OceanSide church of Christ

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CAIN:  A LINEAGE DEPARTS FROM GOD

Genesis 4

Victor M. Eskew

 

1.    Titles

 

A.   A Tale of Two Sons

B.    Doctrinal and Moral Sin Discussed

C.   Corruption in the World Advances through Cain

 

NOTE:  The name of Cain appears 16 times in Genesis 4

 

2.    Key Verse:  Genesis 4:16

 

And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

 

Why this verse?  This was a literal departure in the text, but the words symbolize what actually happened to Cain’s lineage.  From him, a wicked people would develop on the earth.  The stage was being set for the battle between the ungodly and the righteous.

 

3.    Outline

 

i.               Cain’s Birth (Gen. 4:1)

ii.              Cain’s Brother (Gen. 4:2)

iii.            Cain’s Blunder (Gen. 4:3-7)

iv.            Cain’s Bloodshed (Gen. 4:8-16)

v.              Cain’s Brood (Gen. 4:17-24)

vi.            Cain’s Brother (Gen. 4:25-26)

 

4.    Lessons

 

A.   The sexual relationship is honorable within the bond of marriage (Gen. 4:1).

 

And Adam knew Eve his wife…

 

1.     Hebrews 13:4

 

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled:  but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

 

2.     See also Proverbs 5:15-19

 

B.    Children are a gift from God (Gen. 4:1).

 

…and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

 

 

1.     Psalm 127:3

 

Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

 

C.   Children within the same family will be born with different talents and different interests (Gen. 4:2).

 

And she again bare his brother Abel.  And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

 

D.   Just because one seeks to sincerely worship God does not mean that God accepts the sacrifice (Gen. 4:3-5a).

 

And in the 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.

 

1.     Cain was a tiller of the ground and brought of the fruit of the ground.

2.     The keys:

a.     In the text:  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?  And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door (Gen. 3:7).

b.    In the New Testament (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 speak-eth.

 

1)     Abel offered his gift “by faith.”

2)     Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).

3)     Abel heard what God authorized and that is what he brought.  Thus, he was accepted.

4)     Cain did not bring what God had authorized and was rejected.

c.    Many applications to worship:

1)     Day of the week (Acts 20:7)

2)     Instrumental music (Col. 3:16-17)

3)     Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:23-26)

4)     Woman’s role in the assembly (I Cor. 14:34-35).

5)     All that is done in worship to God (John 4:34).

 

E.    God rewards and rejects based on man’s obedience (Gen. 4:4b-5a, 7).

 

And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering:  but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect….If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?  And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.

 

1.     Many passages in the Bible reveal that God will judge us by our actions (Matt. 7:21; Rom. 2:6; II Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12-15).

Who will render to every man according to his works.

 

F.     Cain multiplied his sin with murder (Gen. 4:8)

 

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.

 

1.     The New Testament helps us to understand the “why” of Cain’s actions (I John 3:16).

 

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.  And wheref0re slew he him?  Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

 

2.     Jealousy and envy are very dangerous emotions (Prov. 27:4).

 

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

 

G.   An age-old question is asked in the text (Gen. 4:9).

 

And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?  And he said, I know not:  Am I my brother’s keeper?

 

H.   We cannot hide sin from God (Gen. 4:9-10).

1.     When asked about his brother’s whereabouts, Abel lied, saying:  I know not (Gen. 4:9).

2.     God’s response shows that He knew what Cain had done (Gen. 4:10).

 

And he said, What hast thou done?  The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

 

3.     God sees even our secret sins.  These will be exposed in judgment (Eccl. 12:14; Rom. 2:16).

 

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

I.     God holds men accountable for his actions and punishes his sins (Gen. 4:11-12).

 

J.    Two questions:

1.     What was the mark God placed upon Cain? (Gen. 4:15).

2.     Where did Cain get his wife? (Gen. 4:17)

 

K.   Murder continued through the lineage of Cain (Gen. 4:23-24).

 

L.    The lineage of Seth stands in contrast to the lineage of Cain (Gen. 4:26).

 

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos:  then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.