Remsen Bible Fellowship, 11/26/2023
Introduction
One of my favorite quotes is from the Puritan John Owen, “Be killing sin. Or it will be killing you.” He says this as a comment on Romans 8:13, where the apostle Paul writes: “For if you live according to the deeds of the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
That message that Paul wrote to the Romans two thousand years ago holds true today, and it’s the same sermon God was preaching to Cain 6,000 years ago. There is no older battle in humanity: you must rule your sin, master it, kill it. Or you will die. There is, to quote Hebrews 12:14, a “holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” And that holiness comes from putting sin to death, feeling tempted and mastering the temptation, saying no to sin and yes to God over and over, day in and day out. The Christian life is a battle, not against flesh and blood, but against the godless influence of the world, the lies of the devil, and the evil desires of your own flesh.
We left off last week with Adam and Eve being driven east of the garden of Eden, out from the presence of the Lord and the Tree of Life. And life got real ugly, real fast.
Two Paths: Honor the Lord, or Coddle Sin?
v1-7, ‘Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”’
If you remember from last week, Adam gave his wife the name “Eve”, because she would become mother of all the living. And the first two sons given to her are Cain and Abel. The name Cain sounds like the Hebrew for “gotten”, which makes sense in light of her words, “I have gotten a man [a son] with the help of the LORD.” Perhaps Eve was expecting Cain to be “the Seed of the woman”; the one who would crush the head of the serpent.
But we find out pretty quickly that Cain isn’t that sort of son. In the course of time - sometime after they are grown and responsible for themselves - Cain and Abel each bring an offering to the LORD. And they bring sacrifices in keeping with their respective occupations. Abel brings a sacrifice of his firstborn from their flock and their fat portions; Cain, an offering of the field.
At the end of v4 and into v5 we encounter words which ought to jar the modern reader: “the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.” God accepted Abel. And he accepted Abel’s sacrifice. But not Cain’s. This is a big deal.
You might think - isn’t God the kind of God who will just take whatever we bring? Isn’t he just happy with your intentions being in the right place? Well, here’s the thing: your intentions are never completely in the right place. Your heart is deceitful and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9-10). This works its way out in disobedience. And one of the most dangerous and pernicious forms of disobedience is when we are trying to obey in our own way, rather than doing what God has said. You see this in Leviticus 10 with Nadab and Abihu - two priests bringing incense offerings to the Lord. But it was unauthorized fire - some translations say strange fire. They thought they were worshiping, but weren’t worshiping the way God had instructed. What happened? Fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them (Leviticus 10:2). In 1 Corinthians 11, the church is celebrating the Lord’s supper - but not in the way God said to. And as a result, many had become ill and some were dying - judgements Paul sees as clearly coming from the Lord.
This strikes us as unfair, or offensive, even. How could God treat his worshipers in such a heartless way? But God does not owe anyone anything. God has never needed human offerings, sacrifice, worship, or service. You don’t add anything to God. And so for you to think you can call an audible, worship him your own way rather than his, and have it be accepted is thoroughly wrong-headed. To follow up what God said to Aaron (father of Nadab and Abihu), Leviticus 10:3,
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.
Aaron realized that he had no standing to be angry with God’s righteous judgment. His sons may have thought they were doing something good with that incense, but they were in fact disregarding the holiness of God, by ignoring what he had said, to “worship” in their own ways.
This is very easy to do. Ask yourself: when looking for a church, or making a decision, or pondering the direction of my life: what clear commands of God am I looking past or ignoring? That can be a very revealing question, and can redirect you back to the Scriptures in helpful ways. Don’t go looking for confirmation of what you already think or a proof-text for what you feel like doing. Just open the book and ask God to make clear what you ought to do. If you don’t know how the Bible applies to your situation, ask a godly friend to help you think those things through. Pray with your spouse and look at the Bible together. Ask God for the wisdom you need, and then go to the Bible to find it.
