BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 4

Genesis 4

Pride Versus True Worship

Me-

There have been many times in my life when I have attended a worship service with the wrong attitude.  All kinds of reasons have diminished the opportunity to meet God.  I did a Bible study a number of years ago that I titled Encounters with God.  Like so many others I had often left the church with a sense of emptiness because nothing had happened.  I decided to look at the people of the Bible to see what occurred in their lives when they were truly confronted by God.  Did they walk away from those encounters the same or did God do something in them?  I discovered that what is missing when I leave the church without having my expectations met.  It happens to all of us because like you I have put my focus on the wrong things.  Not that any of the activities that take place in a worship service is wrong, but I sometimes pay too much attention to them and miss out on the fact that anything that distracts me from concentrating on God and worshipping him becomes all about me.  I struggle with this.  I am not in church for entertainment or to have all my desires met but to come before the Father in all humility and give myself over to worshipping Him.

We-

We can get so caught up in those activities and pay more attention to them than the reason we are in church in the first place.  We must remember it is not about fellowship per se.  It is not about the music or well you name it.  Our time together is about genuine, humble giving ourselves over to the pure worship of God.  If we let other things distract us we just might miss why God wants us in His house.  We have to be very careful that pride in programs, choirs, Bible Study Classes and even the sermon from the Teaching Elder do not somehow leave God out of the equation.  When we begin to forget God then we become like Adam, Eve, Cain and Lamech.  Each of those individuals thought that they could handle their own lives and move God to the periphery.  In the same way that kind of attitude did not work for them in certainly will not work for us.

Life outside of the garden was certainly different.  It was not long before the sinful nature of man manifested itself in terrible way in the lives of Cain and Abel.

God

Genesis 4:1-2

Part of God’s command to Adam came to fruition.  The first son of the couple was born.  She said of him, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” Therefore he was named Cain which could mean brought forth as in procreation.  Some commentators indicate that the name given to the first born might have indicated that Eve thought that he was the fulfillment of the promised seed given in the garden dialog. Nothing else is said about the event. Immediately Moses wrote that a second son was also born and was called Abel, meaning breath.

Without reference to their childhood the next thing that is learned about each of them was their occupations.  Abel is listed first although the second born.  He was called “a keeper of the flocks.”   Cain was a tiller of the ground which God had told Adam that he would do outside of the garden.

1. Why did Eve name her son Cain?
2. How did she misinterpret his birth?
3. Why are we not told anything about the childhood of these two boys?
4. What is the significance of the two professions?
5. Why did both of them not take up farming?

Genesis 4:3-5

The writer does not tell how the two men knew to make offerings to God.  Evidently, the worship of God was instilled in them by their parents.  Adam and Eve would certainly have shared with them all that the Lord had done, including the sacrifice of the animals to make a covering for their bodies.  In a very few words Moses wrote about the two different offerings     presented before the Lord.  Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground to present to the Lord.  Abel on the other hand brought the first of his flock as his offering.  Cain’s offering was the rejected but the one brought by Abel was accepted.  Not only were the offerings different in a physical sense but the quality and attitude with which they were brought caused God to accept one and reject the other.  When He rejected Cain’s offering he became angry and his whole demeanor showed it.

1. How did the two men know to bring offerings to God?
2. What did Abel learn that Cain somehow missed?
3. What hints are we given why Cain’s offering was not regarded or accepted by God?
4. Why was Abel’s offering viewed differently than that presented by Cain?
5. What did Cain’s reaction show about him?
6. Which reflect the attitude that we might have when it comes to things of God?

Genesis 4:6-7

God in His mercy came to Cain to give him an opportunity to address the issue of why his offering was rejected.  He dealt first with Cain’s anger issue.  The real problem was the sin of pride.  By asking him about his anger, God was trying to bring him to the point of confession and repentance.  He had not brought the first fruits or the best of the harvest but only a portion of what had been produced.  By doing so he did not acknowledge that God was the provider of all good things.

