Genesis 4 - Cain & Able - Part 2

As we continue to reflect on Genesis chapter 4, here are a few more notes and things to think about ahead of our discussion:

• At a macro level, the story seems to hint at the consequences for following one’s own will, desires, etc. is that of escalating violence. This is a place to meditate on the idea of having a standard outside ourselves to anchor our behavior and to which we should be aligning toward. (e.g. becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ) If left to our own volition, it doesn’t go well.
• We begin to see the theme of sibling rivalry being established. This will be echoed many times throughout Scripture. Many times, the siblings can be seen as “two ways of behavior” and you can compare/contrast them with one another.
• Another theme we see the early seeds of is that of God choosing the lesser over the greater, the younger over the older.
• The name of the city “Nod” (נוֹד) means “to wander.” Which is interesting because it speaks to Cain’s attribute of being a “wanderer” but also that even though he sits down roots in a location (Nod), there is still a homelessness or restlessness spirit about it all. Read more here
• We see the first city being built. Cities can often be seen as symbolic of man’s self-reliance and lack of dependence on God. Contrast them with nomadic, shepherd-like ways of living. Where is the trust placed?
• We see the first instance of polygamy. Lamech has multiple wives, which is against God’s design for marriage. Polygamy can be seen as another way in which man shows his distrust of God’s provision. The purpose of polygamy (other than indulging personal sexual desires) is to produce children/heirs of the male name. This not only shows lack of faith in God’s promises, but it also speaks to man’s internal drive to “do it my way.” It also further ruptures the partnership that marriage was originally designed to be…women are no longer seen as co-equal partners and are demoted to simply being a means to an end of birthing children. See Dr. Constable’s Notes on Genesis for a little deeper dive into this.

There are places in the New Testament that reference back to the story of Cain and Able. They shed some light on how those in the biblical timeframe interpreted the story. Here is a survey:

“By faith Abel offered God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts, and through his faith, though he died, he still speaks." - Hebrews 11:4

This gives us a look at the “heart” behind the offerings. I think it’s also interesting that Cain brought “fruits of the soil” (e.g. vegetables and fruit) whereas Able brought “fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.” There is an intentional call-out by the biblical writers to the use (and lack of) of the word “firstborn.” We also see a loose echo to the previous chapter where Adam and Eve, through their own power and decision, covered themselves with fig leaves (fruit of the soil) and God provided a covering for them out of animal skin…yet again, a likely commentary on man’s attempt to do things according to their own self-will vs trusting what God provides.

”…to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24

Here we contrast Christ’s blood as atonement and reconciliation against Able’s blood that “cries out to me from the ground,” which can be interpreted as that of asking for vengence and retaliation. Christ’s blood “speaks a better word.”

“For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous." - 1 John 3:11-12

An interesting commentary on loving your brother/neighbor. I think it also speaks to how often the acts of a righteous person will sometimes stir up anger in the unrighteous. They see how they have fallen short because they are held up to the acts of a righteous person. Instead of it leading to repentance, the unrighteous person often digs their heels in and doubles down.

“Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain, and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error, and perished in Korah’s rebellion." - Jude 11

In Jude’s epistle we see the linking of Cain’s actions with that of Balaam and Korah. Cain’s rebellion is against God’s order (i.e. way of offering). Balaam (a story we’ll get to later) is a story about choosing personal greed and worldly profit over obedience to God. Korah (another story we’ll read later) is a story in which he leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron (established authority figures). In all three narratives, we see how self-entitlement and self-interests go directly against God’s desires for relationships between himself and other people…and how choosing to do it “our way” leads to problems.