Exposition of Genesis 1-11

1. Exposition of Genesis 1-11 The Fall and its Aftermath Part III Gen 4:1-16

2. What We’ve Covered So Far • The Creation of the Heavens and the Earth – Gen 1:1 – 2:3 • The Creation of Man and Woman and the Garden of Eden – Gen 2:4-25 • The Fall of Man and its Consequences – Gen 3:1-24

3. Similarities between Gen 2-3 and Gen 4 • Each account contains two primary figures who share a close relationship. • In both accounts a word of warning is given before a sinful deed is committed. • The principal characters are confronted by God after the deed, and He exposes their guilt through questions. • After the deed is exposed, God pronounces judgment on the offenders. (Note both Adam and Cain’s alienation from the ground). • Both characters are driven away from their original context and separated from God. • Both end up dwelling east of Eden.

4. The Birth of Cain and Abel & Their Occupations – Gen 4:1-2 • These verses introduce our story and tell us about the main characters. • Notice the link here with the pronouncement to Eve in 3:16. • Literally, “I have created a man with the Lord.” • There is a wordplay in the Hebrew between the name of the child, !yIq;, and the verb Eve uses, ytiynIq', in her following statement. Cain’s name means “something formed; weapon, implement.” • Abel’s name means “breath, vapor”. Same word used in Ecclesiastes for “vanity.” • Cain was a tiller of the ground, Abel a keeper of flocks...standard occupations for the time, and for all of mankind’s history. • They will bring offerings in accord with these occupations.

5. The Murder of Abel by CainGen 4:3-8 • Cain brought his offering from the fruit of the ground, but in distinction to Abel, Cain’s attitude is one of indifference. • Abel’s offering consisted of “the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions”, i.e. the choicest of his animals, in order to honor the Lord appropriately. • This is the reason the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering and not for Cain’s.

6. The Murder of Abel by CainGen 4:3-8 • Cain’s response: he became very angry and it showed on his face. • In the Lord’s questions, expressions from the previous narrative are repeated: • “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” • Rather than a rebuke, these questions should be seen as a fatherly appeal for Cain to “watch his step.” • The Lord lays out two ways: • Do well, and you will be lifted up. • Do not do well, and sin crouches (or lurks) at the door...and wants to bring you down, too! It’s desire is for you, but you must master it (cf. 3:16).

7. The Murder of Abel by CainGen 4:3-8 • The first part of v. 8 reads simply, “Cain spoke to Abel his brother”, but the implication is that a meeting was arranged in the field (i.e. away from their father and mother), where Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

8. The Sentencing of CainGen 4:9-16 • Though no other human had seen the murder, the Lord saw it and confronted Cain with the question: “Where is Abel your brother?” • This question does carry a rebuke. • Note the sarcasm and irony in Cain’s answer: “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” • A play on Abel’s occupation as a “keeper” of flocks. • His use of “brother” acknowledges his close relationship...yet he has killed him in cold blood! • Cain here adds lying to his growing disobedience. • The thought of the Lord’s next question is “See now what you have done! How could you!”

9. The Sentencing of CainGen 4:9-16 • Abel’s spilled blood cried out (metaphorically) to the Lord from the ground, just as a man who has been wronged cries out to the judge (cf. Heb 11:4). • Note the chiasm in vv. 10-11: • “The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me • from the ground. • And now you are cursed • from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive • your brother's blood from your hand. Serpent Ground Cain

10. The Sentencing of CainGen 4:9-16 • Cain is cursed “from the ground” in that it will no longer yield its produce to him. • The earlier curse because of Adam’s sin made the produce of the earth come only through difficult toil; for Cain the earth will yield nothing...devastating for a tiller of the ground. • As a result, Cain will be a “vagrant and a wanderer” on the earth. • This is worse than a nomadic shepherd. It implies no settled place to live and no consistent means to eke out a living. (More on this in 4:14).

11. The Sentencing of CainGen 4:9-16 • Cain’s response: “My punishment is too great to bear!” or “My iniquity is too great to forgive!” • Driven from the face of the ground, so that he will not find rest anywhere; ever conscious of being an outcast and having to move on. • Hiding from the face (presence) of God because of his sin. • And thus a vagrant and wanderer on the earth, just as the Lord had pronounced earlier.

12. The Sentencing of CainGen 4:9-16 • Cain acknowledges that all this has come upon him “this day”, but is concerned about his future, that his punishment might go even further: • “Whoever finds me will kill me.” Why? • “Therefore” makes the connection with this concern of Cain. The Lord appoints a sign for Cain: • warning of the vengeance that will be taken if anyone kills him; • providing him assurance against this happening.

13. The Sentencing of CainGen 4:9-16 • Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and dwelt in a land of Nod (“wandering”)...not necessarily a land with this name, but a state of constant wandering from place to place. • Like the earlier banishment of Adam and Eve from the garden, the area where Cain wandered was east of Eden.

14. Some Important Principles from this Section • Human life is sacred and must not be violated by murder or blood vengeance. • Capital punishment will be instituted later as a just punishment for murder. • No deed of man is hidden from God. • God calls man to account and repays him according to his deeds.

15. The Fall and its AftermathPart IV Gen 4:17-26 Matt Neal Will Teach