Review of Genesis 4

by Victor Fawole

We are in Genesis 4, and it has been an exciting ride so far. After our first parents were banished from the Garden of Eden, they started to “pick their lives up” again outside the comfort and beauty of Eden.

1. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FIRST OFFERINGS

Genesis 4:3-5 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his face was gloomy.

God had blessed Adam and Eve with two sons – Cain and Abel. Their offerings here are the first recorded offerings by men in the Bible. Many Christians are confused about why God rejected Cain’s offerings and accepted Abel’s offerings. While the particular reason for God’s response isn’t directly given, let me try my best to offer five biblical reasons for this to have happened:

• Abel brought an offering of blood while Cain brought a bloodless offering of the fruit of the ground. If God viewed the offering as an “atonement for sin”, only an offering of blood would be accepted. (Heb. 9:22)
• Abel offered his sacrifice “by faith” and God counted it as a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s (Heb. 11:4). If Abel’s offering was made in faith, then we can conclude that Cain’s offering was a presentation of self efforts. Faith pleases God, while self-righteousness irritates Him.
• Abel’s offering was extra special. The burning of fat in sacrifice before God is called “a sweet aroma to the LORD” (Lev. 17:6).
• David’s words in Psa. 51:16-17 indicates that God sees the “offerer” (his heart) first before looking at the “offering”. Cain had an evil heart and did evil deeds (Gen. 4:7, 1John 3:12).
• Abel brought “the best portions” while Cain simply brought some of his ordinary crops. Following last Sunday’s sermon, we can conclude that Cain was a “sparingly giver”, while Abel was a “bountiful giver”. (Learn more here: Excelling In The Grace Of Giving — Part 3)

2. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FATAL OFFENCE

Genesis 4:8 Cain talked to his brother Abel; and it happened that when they were in the field Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Cain wouldn’t take God’s rejection lightly. Rather than “amend” his ways before God, he chose to attack God’s beloved. He lured his younger brother through a pleasant brotherly conversation. He committed a premeditated murder, and therefore clearly ignored God’s way of escape. God had warned him about the destructive power of sin. Cain had the choices of rejecting sin to find blessing, or give in to sin and be devoured. God, in His great mercy and grace, gave Cain a chance and a choice to master sin or be mastered by it.

Genesis 4:8 If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

The word “brother” appears 6 times between verses 8-11, but Cain killed his natural affection towards his brother. He took his brother out to “oju ol’omo o to” (somewhere their parents would not be). Sin is a terrific “mathematician” that multiplies quickly. Cain’s sin went from envy/jealousy, to anger, to hatred, and to murder, in very quick successions. At this point, I’ll like to recommend that we re-listen to Pastor Dammy’s sermon titled “Proverbs About Envy”

Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Cain went on to lie about knowing the whereabouts of his brother and denied his responsibility over his brother. God cursed Cain! That is how terrible sin can be in the life of a man. It is not a matter until it becomes a matter. Hmmmn…

3. LET’S TALK ABOUT THE FRESH OFFSPRING

Genesis 4:25 Adam had relations with his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for, she said, “God has appointed me another child in place of Abel, because Cain killed him.”

Adam and Eve lost Abel, but God would not let their mourning last forever. He blessed them with Seth as replacement for Abel. The devil must have thought that he had thwarted God’s plan of redemption by corrupting Eve’s first son and killing her second son. But God is the Restorer! He gave Eve a fresh offspring – Seth – the one through whom the Seed of the woman would come.

As we see in this chapter (verses 1 & 25), Eve acknowledged God as the Giver of children, and this is clear in scriptures (Psa. 127:3). Not just that, she acknowledged God as the Restorer of lost fortunes. Join me as we pray:

• Dear Father, we pray for every GOG family that desires the gift of a child, that You bless them with proper children, in Jesus’ name!
• O God, by Your mighty power, for every “good thing” we’ve lost due to personal carelessness or people’s callousness, restore unto us in a more excellent way, in Jesus’ name!

Amen and Amen!

Grace to you, Church!