Turn to Hebrews 11:4.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
What we read there is that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice because it was offered in faith. How can we see that Abel had faith? The author of Hebrews couldn’t see Abel’s heart any better than you can. But there is evidence of Abel’s faith right there in the text of Genesis 4: “He offered a more acceptable sacrifice.” His faith acted in a way that obeyed what God had said. We aren’t given the details behind the sacrifice; but given the nature of Abel’s sacrifice (firstborn of the flock, with its fat portions - very similar to later sacrifices) it would seem God told them what to bring. But Cain, instead, brought his own products. He’s bringing it to God, true enough. But he’s worshiping on his own terms, according to his own feelings about what he ought to do. And God won’t accept it.
And so Cain grows angry and is downcast. But God isn’t impressed with Cain’s pity party: “if you do well [that is, if you trust and obey], will you not be accepted?” Did Cain have any right to be angry with God? No. He had not “done well.” This is an important lesson for the children here - children of all ages - if you are corrected for being wrong, you have no right to pout over that fact. You need to own up to your failure, repent of your sin, and cling to the promises of God for forgiveness. And then walk away from the sin.
God then gives a sober warning: “And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
That language of desire and rule is the same as we saw last week in chapter three. As the woman would desire for her husband’s place of authority in the home, and that desire was against their best interests, so now sin would desire for Cain and those desires would not be for his good. And like the continuing fact of Adam’s rule in the home regardless of Eve’s desires would then create conflict, so there ought to be conflict between Cain and his sin as he seeks to Master and rule temptation.
But Cain didn’t do that. He ignored the sin crouching at his door. Instead of ruling and killing his sin, the sin killed him. But not before it killed someone else.
Cain’s Tragic Choice
v8-9, ‘Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”’
This is where sin leads - ever downward. Cain refused to heed to admonition of the Lord, he allowed his feelings to drive his actions. Instead of repenting of his sin, he turned in on himself and grew bitter - which led to murdering his brother Abel. We don’t know if Cain went to the field intending to kill Abel. Maybe that was the case. Or it simply could be a matter of having a conversation about the sacrifice, and Abel says something to the effect of: “if you trust the Lord, you will obey him. Even in the details.” Which then enrages Cain to the point of homicide. We don’t know.
We do know the aftermath: God approaches Cain again and asks for the whereabouts of Abel. Like in the garden, God doesn’t need the information. This is a chance for Cain to come clean and repent. Instead, he tells a lie in the form of an excuse: “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Friends, do not coddle your sin. Do not treat your sin as precious. It may seem small right now - some pouting about a “lack of acceptance” on God’s part, perhaps - but it will grow and have deadly consequences.
God’s (Gracious) Judgment
v10-16, ‘And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.’
What we are seeing in this chapter is essentially a second fall narrative, as we see the sin introduced by Adam and Eve spreading to their progeny. And the consequences also repeat: the ground itself is crying out against Cain on account of Abel’s blood. Cain perhaps thought he would get away with his sin, he was away from the presence of other people out in the field, maybe he even buried the body trying to hide evidence. But the ground itself cries out. There is no hiding your sin from God.
God then tells Cain that the very ground from which he derives his living is going to stop yielding for him. He had been a worker of the ground, but it would “no longer yield up its strength.” The curse given to Adam, that work would be difficult, is increased for Cain - it would become nearly impossible to farm and live. He would be forced to take on a nomadic life.
Cain thinks that this is too great a burden to carry - “but I’ll have to keep wandering around, and someone out there might kill me!! How could you, God?”
We need to soak in the irony of this for just a minute. The first murderer is upset because of the potential that he might, too, be killed. Maybe he should have thought about that ahead of time?
But God is merciful in his judgments. He tells Cain in v15 that he will put a mark on him, such that any who see him will know not to kill Cain. He promises, even, seven-fold revenge on those who would harm Cain. But then, we read these devastating words in v16: “Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”
I’ve always loved Exodus 33. In that chapter, which comes directly after the golden calf incident, God tells Moses to lead the people into the promised land, vows to send an angel ahead to drive out their foes, but this all comes with a caveat: God isn’t coming with them. The people are too wicked to have God in their midst, so he’ll send them into the land of milk and honey, but away from his presence. And Moses’ response in v15 is wonderful: “if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” Moses would rather be in the wilderness with God than in the promised land without him.
