gave Cain a sign or a miracle that assured him that none would kill him. Verse 16, Cain departs presence of the LORD. He is now departed from the presence of the Lord for all eternity, for we see no evidence that Cain was ever a child of the Lord. Nod = ""wandering" Not settled, but a wanderer. Speaking of the wicked: Job 15:23 He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where [is it]? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand. Isa 57:20 But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it CANNOT REST, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. ( Always "on the go" ) Verse 17-24, We see the offspring of Cain Verse 25-26, The birth of Seth, who's seed the Lord will come from. "For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew." (vs 25) {Seth: Heb. Sheth: that is Appointed, or, Put}