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Genesis 4:10-12: They call me the wanderer.

One simple thought today: Augustine observed, our hearts are restless until they rest in you. He was, of course, speaking to God in this phrase. He had lived a bit, shall we say, but he had come to see that in his heart there was a ‘God-shaped hole’ that only God Himself could fill.

Ever since Cain, man has found himself to be a ‘’restless wanderer on the earth.’’ That’s what sin does. But when men begin to ‘’call on the name of the LORD’’ (26b), they find their solution.

PRAYER: Thank you that Jesus fully satisfies.

Genesis 4: 10: God knows.

^“10 The Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. “

Maybe Cain hoped to hide what he had done, as many murderers have done since. But nothing happens behind God’s back. He knows and He cares.

God knows all the martyrs, even if they have been cruelly despatched, and their bodies hidden away, as was Abel’s (Revelation 6:9-11).

It’s surely significant to note that the first righteous man (or man of faith) in the Bible, became a target of attack precisely because of His walk before God. He was ‘’persecuted for righteousness sake’’ (Matthew 5: 10-12). He was murdered; in fact, you could say he was martyred. This is the beginning of persecution.

From this point onwards, all people of faith and good works, who follow in Abel’s line, are to know that they cannot expect an easy ride from the ‘Cain’s’ of this world. We should not be surprised if we are abused, and if we experience hostility for HIS Name’s sake. We may well be called on to pay the ultimate price out of loyalty to Jesus.

PRAYER: These are sobering thoughts Lord. None of us like the thought of facing extreme persecution. But may we never lack the courage to stand up for you.

Genesis 4:8-9: Mutual responsibility.

^“8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.  ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’  ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’” NIV UK

‘’Am I my brother’s keeper?’’

 I think, instinctively, everyone knows the answer to this question. We have a mutual responsibility for one another as human-beings. How much more so among the ‘household of faith’? (Galatians 6:10).

Probably most of us have asked this question at one time or another of some one or another. But deep down inside we know the answer – even if we’d rather not.

‘Do we know where our brothers and sisters are? Do we care? Or are we making excuses, as Cain did?’ Warren Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’,p. 17.

When people respond to a legitimate question with an angry, surly, touchy response, you know something is amiss. It’s like you’ve suddenly caught a very sore spot and they jump.

‘Each within our reach, all who need our help, all related to us by the ties of the family, have a claim on us. We must not take an advantage over them; their weakness and need are strong claims on our resources of every kind; we are bound to keep them as far as we can; we may at any moment be called to give an account of their whereabouts. To dispute this is to betray the spirit of Cain, was was a murderer…Remember that you have just as much love towards God, as you are willing to show towards the brother whom you have seen.’ F.B. Meyer: ‘Great verses through the Bible’, p.10.

PRAYER: Lord, what a world it would be if everyone looked out for the interests and needs of everyone else. But it isn’t like that. It’s damaged by sin. However, help me to fully play my part; to reach out hands of service in blessing to everyone I can.

Genesis 4: 6-8: The ‘mustard seed’ beginnings of sin.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’  ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” NIV UK

‘Genesis’ is the book of ‘beginnings’. Of course it tells us about the origin of life, of human-beings and of the universe. But we quickly move on to the entrance of sin. Further more, it doesn’t take long to see that the fundamental sin against God (vertically) affects every day domestic life (horizontally). We are all too rapidly into the beginning of evil. So in this chapter we meet the first brothers, and, tragically, we very soon witness the first murder.

As Jesus taught, it begins in the heart.

‘Notice how sin begins in a small way and, if not mastered, quickly grows and grows (James 1:14-15). Cain’s sin started in carelessness and lack of faith, grew into jealousy and anger, and ended in murder – all because Cain did not master his sin in the beginning. This is why the biblical writers warn us to be watchful. James tells us: Resist the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7); that means we need to resist him at the very beginning of any temptation, when it is easiest to do so. Paul says: Flee the evil desires (passions) of youth (2 Timothy 2:22). Don’t wait around, don’t think about them. Flee! Resisting temptation, sin and Satan is something we ourselves must do; it is our responsibility.’

