The Widening of the Gap
Gen 4:1-16
Cain and Abel
1 The man knew Eve his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Cain, and said, “I have gotten a man with Yahweh’s help.”
- Eve, (life-giver)
- Cain, (a lance; as striking fast)
2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 As time passed, it happened that Cain brought an offering to Yahweh from the fruit of the ground.
4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat of it. Yahweh respected Abel and his offering,
- fat (the richest or choice part)
- respected (a primitive root; to gaze at; by implication, to inspect, consider)
5 but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
- face (as the face the part that turns)
6 Yahweh said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen?
- angry (to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy)
- When we are not in good standing with a person, for whatever reason, it is hard to look them in the face and not feel some kind of negative emotion that causes us to want to turn our face away.
7 If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
- be lifted up? (figuratively, elation or cheerfulness; exaltation in rank or character)
- sin crouching (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal)
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.” It happened when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him.
- It seems like when a person desires to do what is right before the Lord there are those that are not satisfied just with doing evil but must persecute those that desire to do good to justify their evil deeds thus becoming even more evil and corrupt. 1 Jn. 3:11,12
9 Yahweh said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
- When you are not truthful with God things only become worse.
10 Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.
- We may be able to hide our sins from one another, but we are deceiving ourselves if we think we can hide our sins from God who sees all and has all knowledge of what we do and think.
- Deception will not let us be honest with others or even with our selves.
11 Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 From now on, when you till the ground, it won’t yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth.”
- strength (produce)
13 Cain said to Yahweh, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me.”
- driven (a primitive root; to drive out from a possession; especially to expatriate or divorce)
- surface (Lit. face)
- hidden (to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively)
- face (the face (as the part that turns))
- The effects of rejecting a relationship with God our creator will also affect our relationship with his creation.
- Cain was more concerned about his physical death than he was his spiritual death. 1 Tim.5:6
15 Yahweh said to him, “Therefore whoever slays Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” Yahweh appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should strike him.
16 Cain went out from Yahweh’s presence, and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
The cost of pride in our lives is beyond imagination. It will tear down, destroy and separate you from everything that is good and pure but, humility is like a salve that heals and brings life to any relationship. Mic 6:8
By Clint Griffith
Part 3 – The Choice Set Before Us