This chapter explores the family dynamics of Adam and Eve’s descendants. Cain, their first child, killed his brother Abel, and like his parents, he was removed from the presence of God. Lamech took two wives and also killed a man. Adam and Eve’s third son, Seth, had Enos, and, thankfully, men began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Before you dive into the life lessons of this chapter, be sure to explore those in Chapter 3.
- Married parents should conceive children.
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain…” The scripture could have said that Adam knew Eve and bore Cain. Instead, God intentionally pointed out that Eve was Adam’s wife. This is the seventh time within the four chapters that the term “wife” is used. A wife, by definition, is a married woman.
There are circumstances where children are born out of wedlock, which is okay. However, God’s ideal is for children to be conceived by parents who are married to each other. Especially these days, people are more inclined to live common-law lifestyles, leaving at least one parent believing they are not obligated to care for their children and family.
We often want our lifestyle to dictate how the Bible should be interpreted, rather than letting God’s word dictate how we should live.
- Children are a heritage from the Lord.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in the many aspects of having children that we forget to recognize that children are God’s gift to us and that we should be thankful for His blessings.
Some women (and men) have become so ‘selfish’ that they have decided not to have children. Not only have they decided against having children, but they have also taken to social media to brag about it. “DINK” is the term used to describe them, and their reasons for not having children have ranged from a series of childhood issues to finances, otherwise called selfishness.
The abortionists are even more grave. They know that they don’t want children, yet they engage in unprotected sex and then decide to have abortions. They claim that it is their bodies, hence their choice, and they are correct. But since that is the case, why not choose to engage in sexual activities responsibly? What is even more depressing is to see men joining women with placards encouraging them to have the ‘right’ to have abortions.
It is like saying to God, “I know You want to give me the gift of children, but I choose not to want it.” So what is wrong with that? Genesis 1:28 will enlighten your darkness.
In the meantime, those of us who know that our bodies are God’s temple have relinquished our decision to conform to whatever plans God has for His temple, including the blessings of womb fruits.
- Everything we do, including the professions we choose, should glorify God.
Some people would have been kept safely throughout childhood, completed university without a dime to their name, become gainfully employed in the company of their dreams, and, after so many years, have yet to offer anything to the Lord.
Here, we see Cain and Abel, two young men in their respective professions, have brought offerings to the Lord.
When was the last time you ever brought an offering to God? Who has done all for you?
- God has a standard for what He will accept from us.
The scriptures say that God respected Abel’s offering but did not respect Cain’s. Why? That’s for your assignment below.
The first point to note from this lesson is that, since God accepts nothing and everything, we ought to learn what is acceptable and bring only that to Him.
The second is that we ought to have standards based on God’s plans for our lives. Too many of us accept whatever and whoever is given to us, including jobs, relationships, and opportunities.
Some of us know who God has called us to be, but a lack of faith and trust in Him leads us to settle for low-hanging fruit, diverting our attention from what He has destined for us.
I was a teenage mother, and one day, my aunt-in-law came to my gate to ask me to work in her bar. Even though I did not know how I would care for myself or my son, I knew that working in a bar was not for me. One to two weeks later, another lady asked me if I wanted a job in her bar, and I said no. The point is that you need to keep your circumstances from dictating or reducing your standard.
- Unreasonable people will be angry when you uphold your standards
“And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5).
In today’s world, many Cains want to be applauded and recognized for mediocrity. They refuse to live by God’s standards and expect to be rewarded the same as others who live uprightly.
After Cain became angry, God, in His mercy, tried to reason with him and explain that if he had done well, He would have respected his offering. Instead of allowing God to help him conform to an acceptable offering, Cain’s heart was already hardened towards his brother simply because his offering was accepted.
Many parents these days don’t even try to explain to their children what is right and wrong. They just accept whatever their children do to avoid making them uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this attitude will lead some to prison or an early grave.
- Murder is not the solution to incompetence.
Cain could have used God’s feedback to adhere to His standards and offered what was acceptable to God the next time. Instead, because of jealousy, Cain killed his brother, Abel, simply because his brother’s offering was acceptable.
Abel did nothing wrong, yet death was his earthly ‘reward.’ It’s astonishing how many people worked hard, intentionally, to be obedient to God, and have sadly lost their lives because others are envious of them.
Remember that we can ‘murder’ people with our mouths, too. Rebuke the thought of envying your neighbors, friends, and coworkers for what they have or who they are. And don’t entertain anyone who speaks negatively about those who are thriving in life.
- God gives us countless opportunities to repent.
God, in His infinite wisdom, knew before that Cain would kill Abel. “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” Just like God did with Cain’s parents, Adam and Eve, He allowed Cain to confess and repent of his sin. When God asked Cain where his brother was, instead of taking the opportunity to ‘come clean’ with God, he lied and was rude.
Again, God asked Cain, “What hast thou done?”
Perhaps you have done something with grave consequences, but seeing this post is an opportunity to confess it to God through Jesus Christ and allow Him to forgive you.
- The consequences of sin will be greater than you can bear.
“And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.” (Genesis 4:11-12).
Cain said, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Genesis 4:13).
The murderer was afraid of being murdered. (Genesis 4:14).
It behooves me that we, yes, we, get so caught up in sinning, even enjoying for the season, and then we cry when the punishment for what we have done is meted out to us.
The reason why so many people have chosen not to accept the Lord is that they have not grasped the concept of what hell will be. How can we? Hell was not meant for us, and until those who choose to go there understand how unbearable hell is. On top of that, another reason why people believe they can bear hell is because of how others trivialize it. People will find themselves in challenging situations and say they have “been to hell and back.”
Let us appreciate that there will be no “back” when one goes to hell. Here is a good reminder of someone who is there.
I am not saying God is unjust by giving us more punishment than we can bear. I am saying that God is just; the punishment for sinning is extremely harsh, and it will be unbearable for us. However, the good news is that God has given us enough hints about hell and countless reasons not to choose to go there, but more importantly, He has provided the Way of escape through Jesus Christ.
- Vengeance is not ours. It is the Lord’s
Jungle justice is wrong. God doesn’t need to solicit any hangman to slay Cain or anyone for that matter. If God wanted Cain dead, He would have killed him. Too many people are in favor of and even participate in jungle justice, not realizing that they, too, would have become murderers themselves.
When Cain was concerned about being killed, God said that vengeance would be taken on the person who slayeth Cain sevenfold. Now, if Cain was saying that his punishment was more than he could bear, what would a sevenfold punishment look like for the person who takes matters into their own hands?
A word to the wise is sufficient; vengeance belongs to the Lord.
- No matter how far your family line has gone, you can change the trajectory of your generation.
After Seth bore Enos, the Bible said that men began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Perhaps you grew up in a family where, as far as you can trace your history, your people do not know the Lord. They are wrapped up in witchcraft, and there are no marriages, a series of mental illnesses, drug use, poverty, or teenage pregnancy.
Despite Seth’s brother and Lamech being murderers, when Enos was born, the trajectory was redirected to God. You are one decision away from redirecting your generation to God.
Your assignment: Genesis 4
- Why did God respect Abel and his offering but not Cain?
- What does it mean when the Bible says Cain went out from the presence of the Lord?
- Who was Cain’s wife?
- Cain built a city. What have you built?
- What does Lamech mean by saying he killed a man to his wounding and a young man to his hurt?
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