Individual Judgement

Genesis 4:1-12

By eating the forbidden fruit, man lost his essential holiness and righteousness, replacing it with the ability to make moral decisions and the responsibility for those decisions. We have no idea how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, but it may well have been several years.

"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.“ (Genesis 4:1-2)

Cain was the older brother, and must have been at least a year older than Abel. As a result of the fall, God had said man would have to work to survive. Cain had become a farmer. Abel, on the other hand became a sheepherder. This indicates that man had begun to eat meat as there would have been little reason to keep sheep otherwise.

“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4:3-5)

Both men are fully grown, and while we do not know what standards God may have set for worshipping him and seeking forgiveness, it is clear that there was an established protocol. Both Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord. Both offerings were dependent on God causing the things to grow and reproduce, but man has greater control over the plants than over the animals, so some have taught that in effect Cain was focusing on man’s effort, while Abel focused on God‘s provision. In any case, the offering Cain brought was unacceptable while that Abel brought was accepted, implying that a standard had been established.

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” (Genesis 4:6-7)

God clearly implies Cain knew what the standard was and had deliberately ignored it. He had the same opportunity as Abel to do what was right, and could still do so. The only reason for him to be upset was his own sense of guilt. We still see the same dynamic when an individual becomes angry about being caught for their sin. Refusal to do what was demanded would lead to further sin, as would holding on to that anger.

Cain’s refusal to do what is right demonstrated his lack of respect for God. He was more concerned with his pride than with what was right. Proverbs 14:2 states, “He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.” Even his offering indicated a disdain for God, and as Proverbs 21:27 reminds us, “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?”

There is speculation that the comment, “sin lieth at the door,” indicates that in fact Cain had an acceptable sacrifice available but refused to use it. The Hebrew wording could well imply that but it is not essential for understanding the passage. To refuse to do what was right would only result in further sin.

“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (Genesis 4:8)

When confronted about their sin, Adam blamed Eve, and God for giving her to him. Eve blamed the serpent. Cain blamed Abel for his rejection, and killed him. Like Adam and Eves hiding and attempting to cover their nakedness, killing Abel did not address the real problem. Both, however, acknowledged, “I did eat,” accepting their guilt. By killing Abel, Cain further demonstrated his disdain for God. Murder is, in a very real sense, an attempt to destroy God by destroying his likeness.

Literally he murdered his brother for doing what was right, as I John 3:12 explains. “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” Proverbs 29:27 declares, “…and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.” Since they know what they are doing is bad, they would rather destroy what is good so there will be nothing to be compared to than to change what they do.

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)

Given the opportunity to repent and admit his sin, Cain denied any responsibility for what happened to Abel. His lack of respect toward God is demonstrated again by his response. It is as if he were saying “I’m so smart you’ll never be able to figure it out.“ Galatians 6:7 warns, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” God was not fooled.

“And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 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 4:10-12)

Adam’s sin resulted in a curse on the entire earth. Inedible plants, struggle and death were the consequences. Cain’s sin resulted in a personal curse on himself from the earth. Even his best efforts would not produce satisfactory results and he would never be able to have a permanent home or live freely without fear.

Romans 2:9-11 stresses that every man shall be rewarded according to what he has done, beyond what everyone experiences. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” We will receive exactly what we have earned.