A JEALOUS BROTHER
Genesis:4:1-13 [1] And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] 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: [5] But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] 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. [8] 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. [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] 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. [13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. .
“But he that hateth his brother is in darkness” (I John 2:11).
Two Brothers
The two sons of Adam and Eve, born after they were driven out of the Garden of Eden, were called Cain and Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep. Cain was a farmer. Evidently they knew that they should give offerings to God, for each of them brought one to God.
Cain’s Offering
We read in the Bible that God saw Cain and his offering and was not pleased with it. When Cain saw that God was not pleased he became angry. God asked him why he was angry. He said that since Cain was angry, there must be some sin in his heart. God knows our hearts, and no doubt saw that Cain’s heart did not have love enough in it to bring Him the right kind of offering. God wants us to do what we do for Him because we love Him.
Abel’s Offering
When God saw Abel and his offering, God was pleased. Abel brought the very best lamb or sheep he had in his flock. He loved God so much that he gave Him the best he had. His heart was right, and God knew it.
Cain’s Jealousy
No doubt Cain was jealous of his brother Abel when he saw that God was pleased with his offering, and not satisfied with Cain’s. So he killed his brother Abel. When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain lied and said he did not know. One sin, if not repented of, leads to another. First, Cain killed his brother and then he told a lie. Jealousy leads many people to do very wicked things. God tells us that we should be glad when our brother or sister gets something better than we do.
1. How did God know that Cain had killed Abel? [Genesis:4:10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
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2. Why was Cain angry? [Genesis:4:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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3. Why did Cain kill Abel? I [John:3:12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
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4. How do we know that Cain was not saved?
* He was angry, [Genesis:4:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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* He killed, [Genesis:4:8And 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.
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* He lied, [Genesis:4:9And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
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