That is wise counsel from the pen of the missionary, Tom Hale (‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p. 139). It is possible for us to do this, if the Holy Spirit has taken up residence within.

In a similar vein, Warren Wiersbe writes: ‘Cain’s anger slowly became envy and hatred, and then it led to murder (Matt.5:21-26). When you start to play with temptation, you will soon be caught (James 1:13-16). Cain was guilty of every sin that God hates (Prov.6:16-19).’ With the Word’, p.17.

So, I find myself feeling the need to say once again, ‘Nip it in the bud.’ Don’t let this seed take root.

I heard a high profile preacher being interviewed about his personal life. The questions put to him were along the lines of, ‘How do you guard your marriage? How do you protect your personal purity? He said something like this in reply: I DON’T WANT TO SPEND TIME IN THE FUTURE RESISTING TEMPTATIONS I DON’T NEED TO FACE. In other words, he builds in lots of safeguards now, to keep himself from unnecessarily vulnerable situations.

John Glass was the General Superintendent of the ‘Elim’ Pentecostal movement for many years. I remember him saying: ‘A fence at the top of the cliff is better than an ambulance at the bottom.’

Genesis 4:1-5: Cain’s appraisal.

“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  NIV UK

I remember a friend saying that if you cut yourself off from feedback you impoverish yourself. Potentially, you may be stunting your own growth. I recently heard a church leader say that it’s good to have someone speak into your life from a different perspective (even though it may not always be welcome!) His point was: ‘Where someone else sits affects what they see.’ If they sit somewhere other than where your chair is located, their vision can assist you. Well, Cain’s ‘appraisal’ did not go well. He turned down the opportunity to change.

What you do with truth you don’t want to hear reveals something of your character, and it will undoubtedly affect the course of your life.

Gordon McDonald has said that even in the most unjust criticism, there is usually a grain of truth we can learn from – if we are willing.

‘Cain’s true heart was revealed when the Lord rejected his offering. And how true this is of human nature! When people are affirming and praising us, it’s very easy to be nice. The test comes when we are criticised or rejected; how do we react then? How can we tell if a grape is ripe? We squeeze it, and we see if the juice is sweet or bitter. Cain was ‘’squeezed,’’ and out came bitterness.’ Tom Hale: ‘The Applied Old Testament Commentary, p.139.

PRAYER: Lord, it’s not easy to be rebuked. You know I’d be lying if I said I liked it. But there are things I need to hear if I’m going to change and grow. Help me to be brave; enable me to be willing to receive helpful feedback. Teach me to be a life-long learner. I’ve never really liked taking medicine, but if that rather yucky stuff on the spoon is going to make me better, then I’m ready to swallow it. Lord Jesus, you know better than I do that I desperately need that which will keep me from sin and make me more holy.

Genesis 4:1-8: Keeping short accounts.

“Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.  She said, ‘With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.’ ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  ⁶ Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’  ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’  While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.”

At Christmas, I was given a daily calendar, with a Bible verse for each day of the year. The texts are taken from the ‘King James’ version of the Bible. Today’s happens to read: ‘’Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother’’ (Matthew 18:15)

It is important that we should ‘keep short accounts’ with one another. Don’t let resentment smoulder. It is likely that it will eventually erupt into a hot (and potentially destructive) flame. There are appropriate ways to nip things in the bud, to sort out differences early on. Cain’s way is not God’s way.

Anyway, his brother had done nothing wrong!

‘Satan is a serpent that deceives and a lion that devours (1 Peter 5:8-9). He used eve to tempt Adam and Cain to destroy Abel. The two ‘’seeds’’ of Genesis 3:15 came into conflict, for Cain was a child of the devil (1 John 3:10-12) while Abel was a child of God (Matt.23:35). Like his father, the devil, Cain was a liar and a murderer (1 John 8:44).’’ Warren Wiersbe: ‘With the Word’, p.17.

Jesus warned about the danger of hatred in the heart (Matthew 5:21-26). It can be the first stirrings of murder. The famous story of Cain and Abel graphically illustrates this.