Once He had brought attention to Cain’s condition God gave him an opportunity to overcome his pride and anger.  He once again asked a question that would cause Cain to look at himself and understand that God wanted a relationship with him.  It was up to Cain to make the choice to remain as he was or to do well.  The reality of the situation was then laid out for him.  He could  master the sin in his life by eliminating the pride that dominated his life.  If that was not his choice then sin was waiting at the door of his heart to destroy him.

Paul wrote in Romans,

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:12-14) 

1. Why did God approach Cain?
2. In what way did the questions reflect the concern that God had for Cain?
3. Why did God use rhetorical questions in His conversations with Adam and Eve and Cain?
4. How close does the advice in Romans 6:12-14 relate to what God said to Cain?
5. What does anger show about a man’s heart?
6. What are the choices that God gives us?

Genesis 4:8

It is interesting that this verse begins with the fact that Cain told Abel what had happened.  The Scripture is completely devoid of what that conversation entailed.  Abel may have repeated God’s words urging Cain to repent.  Cain’s answer to God’s offer of grace and mercy was to display his jealously and anger by killing his brother.  His answer was a total rejection of God saying no thanks I can handle my life and problems all by myself. The apostle John wrote, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)  By his actions Cain showed that there was no place for God in his life.

1. Why do you think Cain shared with Abel what had been said?
2. What drove Cain to take his brother’s life?
3. How did pride play a part in his actions?
4. What was his answer to God?
5. In what ways are we like Cain? Like Abel?
6. In what ways are the attitudes of the world like Cain?
7. How do we know that Cain had no love for God?

 

Genesis 4:9-12

After the murder of Abel, God once again confronted Cain.  As before He asked a question of which He already knew the answer.  The question was, “Where is your brother Abel?”  Instead of confessing what he had done, Cain lied and then arrogantly asked God a question.  By his question it is obvious that his heart was hardened and his pride would not allow him to humble himself before Almighty God.

God then answered both his own question and Cain’s with another question which again would have allowed Cain to confess his actions.  The question went straight to the heart of the matter.  He asked, “What have you done?”  The next words He spoke let Cain know that He knew what had taken place.  Cain could no longer hide behind his lies.  With the strongest words possible, God emphasized that “the voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.”

God waited no longer but gave to the sentence brought on by his act.  He would be:

• Cursed from the ground that had received Abel’s blood.
• The ground would no longer yield a harvest for him.
• A vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.

 

1. What approach did God use to confront Cain after the killing of Abel?
2. What did Cain’s response indicate about his spiritual condition?
3. Why did God have to finally tell Cain that He knew what he had done?
4. Why did God pronounce such a harsh punishment on Cain?
5. Why did God not kill him as he had done to his brother?
6. What happens in our own lives when we think we can lie to God?
7. What is the remedy for such an attitude?
8. What happens if we refuse to hear the convicting words of the Holy Spirit and act upon them?

Genesis 4:13-14

At that point the consequences of his actions became a reality.  What a wakeup call he received.  No longer was he the prideful individual who could answer back to God in such a derogatory manner.  He was now on the receiving end of God’s justice and it was make than he could bear.  There is no way to know whether is his response was out of true repentance or self- preservation.   Whichever it was he was overwhelmed by God’s decision.  His only concern was that he might face the same destiny as his brother and someone might kill him. 

To protect him from others some type of mark was given to him for protection.  He also gave a command that vengeance would come on anyone harming Cain. The once promising statement made about him by his mother was now forgotten.  He proved that he was not the hope of mankind after all.

1. Why did God finally tell Cain what would be his future?
2. How did Cain’s actions end the prospects of being the promised seed as his mother had exclaimed at his birth?
3. When thinking about the justice meted out to Cain, how do you view what God did to him? Too lenient? Too harsh?
4. What are your thoughts about Cain’s reaction to the sentence from God?
5.  Why would God so far as to put a mark on Cain to protect him?
6. Why would He command that vengeance would come to anyone that might harm him?
7. Why did God not execute Cain?

