Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Now we have dealt with the sinfulness of humanity and humanity has been driven out of the Garden of Eden.

What comes next?

Well the only thing they could do is move on and try to establish a life and a way of life.

This is where chapter 4 picks up and where it all begins for the rest of us.

Scripture Focus

So up to this point in our journey it has been just Adam and Eve and all the animals, but there came a point after they had been driven out of the Garden of Eden that it was time to start expanding humanity.

Thus was the birth of Cain and Abel, the first two born into sin.

And when I think about that I also think about the stories that Adam and Eve must have told them about the Garden of Eden and about walking and talking with God in such a way.

And also how they had messed it all up and how death had been brought to humanity by their mistake.

I also think about how they must have warned Cain and Abel about being wary of the serpent and his crafty ways.

But they had their two boys and now since they had to work for everything they had, Cain and Abel also had jobs.

Cain was a farmer working the soil, or growing their fruits and vegetables and Abel kept the flocks, or was in charge of the meat!

And think about how much things have changed.

They went from eating from the fruits and vegetables that God had provided, which had all the nutrients that they would ever need, to having to grow their own and also having to raise, kill, and eat animals to provide for what they were missing in the fruits and vegetables that they were able to grow.

Already, things were so marred by sin that they could not reproduce the perfect food that God provided and they had to piece things together the best they could.

So, the impact of sin was immediately evident.

And not only did we see the implementation of God’s punishment for sin, but also the implementation of sacrifice, atonement, and making offerings to the Lord.

And this is actually what caused the issues between Cain and Abel.

We see starting in verse 3 . . . .

Genesis 4:3-

And this scenario also lays out some of the main issues with the Jewish society throughout history as well as the church.

Both Cain and Abel brought their offerings before the Lord.

Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil and Abel brought fat portions from some from some of the firstborn of this flock.

And the significance here is not the type of offering brought before the Lord but rather the quality of that offering.

Cain was a farmer and he brought what he had.

Abel was a shepherd and he brought what he had.

And some have said that God rejected Cain’s offering because it was “just fruit and vegetables.”

That is not the case.

Just ask a farmer, who raises crops.

Those fruits and vegetables are very precious commodities and to many of them very special because they work hard for it.

In fact my grandpa used to tell me about times when he pastored, and a lot of his time was in rural churches and many of the people were farmers.

And he would tell me about getting fruits, vegetables, goats, chickens, and even pigs as tithes because that’s all the people had.

They didn’t have money.

And to be honest, God doesn’t care about the object or thing that’s offered, God cares about #1 it’s quality and #2 whether it is given from the heart or not.

And that was really the contrast between Cain and Abel.

Cain just gathered up whatever was laying around and brought it kind of half-heartedly giving it.

He may have even resented having to do it in the first place.

Having to humble himself before God’s altar.

Abel on the other hand looked forward to this communing with God.

He loved and respected God and he wanted to offer God his best.

So, that is what he brought to God.

And as a result, the Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, because Abel understood the purpose; Abel got the point.

However, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour.

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

In other words, Cain got a scolding by God and instead of learning from it, he got angry.

He was probably embarrassed because his brother’s offering was accepted and his was rejected.

He was also jealous of his brother.

The first case of sibling rivalry.

And the devil that mom and dad had warned them both about was beginning to get into his head.

And it was driving him down the wrong path.

The path of hate.

And the path of murder.

Genesis 4:6-

And one thing that I do want to point out here in the beginning of this is, God didn’t punish Cain for his poor offering.

Yes, God rejected it and said it wasn’t “good enough,” but just because God rejected Cain’s offering, did not mean that God rejected Cain.

Cain was still loved by God and all God was really doing was trying to teach Cain to do better, to do what was right.

It’s like if we were doing a chore for our parents and we just half-way did it, usually we would be sent back to do it over and do it the right way.

But our parents didn’t reject us and cast us out.

They used it as a way to teach us to do better the next time.

And that is all God was doing here with Cain.

But Cain got mad and angry about, so God asked him, why are you so angry?

Why is your face downcast?

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?

Just do what you know is right and it will all be good.

Don’t get mad and angry and go off pouting about it.

Just do what is right.

But God also knowing the sinfulness of the human heart that had developed, issued a sober warning to Cain.

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

There has never been a truer statement uttered.

Sin crouches at all our doors and we have a choice to do what is right or what is wrong.

And when we continually do what is wrong, sin grips us and it has it’s way with us.

Which is exactly what happened with Cain.

Sin got hold of him.

His anger, his resentment, his bitterness, his jealously built up and built up until one day, Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”

And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

The first murder.

And at the root of that murder and all murders lies sin, hate, bitterness, jealously, and all the things that go completely against God.

And the thing is, Cain was really angry at God, but he just couldn’t take it out on God, so he did the next best thing.

He destroyed what God loved.

Cain though was so selfish and self-centered, he didn’t even consider his parents and their feelings.

It was all about him.

And we wonder why our society is the way it is.

Well it’s really because we have a bunch of Cains running around.

Doing everything they can to please themselves and not God.

So, Cain murders his brother and now he has to face God . . .

Genesis 4:9-

So, things start out sort of similar to God’s confrontation with Adam and Eve in the Garden, by questioning Cain for answers of what God already knows.

Where is your brother Abel?

What do you think God is doing here?

He is giving Cain a chance to come clean with what he has done.

However, Cain lies about the situation and also gets a little “smart” with God.

I don’t know…Am I my brother’s keeper?

He’s pretty bold with his attitude.

Especially someone who has just committed murder and is answering to God for it.

Do you think Cain actually thought he could get away with it?

So, after giving Cain every opportunity to repent and own up to it, God calls him out . .

.What have you done?

Listen!

Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.