It is a good start in the right direction if you can begin to sincerely pray for those people who anger (and hurt?) you. Pray God’s blessing on them.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, how we need your help. Help us to control anger, to love those who offend us, and to regularly practice forgiveness.

Genesis 4:6,7: Warning light.

^“6 Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’ ” NIV UK

Many years ago, I was proposing to go down a particular avenue. On the face of it, there was nothing particularly wrong with what I was doing. But I began to feel a deep uneasiness about it. I put it like this: it was as though a huge warning light came on. I could almost see it physically. I should have taken immediate note and got out of the situation. But I persisted for a time, and then began to understand why I was being ‘warned off’. It was too late, however, to avoid a lot of unnecessary pain.

When you are aware of God’s warnings, don’t resent them. Realise how much He loves you. Recognise He’s trying to protect you, and maybe others around you also.

I find God’s words to Cain quite striking. This was long before Jesus came; centuries before the outpouring of the Spirit. But He was essentially being told to resist sin, with the assumption that he could. He was also being warned about the precariousness of his situation. It’s a graphic picture: sin ‘’crouching’’ at the ‘’door’’, like a hungry, wild beast, waiting to pounce. But it could be tamed. (1 Peter 5:8,9) However, as someone observed, instead of resisting sin, Cain resisted God.

But if Cain could have overcome, you and I certainly can – in the power of the Holy Spirit.

PRAISE: ‘’But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’’ (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Genesis 4:1-5: Faith and works.

“Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.  She said, ‘With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.’ ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ But Abel also brought an offering – fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” NIV UK

Parents often comment how different their children are. They come from the same stock; they are raised in an identical home; but although they may share something of the family likeness, they are so unlike one another in very many ways. They can be ‘chalk and cheese’. You don’t necessarily have to be the parent to see this. It’s often obvious to others who know the family.

Any differences between Cain and Abel were not merely psychological or temperamental (or physical) but at the deepest level, they were spiritual. It is not clear from the Genesis account why God ‘’looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour’’ (4). It is sometimes suggested that it was because Abel brought an animal sacrifice for sins, whereas Cain didn’t. That may be the case, but the text does not explicitly say so. It seems clear to me that Cain brought something but Abel offered the best. But for the root answer we need to look elsewhere in the Bible:

‘’By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead’’ (Hebrews 11:4).

When God looked at Cain and Abel bringing their gifts, He saw what the human eye can’t. He saw the presence of faith in Abel’s heart, but there was not a trace of it in Cain. So Cain still speaks to us, long years after he was callously put into the ground. He talks to us about the importance of faith:

‘’And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’’ (Hebrews 11:6).

He also shows us that ‘’In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’’ (2 Timothy 3:12).

One other thing from today’s reading. If God rebukes you; if He shows you you your fault, anger may be an initial response (5b). But you must not permit it to remain as your long term reaction. The Lord is not out to irritate you. In His love and mercy He is wanting to bring you to repentance and to save you from yourself – as the next reading will show.

PRAYER: Lord, it is so good of you to take the time to show me my faults. Help me to respond with gratitude, and a humble and contrite heart.

Genesis 4:1-2: Giving God the glory.

“Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.’ ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.” NIV UK

Selwyn Hughes told this story. At a certain meeting, he felt blessed by the playing of the pianist. Afterwards, he went over to him and thanked him. The musician averred, ‘It wasn’t me, it was the Lord!’ Replied Selwyn, ‘It wasn’t that good!!’

Clearly, false modesty is not fitting. It is unnecessary.Nevertheless there is an appropriate humility which should accompany us through our lives: ‘’For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…’’ (Romans 12:3).

Adam and Eve were very much involved in the conception of Cain (and Abel). Procreation is a very human activity. Nevertheless, Eve gave due honour to God. She recognised that God had helped her through the difficulties of labour (3:16), to bring a healthy boy into the world.

This speaks to us today. There are many things we have to do, and we do them. If we don’t do them, they don’t get done. But we need to always keep the perspective that apart from Jesus we can do nothing. He is the source of all fruitfulness. To God be all the glory.

PRAYER: Lord I do acknowledge that if anything good has come from my life, it is because of you. I ask, then, that all the praise should go to you.