Genesis 4:16

This is one of those verses that is very disturbing because it presents a finality in the relationship that a man will have with God for the present and for eternity.  Yes, Cain was still alive but the Scripture says that he went out from the presence of God.  One other time this same idea was conveyed.  It was the night of the last supper when Jesus had reached out to Judas in every way possible and had not changed his heart that John wrote, “he went out immediately, and it was night.” (John 13:30)  Both of these men went out into the darkness away from God’s love and mercy.  The place to which Cain went was called Nod which was beyond the garden to the east.  The name Nod is appropriate because it means wandering.   

1. Why is this verse disturbing?
2. What does it show us that the future holds for people like Cain who reject God?
3. What does the reference to Nod being east of the garden mean?

Genesis 4:17-18

In the short description of the descendents is found the same defiant acts that had already been manifested in the life of Cain.  Although condemned to be a wanderer Cain once again defied God and built a city which he named Enoch after his first born son.  Enoch’s name may mean several meanings.  It could be train up, dedicate, introduce and initiate.  The meaning that would most fit the actions of Cain would be “Dedicate” since he honored his son by naming a city after him.  Of the other descendents of Cain the writer only gives their names until he gets to Lamech who is the seventh generation after Adam.

1. How did Cain once again show a defiant attitude towards God?
2. What had God said that Cain was to be the rest of his life?
3. Which of the meanings of the name best describe what is seen in the Scriptures?
4. Why is there a lack of information about the other descendents after Enoch until we get to Lamech?

 

Genesis 4:19-22

Lamech is the personification of the line of Cain.  There are two incidents that reflect the same attitude of Cain in his disobedience and defiance of God.  First, in the direct violation of the sacredness of marriage between one man and one woman, he committed bigamy. His wives have interesting names which indicate the worldly perspective of this whole family.  Adah means ornament.  Zillah the second meant shadow, shade, shrill and tinkle. It might be said that these two women were “praised for their beauty and sweet voice.” (The New American Commentary- Genesis)

Lamech’s children by these two women included three sons and a daughter.  Each of the sons had a different profession that would advance society.  Notice that nothing was said of any relationship with God in the development of their skills.  Their achievements were:

• Jabal in the field of animal husbandry which would have included not sheep but possibly cattle also.
• Jubal was in involved in music.  He played the lyre and pipe.
• Tubal-Cain developed the process called metallurgy.  He forged objects from bronze and iron. 

There is nothing else known about Naamah. One commentator mentions that she was possibly listed to provide symmetry to Lamech descendents.

1. What does the meaning of names of the wives say about them?
2. How do these fit the description of Lamech’s family?
3. What is your view of the professions of the sons?
4. What do they show about the mindset of the family?
5. How can the professions in which we are involved be used for God’s glory?

Genesis 4:23-24

After these two verses there is no more mention of the genealogy of Lamech.  In them is seen the results of Cain’s sin fully manifested in the final act of Lamech.  He displayed a complete disregard for the man who had been created in God’s image.  He openly bragged that he had killed both an older and younger man out of revenge for harm they had done to him.  It is possible that he may have used the implement of metal produced by his son as the weapon with which he carried out his act.  Arrogantly he then set himself above his ancestor by announcing that anyone who tried to avenge the death of the two men would have seventy-seven times the vengeance brought against them. This is the last that is heard of this godless family.

1. In what ways did Lamech show us when a family continues to disobey God?
2. What did he say to his wives that show the utter disregard for human life?
3. What claims did he make for himself that prove how self absorbed he was?
4. Why do we see nothing else about this family after these verses?

You-

1. Approach each encounter with God with all humility.
2. Confess any sin of which you have become aware.  This could come from accountability partners, sermons, Bible study lessons, or during times of prayer.
3. Look at the work you are doing or activities in which you are involved as opportunities to glorify God.
4. Realize how important it is to raise up children in the Lord.

We-

We need to understand from the life of Cain how a life begun in promise can end in disaster not only for ourselves but our families.  Our praise and worship is to be genuine bringing only our best before Him.  Anything short of total sacrifice of giving ourselves to God, as Paul spoke about in Roman 12:1 where he wrote, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”   One last point we know that we all sin.  The bringing of a sacrifice not acceptable to God was a sin but the undoing of Cain and any of us is to disregard God’s call to confess and repentance of the sin.  Continual rejection of God will eventually lead to the spiritual death.  God showed to Cain to us that He truly cares for us and gives us every opportunity to have a relationship.  He does not give up on us until we give up on Him.  It is our call.

