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Food for Thought: Cain: Am I My Brother's Keeper?

From the "Bad Boys of the Bible" series ...

Dr. Mark Ruppert

Genesis 4:1-16

Last Sunday we began our series on “The Bad Boys of Scripture” as we looked at the story of Adam and Eve, our first parents, and how sin came into the world as a result of their disobedience towards God. As a result of what is called “The Fall,” Adam and Eve lost their innocence and now have knowledge of good and evil. They now must live under the consequences of having eaten the forbidden fruit. Now they know rejection and exile. They must make their own way in the world because they have been cast out of the garden and are not permitted to reenter. They now know hardship, limitation, sorrow and pain. And it is into this environment, this now changed world that their children, Cain and Abel are born. And so today, we look at the story of two brothers: Cain and Abel.

What significance is there in a name? The name Cain derives from the Hebrew word “ to get, to produce, to create.”

Why Eve even said after she bore Cain in verse 1, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Every time a baby is born it should remind us that babies are born for spiritual as well as sexual and volitional reasons. And the birth of a baby should remind us all that God is still creating and He is not through with humankind. After Cain she bore Abel and his name in Hebrew carries the connotation of “ vapor, breath, transitory.” His name is almost prophetic for it may signify the fleeting, temporary, almost meaninglessness of Abel. Even from the get-go this family is being set up for the possibility, for the opportunity of the burning embers to grow into a full-fledged fire called ENVY.

What did each one do for a living? Cain was an agriculturist for his occupation is farmer, Abel was committed to a pastoral lifestyle, his occupation is that of shepherd. They are both connected to the land.

Although we read that after Cain kills Abel he becomes an architect for it says in Genesis 4:17 , “and he [Cain] built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch.”

So let’s spend some time pulling apart this story with its many life-lessons. First, there is a lesson about WORSHIP. Both brothers realize and recognize that there is one greater than themselves and so each of them brings an offering to God. I know that when I have read this story in the past I have overlooked the fact that there was a genuine dedication to the Lord on the part of Cain. We read that Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions.” Forget for a moment that Cain’s offering was not accepted and Abel’s was, both brothers showed forth some degree of gratitude to God for the blessings of their labor. And yet is it fair to assume that they offered their sacrifice separate from each other? Did they each set up their own altar rather than one? Very possible!

And if that is the case how sad, how sad that they could not worship God together. Maybe that has carried down throughout the centuries as Christians of different colors, different branches of the church, even different tastes and styles have separated rather than joined together under the name of Jesus Christ.

But, moving on, a problem arises. Cain’s offering of fruit from the ground is rejected and Abel offering of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions is accepted. Why did God accept one and not the other? People have speculated and tried to pinpoint the reason suggesting that it was that one contained blood and was accepted and the other did not. Others have said that God was looking at the heart-the attitude of the worshiper—rather than at the specifics of his offering. Even in worship people are capable of deviant behavior and attitudes. (The Communicator’s Commentary, Genesis, Briscoe, p. 73)

So even in worship, the time when people are to be connecting with God, our hearts might not be in the right place. We might come with the wrong attitude, we might have an issue with another worshipper and there is, excuse the expression, “bad blood” that causes a breakdown in human relationships, which also spills over into a breakdown in our relationship with God. There is a lesson to be learned from Cain and Abel surrounding worship.

Second, there is a lesson on SIN, and the CHOICES we have each day. In this story Cain is free and very capable of faithful living, but there is something very powerful that is lurking at the door-SIN. Cain is upset that God has rejected his offering. There is no indication of how Cain learns of this but he does. God knows that Cain is angry because his face betrays him.

My family tells me all the time when I am upset or angry or riled, all they have to do is look at my eyebrows and my facial expressions. Verse 6 tells us that Cain’s countenance has fallen.

And what does God do? God gives him a way out. In verses 6-7 God warns him about this change in his being and the danger of the sin that is seething in his heart. It is as if a father speaks to his child, knowing that the child is at a point to choose right from wrong and the father wants to give the child a way out before it is too late. God says to Cain in verse 7, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” God does not explain why He has rejected Cain’s offering but God gives him a choice.

How many times have we been on the brink of sinning, we haven’t crossed the line, we know that the next move could take us over the hill and we know it will lead to sin, and yet we give in? We let it master us rather than us mastering it. There are warning signs all around us- people who love us giving us good, godly advice; God’s Word that gives us a map on where the danger zones of life can draw us into destruction; people that we know have taken a similar path and it has lead to heartache and pain; past experiences. Daily choices are in front of us all to do good or to do evil.

