| Genesis 4 Previous Chapter | Next Chapter 1 And Adam knew Eve as his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." 2 And she next bore 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 an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 And Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat. And the LORD had respect for Abel and his offering, 5 But he did not have respect for Cain and his offering. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.1 6 And the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is to have you, and you must master it." 8 But Cain talked with Abel his brother and said, "Let us go out to the field." And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 And he said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand; 12 When you till the ground, it shall not yield its strength to you from this time forward; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. 13 And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and I shall be hidden from your face;2 and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will come to pass that whoever finds me will slay me." 15 And the LORD said to him, "Not so, if anyone slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife and she conceived and bore Enoch; and Cain built a city and named it after the name of his son — Enoch. 18 And to Enoch was born Irad, and Irad begat Mehujael, and Mehujael begat Methusael, and Methusael begat Lamech. 19 And Lamech took to him two wives; the name of the one was Adah and the name of the other was Zillah. 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah, bore Tubalcain, who was a forger of all kinds of tools in bronze and iron. The sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. 23 Then Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to my words; for I have slain a man for wounding me, a young man for hurting me. 24 If Cain is to be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech will be avenged seventy sevenfold. 25 And Adam knew his wife again and she bore a son and called his name Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." 26 And a son was also born to Seth, whom he called Enos. At that time men began men to call upon the name of the LORD. Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | |||||||||
1 Cain was very angry. John said, Anyone who hates his brother has committed murder in his heart. 1 John 3:15. Whoever does not forgive, will not be forgiven. We must love our brothers, not like Cain, who was of the wicked one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's were righteous. Do not marvel, my brothers, if the world hates you. 1 John 2:12-13. Indeed, all who are determined to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Tim 3:12. Just as he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Gal 4:29.
2 I shall be hidden from your face; Everyone thinks how evil Cain was, and how they are nowhere near as bad as Cain. But look! Cain had been in the presence of God, beholding his face. Cain was much further along than almost anyone in later generations; David beheld his face. We are told to seek his face. We are promised that at the conclusion of our crucifying our sinful nature on the inward cross of self-denial, we will see our Lord's face appear in our hearts, in the face of Christ Jesus to give us knowledge of the glory of God. 2 Cor 4:6. But consider how far removed from God we as a people have become, at least compared to evil Cain; consider how evil we are — far more evil than Cain, who in envy over God's favor to Able, murdered his brother. Consider well how evil we, the people of the earth, have become. Now imagine how repulsive and painful we are to him when we sing to him, pray to him, praise him, or even talk about him — all without first having been changed by his offer to teach us to deny lusts of the world and ungodliness; to teach us how to live soberly, godly, and righteously in this present world; to redeem us from all iniquity and purify us for himself that we will have a zeal for good works directed and energized by him, Tit 2:11-14; — including how to worship, pray, and praise him properly. (See Penington's writing on true prayer and worship.)
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