Additional Notes:

BL-God’s problem with Cain was not the sacrifice Cain brought Him, but the attitude with which Cain gave it. Cain gave his crop, while Abel brought his best. When God looked with favor on Abel’s sacrifice, Cain responded by pouting.  God warned Cain that sin would master him if he did not repent, but His words fell on deaf ears. Cain’s resentment festered until finally, he murdered his brother.  Even after killing his brother he still did not repent.  While he deserved to die for spilling his brother’s blood, he was not grateful even when God spared him.  Instead, he whined that his punishment was too harsh for him to bear.  Sadly, this is the same attitude all too many people in today’s world who commit sin.  Their initial reaction when caught is to blame God for their problems.  Their arrogance and ingratitude often become a way of life that is passed down to their children. (Gen. 4:3:15)

RT-Probably one of the most puzzling question that there is in the Bible is, if Cain and Abel were the two first born children where did he get his wife? (Gen. 4:17)

BL-We see the impact that Cain’s sin had on his descendents.  Lamech justified his murder of two men who wronged him by saying, “If Cain avenged himself, then it’s all right for me to do it, too.”  (Gen. 4:23)

UE-It should not astonish us that man could so quickly descend to the depths of depravity that overpowered Cain.  In this one man was embodied what pride and rebellion can do.

1. It started with the rejection of his offering and a warning from God.
2. This led to jealousy of his brother.  How easy it is to blame others for our short comings
3. The next thing that he did was to carry out the ultimate injustice against an innocent man, the murder of his brother.
4. Then like his parents before him he attempted to cover up what he had done with a false decree of innocence.
5. Finally when God pronounced His judgment of Cain, he played the part of the victim saying, “My punishment is too much to bear.” (Gen. 4:3-13)

DM-Cain had set a pattern of not offering God his best.  There came a point when God called him to be accountable.  His response was to become angry and despondent.  Even after receiving God’s admonition Cain made the decision to take out his anger with God on his brother Abel.  Because of anger and jealousy we had the first murder. 

Because of Cain’s decision he was cast out into the world by God to wander and be fearful of what man would do to him all of his life.

Sin is waiting at the door of each man’s life to destroy him.  Cain chose to give into the temptation and committed one of the worse sins that one man can do to another man.  He chose to let sin master him.  That was the crucial point for him and his life.                   (Gen. 4:3, 5-7, 13-14; Heb. 11:4-5)

M-Evidently the sacrifices of Cain were self-serving and self-centered.  When God would not accept his offering he became angry and jealous which ultimately lead to the murder of his brother, Abel.  (Gen. 4:3, 5-8)

M-Abel’s relationship with God was such that he knew that God deserved the best and the first of his flock long before the Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God.             (Gen. 4:4)

TM-God was trying to give Cain a lesson in the way to have a proper relationship with Him.  He also tried to share the types of activities in which he should be involved.  To do well lifts one’s spirits and chases away anger. (Gen. 4:6-7)

DM-After a decision is made an act is just the extension of it.

GC-Genesis 4 deals with Cain and Abel.  It is pointed out that the problem God had with Cain was not the sacrifice Cain brought Him, but the attitude with which Cain gave it. Cain gave his crop, while Abel brought his best. When God looked with favor on Abel’s sacrifice, Cain responded by pouting.  God warned Cain that sin would master him if he did not repent, but His words fell on deaf ears. Cain’s resentment festered until finally, he murdered his brother.  Even having committed that act there was no repentance but belligerence on his part.  While he deserved to die for spilling his brother’s blood, he was not grateful when God spared him.  Instead, he whined that his punishment was too harsh for him to bear.  This can be likened to many people in today’s world who sin, then blame God for their problems.  Their arrogance and ingratitude often become a way of life that is passed down to their children.