Look at verse 7 again. Do you realize that the word “sin” is mentioned here in the Bible for the first time? In this passage “sin” connotes an offense and its subsequent penalty. The problem for Cain is that, like his father Adam in the Garden of Eden, Cain does not enter into a dialogue with God. Cain does not question God about the divine choice; he does not argue with God to try and find out why Abel’s offering and not his is accepted. He does not try to understand his brother. He is silent, he is passive.

So what does Cain do? He invites his brother into an open field, he brings him onto his turf, his territory and he commits the first murder in the Bible. You will notice that after he kills his brother God comes calling. God’s question is not, “Where are you, Cain?” but rather, “Where is your brother, Abel?”

Let me make a strong observation right here and that is Responsibility before God is responsibility for the brother. And in this very question from God I would suggest to you that it is a social question. And listen to Cain’s response that has been the response of many a people when they want to shirk their responsibility to those whom God created who are less fortunate, who are not “like us” and who might look and act different than you or I, Cain’s response is the response of many, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” There is a huge sermon ready to be preached on this verse 9 especially for the church that is serious on being a missional church in the 21 century.

Cain sins, he makes a terrible choice and kills his brother out of anger, jealousy, envy and there is a price to be paid. The punishment is laid out in verses 10-12 and yet the punishment doesn’t seem to fit the crime.

Cain is cursed from the ground that now contains the spilled blood of his brother; the earth that is now contaminated with human blood will not yield fruit without difficulty; and we read that Cain will be a fugitive and a wanderer of the earth. When you think about it, his punishment is similar to his father, Adam’s for the earth was no longer friendly and abundant for Adam or his wife Eve. The earth is now a source of suffering and hardship. And the human family continues to drift further and further away from the God who desperately wants them to make the right choices.

We finally hear from the lips of Cain. He finally speaks. Oh, that he would have spoken up before he committed his sin but he was silent. He says in verse 13, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and an wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.”

Here is a man who now has concern for his own life, too bad he didn’t have concern earlier for the life of his own brother.

Which leads me to my third point of this story. God doesn’t let go of the UNRECONCILED brother, Cain. God hates the sin but shows love and compassion for the sinner, even if he is unrepentant. Does Cain show any sorrow or remorse? No! He only complains about the punishment. Cain realizes that a life away from God is a life that God no longer protects and once God with draws His hand from him, others will come after him. The story does not end with a condemned murderer. And now we come to a crucial point in the story- Cain does not have the last word, God does, who puts a mark on Cain, it is the mark of protection. Cain received the first tattoo. On the one hand the tattoo announces the guilt of Cain and on the other hand it marks Cain as safe in God protection. This story is a lesson about guilt and the reality of grace. There are consequences for our actions but there is a gracious, loving heavenly Father. Do we know the grace of God? Have we experienced the love and grace and forgiveness of a God who will always be there with outstretched hands, ready to welcome us back even when we have strayed from Him?

Each day we have choices to choose good or to choose evil. Sometimes we make the right choices, sometimes we don’t. We all fail, we all fall short. The question is when we mess up are we going to stay down or are we going to confess and get back up and try again? Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” But Paul goes on to say in Romans 5:8, “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” And he says in Romans 5:11, and now I am reading a paraphrased version, “Now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done in dying for our sins—making us friends of God.” You see, for us when we come to Christ there is new life.

The Bible is clear. When we violate a brother or sister it is a deadly act. And yet God’s will is for life. Cain is a dead man and his mark, his tattoo, is definitely not resurrection for this dead man. But it is an anticipation of resurrection. It tells us that God is not going to forget about the murderer or give up on him. And the good news is that God will never give up on us. Christ said John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Do we have life in Christ? If we don’t we can? Just ask Him into your heart today. Amen.

Key Points

Introduction: Adam and Eve, their children Cain and Abel

What significance is there in a name?

“Cain” comes from the Hebrew word to get, to _______, to ______

“Abel” carries the connotation of vapor, breath, ________

This family is being set up for the possibility of the burning embers to grow into a full-fledged fire called__________

What did each brother do for a living?

The life lessons of the story of Cain and Abel

First, there is the lesson about _________ 

Second, there is a lesson on _______, and the _______ we have each day

God gives Cain a way out vs. 6-7

Responsibility before God is responsibility for the brother

The punishment vs. 10-12

Third, God doesn’t let go of the ___________ Cain

This story is a lesson about guilt and the reality of ______

Conclusion: Christ said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Do we have life in Christ?

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)