Cain, The Gateway To Sin And God’s Mercy At Every Corner
I’ve been reading Genesis for my devotion and recently became engrossed in chapter 4 when I came across a passage I’ve tricked myself into believing I know. I’ve heard and skimmed over its multiple times, the story of Cain and Abel.
The story of Cain and Abel seems a simple one, Cain a farmer of the ground, his brother Abel, a keeper of sheep. both offer to God, but Abel’s offering pleases God whereas Cain does not. Verse 5 puts it explicitly, “but for Cain and his offering God had no regard”. This in turn makes Cain very angry and ultimately, he resorts to killing his brother. This is the gist of it and how I’ve told it in the past, but I’ve found that the story is so much meatier. Cain reveals to us the gateway to sin, how one sin unfolds another and how it all ultimately begins at the heart.
The first thing I notice is that both brothers give an offering, one pleases God and the other God has no regard for. We know that Abel’s offering because he gave generously, verse 4 “Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions and the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering”. This act from Abel gives us a window into his heart for God as well as for creation. Abel loved God enough to give him the very best of what he had. Cain on the other hand, just gave fruit, and I believe it is safe to assume it was not the very best of his fruit. Verse 7 says, “if you do well will you not be accepted” which gives us the impression Cain did not give his very best, this also shows us his heart, which appears contrary to that of Abel who gave in faith, love and generosity. Cain withheld the best of what he had from the Lord but chose to keep it for himself.
Then when he is not rewarded his face fell not because of shame but because he had given himself over to anger, yet God still speaks to him gently. This also show us God’s heart, he is not dismissive of Cain but rather attends to him in a gentle manner also taking note of his emotions. In the second part of verse 7, the Lord tells Cain that sin is crouching at the door and it desires to have him, but he must rule over it. We don’t get a response from Cain, but his anger suggests two possibilities, perhaps he feels he has been treated unfairly though evidence suggests otherwise, the Lord has been merciful Secondly there seems to be a desire for what his brother has, the blessing and favor from God, which feels a tad bit ironic as his behavior towards the Lord thus far has seemed quite irreverent.
In verse 8 we see Cain asking his brother to come with him to the field and then, he revolts against him and kills him, the sin that was crouching at the door, now rules over him. In verse 9, the Lord asks Cain about his brother, again he responses without reverence when he utters the words, “Am I my brothers’ keeper?” What is worth noting is that the Lord does not ask this question due to a lack of awareness of what Cain has done but rather as an extension of mercy, an opportunity for Cain to repent. An opportunity Cain has dismissed time after time.
In verses ten to fourteen we see the Lord finally give Cain, his various punishments, from being cursed from the ground, till being a fugitive and a wanderer of the earth. Yet amidst all punishment, when Cain cries, “my punishment is greater than I can bear “and relays his fear that as he becomes a wanderer of the earth anyone who finds him will kill him. The Lord extends his hand of mercy once more and says, “Not, so”, the Lord then put a mark on Cain, that gave him protection over those who would wish to kill him.
We see now, how this is more that just a story about how a man overpowered by anger and jealousy, to the point of murder. There is a lesson to be learnt, if not multiple. Here we see that sin that goes unrepented will almost always invite other sin, with Cain it starts with his heart, then pours out as anger then ultimately murder. What we also see is a God that wants us to repent and flee from sin, at every corner God speaks to Cain and offers him an opportunity to repent, he also warns Cain that sin desires to have him, he pleads with him to rule over it, but Cain fails and ultimately gives in to sin.
The story of Cain and Abel reminded me of just how merciful God is, in this passage we see it in the way he attends to Cain, ultimately, we see it when he sends Jesus to die for us on the cross.
