THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE – 7 The Story Of Cain And Abel
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).
Loved ones, in our Spiritual Battle we can learn a few lessons about obedience and disobedience from our subject story.
In Genesis chapter 4, the Bible says Adam was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground.
In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
God ask Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
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. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
God said to Cain, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! So now you are cursed, alienated, from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.
But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! Since you are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.”
Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Cain was intimate with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain became the builder of a city, and he named the city Enoch after his son.
Why Did Cain Kill Abel?
Our above text says, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4).
God will only accept the best of the firstfruits one offers (Exodus 23:19). By faith (Romans 10:17) Abel heard and obeyed whatever God asked him to bring. He was righteous!
Cain was of that wicked one and shew his brother (Genesis 4:25). He neglected to give the best of his first fruits (cf. Numbers 18:32), whatever God (by faith) told him to offer. He disobeyed God and was therefore not accepted by God (cf. Acts 10:34-35). Cain then slew his brother Abel because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (1 John 3:12).
Jesus says the wicked will be held responsible for the blood of Abel (Luke 11:51). God has pronounced a “Woe” unto them who have gone in the way of Cain (Jude 1:11). Consider Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to his sprinkled blood which says better things than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24).
Shared with you by Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA. The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35).