WM-Cain did not give God what was due Him.  He thought he could get away with bringing an offering not of the first fruits but just part of the harvest.  (Gen. 4:3-4)

WM-Cain had some major character flaws

1. Lack of reverence towards God
2. Anger
3. Jealousy
4. Hatred for his brother resulting in killing of Abel
5. Disobedient
6. Uncontrolled sin in his life                                                                                 (Gen. 4:3, 5)

M-Once again we see the self-centered attitude of Cain.  He was more concerned with his own future than he was about the terrible act he had committed. (Gen. 4:13-14)

TM-Cain learned too late the results of yielding to the temptation of sin. (Gen. 4:13)      

WM-Cain was only concerned about himself and preserving his own life. (Gen. 4:13-15)

TM-One of the key elements and possibly the most important in being forgiven is to face the fact that we have sinned.  In the case of Cain God was directing him to answer some of the following questions;

1. Why was he angry?
2. Will you not feel better if you do well?

Depending on how he dealt with those questions would lead him to take one of two paths.  Either he would;

1. Do well
2. Allow sin become his master.

How do those same questions maybe worded differently apply to us?  How do we respond when confronted with our own sin?  Which path do you take? Why?                   (Gen. 4:13)

TM-At what point does God give up on a person who has hardened his heart?  Even after the death of Abel what was God trying to do with Cain?  How did the following questions set the stage for different responses?  When sin prevailed in Cain’s life God again asked:

1. Where is brother?
2. What have you done?

Based on Cain’s answers what did it say about the condition of his heart? (Gen. 4:6-10)

RT-Adam and Eve were given two sons, Cain and Abel.  We do not understand how Abel developed an awareness of the correct relationship with God.  Somehow he had learned that God deserved the offering he brought.  Cain on the other hand displayed the attitude that so plagues mankind today.  He offered God only a token half-hearted gift and it was not acceptable to God. (Gen. 4:3-6)

C-After a period of time tragedy struck this fallen family.  Cain who was jealous of his brother became the first murderer, thus changing the relationships in this family forever.  To his parents he brought the experience of death and grief.  For himself there would now be guilt and separation from not only his family but from God.  His fate became that of a wandered and fugitive.  His only protection was the sign that God gave to him.         (Gen. 4:8-15) 

GC-The offering we bring must be of the first fruits.  If we set aside that which is upper most according to worldly standards, we offer the sacrifice, including our very lives, with proper motives. (Gen. 4:3-4; Ex. 34:26; Prov. 21:27; Is. 43:23-24)

GC-True worship and genuine sacrifice are what God desires from us.  God had regard for Abel’s offering but not that which Cain brought. (Gen. 4:5)

GC-Through Christ a Christian has the ability to be master over sin. Cain was told that sin was after him, but he must master it.  He must not let it get a foothold in his life, because once that happens it would become his master. (Gen. 4:7; Rom. 6:12-14)

GC-The godly man realizes that jealousy leads to anger and anger leads to murder.                                                 (Gen. 4:8; 1 Kings 21:1-13; Prov. 6:34-35; 27:4)

GC-The end of chapter four shows what happens when a parent has not lived an exemplary life before his children.  If we want our children to grow into adults who respect others we must set the example. (Gen. 4:8-24)

GC-Is it going to take murders, jealousy and arrogance of man to finally cause man to begin to call on the name of the Lord?  A Christian knows that in order to avoid such actions as listed above he must constantly communicate with the Father.  After Enosh was born there came a time when man finally began to know the Lord. (Gen. 4:26)

C-Sadly, Cain’s influence filtered down to one of his descendents named Lamech.  He used what Cain had done to justify his killing of others for a wrong done to him.  A lesson needs to be learned that man never knows how his actions will impact those around him.  In this particular we are talking about five generations from Cain. (Gen. 4:19-24)

WM-Lamech saw Cain had done as justification for killing those who had hurt him.    (Gen. 4:23-24)

M-Following in the footsteps of his ancestor Cain, Lamech took the revenge which is sadly is one of the characteristics of a godless man. (Gen. 4:23-24)