What I hadn't noticed until looking at Genesis 4 closely, is that the people of Israel were essentially being offered the opportunity to be like Cain - taking a good gift from God, but not having the greatest gift God gives: himself. What did it profit Cain to gain the whole world - to keep living, and living with God’s protection - but to lose his soul? What would it profit you? You can’t cling to your sin and walk in the presence of the Lord. You must choose between the two. Will you serve your sin, or Jesus?
The Visiting Consequences of Sin
v17-24 ‘Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold,
then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”’
What happens in Cain’s line? Two distinct things: one, the continued growth of human dominion. The development of nomadic herders and city builders. Cain himself built the city of Enoch. Human labor develops to the point where leisure time becomes a reality - and Jubal and his family develop the lyre and the pipe, and begin playing music. This could be due, in part, to the technological advancements of Tubal-cain in the areas of bronze and iron. Sin is present, but man’s God-given mission to form and shape the world continues. These developments are good.
But make no mistake: sin is present, and growing. Lamech, the father of both Jubal and Tubal-cain, is a man of violence. Though God, graciously, had promised to take vengeance upon anyone who harmed Cain, Lamech trusts in his own power. He worships not the God of heaven above, but the god of his own strength. He trusts his own power to bring vengeance 11-fold of what God had promised for Cain. And this man of violence shows his conquering prowess and power by taking multiple wives (v19). This is an important point in Genesis - some look to the book of Genesis to justify polygamy specifically, or a fluidity of God’s law on sexuality more generally. But we have to see how the narrator presents the reality of polygamy. Who starts this thing? Lamech, seed of Cain, servant of the Serpent. When the patriarchs (Abraham, Jacob) follow in his footsteps, pain and sorrow are the results for their families. All sexuality outside the pattern of one man and one woman in the lifelong covenant of marriage is pictured - in Genesis, and all the Bible - as both sinful and harmful.
Cain’s sin had continuing consequences. In Exodus 20:5 God tells the people of Israel that he is a jealous God, who visits the sins of the fathers down to the third and fourth generation. When and where you fail to master the sin in your life, the consequences carry.
But God follows that statement with the promise of Exodus 20:6 - “but showing steadfast love to thousands [or, the thousandth generation] of those who love me and keep my commandments.” And we see this pattern in Genesis 4, as well.
God’s Promise Continues
v25-26, ‘And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.’
God’s promise is not thwarted by man’s sin. The author has been tracking the line of Cain, and looking at the terrible consequences of Cain’s decision to coddle sin rather than to kill sin and obey God. To be mastered by sin, rather than to master sin.
But now he cuts back to the line of promise. Adam and Eve have another son, Seth, who becomes the child of promise. And we know this is the case because it is in the days of his son Enosh that people begin to call on the name of the Lord. It would seem that the beginnings of formal worship begin in this generation. After the first humans had interacted directly with the Lord, after the introduction of sin the ceases to be the case (most of the time). Though there will be instances of people having direct conversation with God, the normative pattern becomes that he relates to us via his word, and we speak to him and call on him in prayer and praise.
We know that Seth’s line is the line through which Noah, and Shem, and Abram, and Issac, and Jacob, and Judah will all come. It is the line of King David and eventually, the Lord Jesus. This line of promise is not only the line which calls upon the Lord, but the line through which the Lord enters human history to become the second Adam. All we like Cain have gone astray. But if you will own up to that straying, accept that you are a sinner unable to bear the weight of your wickedness and rebellion, and by faith trust in Jesus to absorb the wrath you deserve, then you too can call upon the Lord.
Romans 10:9-13, ‘if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”’
Conclusion
Faith begets obedience, and obedience brings blessings. Abel was blessed even though it cost him his brother’s jealousy and his own death. He was considered righteous by faith and we will meet him in glory, the first martyr for his faith in God. Cain, in contrast, coddled his sin. He named it, stroked it, nursed it. And, like a baby lion, it eventually got big enough to eat him.
How are you treating your sin? Many in the world today look at their sins and they name them, identify with them, want to make peace with the sin in their lives. But in the Scriptures we clearly see that sin leads to death, and the fight to follow Christ is a fight which includes fighting the disobedience, rebellion, and self-righteousness lying at your door to consume you. Trust Jesus to forgive your sin. And then rely on his Holy Spirit to fight that sin every day until he brings you to glory, where you will be relieved for all eternity of sin’s presence.
Be Killing Sin