CAIN REJECTS GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

Genesis 4:1-5:32 
Key Verse: 4:7

1. Read 4:1-5a. Who were Cain and Abel and what sacrifices did each offer to God? How did God regard each man and his offering? What does this show about them? About God? (Heb 11:4)

Read 4:5b-7. How did Cain react to God's rejection of his offering? What does this show about his view of himself and his attitude toward God? What additional light does verse 7 throw on Cain's problem? How did God seek to help Cain?

Read verse 8. How did Cain receive God's word? What was his motive for murder? Read verses 9-10. Why did God ask the question? What does Cain's response show about him?  What does verse 10 mean?

4. Read 4:11-16. How did God punish Cain? How did he protect him? What does it mean to be a restless wanderer? How did Cain react to his punishment? Why?

5. Read 4:17-24. Why did Cain build a city and name it after his son? What does Lamach's family show about human culture without God? How did Lamech use God's word of grace and mercy to justify his sinful actions?

6. Read 4:25; 5:1-3, 18-32. Compare the descendants of Adam by Seth with the descendants of Cain. What are the signs of hope in Seth's line? What evidence is there of a spiritual remnant of God's people?

CAIN REJECTS GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

Genesis 4:1-5:32 
Key Verse: 4:7

1. Read 4:1-5a. Who were Cain and Abel and what sacrifices did each offer to God? How did God regard each man and his offering? What does this show about them? About God? (Heb 11:4)

Adam[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-81a" \o "See footnote a" a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-81b" \o "See footnote b" b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-81c" \o "See footnote c" c] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

Eve gave birth to Can : Through their union, Adam and Eve gave birth to their child, A man was born who have same image that their parents had including fallen image. 
With help of the Lord I have brought forth a man : They recognized their offspring came from God. Even though they gave birth to their child but they realized that they got a child through God’s help.

Cain – Older son, he worked the soil, he offered some of the fruits of the soil
Abel – Younger son, he kept flocks. He offered fat portions of from some of the firstborn of his flock. 
The first Adam and Eve’s children recognized God and did offering to God. Offering was expression of worship and thanksgiving.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.
God was pleased with Abel and his offering and accepted them.
God was not pleased with Cain and his offering. 
God accepts the man who does offering first and accepts his offering as well. We have to offer ourselves as living offering that God can be pleased with. 
 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(Heb 11:4)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.(Ro 12;1)

Through both God's advice and Cain's response, we can know why the Lord did not accept Cain and his offering.

First, his practical life was not good.

God said to him, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"

The reason God did not accept Cain was because he did not do what was right in his day to day life.  When he did not do what was right positively, sinful desire caught him and led him to sin.  Thus, he ended up living a sinful life.  So God did not accept him even though he brought offering to God.  

Here, we learn very important lesson.  Today many people go to the church on the earth.  But not all of them are ac cepted to God.   Only those who do what is right will be accepted.  God looks not only worshiping itself but also how their practical life is.  So we have to make efforts to follow the God's law in our practical life and keep the Sunday worship service absolutely.  

Second, Cain brought offering to God as if he was showing great favor to God.

When God rejected him and his offering, his face was downcast with anger.  He must have thought something wrong with God in rejecting his offering.  Why?  Because he had worked hard to bring this offering.  Since he worked hard and brought such precious offering to God, he thought that God would have to accept it with thanks.  Such offering is detestable to God.

Sometimes we are like Cain when what we have done is rejected despite we have really struggled hard to do it.  We think, since we worked really hard, our effort must be appreciated and accepted.  Then, when our service is rejected, we easily grow angry.  Then, we become like Cain.  Why should God accept what we bring to Him?  What will you say if God rejects your service?  Will you get angry like Cain saying, "Why don't you accept my service?"

Read 4:5b-7. How did Cain react to God's rejection of his offering? What does this show about his view of himself and his attitude toward God? What additional light does verse 7 throw on Cain's problem? How did God seek to help Cain?

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Can was very angry, his face was downcast 
He was angry at God. Instead of consider what was wrong with him, he got bitter mind toward God. He thought God was not right or fair to him, but he was right.

God helped Cain to repent 
“Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? : God wanted him to check himself instead of being angry at God. 
 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? : God told him why he was not accepted. God could not accept him because he did what was not right. In other word he committed sin. God cannot accept those who commits sin but does not repent. 
Today many people go to the church on the earth.  But not all of them are accepted to God.   Only those who do what is right will be accepted.  God looks not only worshiping itself but also how their practical life is.  
Cain brought offering to God as if he was showing great favor to God. He must have thought something wrong with God in rejecting his offering.  Why?  Because he had worked hard to bring this offering.  Since he worked hard and brought such precious offering to God, he thought that God would have to accept it with thanks.  Such offering is detestable to God.

Sometimes we are like Cain when what we have done is rejected despite we have really struggled hard to do it.  We think, since we worked really hard, our effort must be appreciated and accepted.  Then, when our service is rejected, we easily grow angry.  

a)  First, "if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door."

If we do not live according to God’s way, we open a door for sin to attack us. Sin is ready to attack us any time. We can prevent sin and Satan’s attack by doing thing according to word of God. 
The way to overcome our sinful nature is to do what is right positively instead of trying to oppress it.  So serving God's mission wholeheartedly is the best way not to sin.  
We cannot stand between doing right and doing evil. If we don’t do right thing before God we can become victim of God easily.

b)  Second, "sin desires to have you."  

It means that sin wants to make us its slaves who obey whatever it asks us to do. Sin has power and wants to rule over us.  Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.(Jn8:34)

The temptation of sin is sweet.  Sin looks enjoyable.  But once we obey its desire, we become its slaves.  Then, we have to sin continually defiling both our body and soul even though what we want is noble and spiritual.  

c)  Third, "You must master it."  

This is God's direction for all people in dealing with sin problems.  However strong your sinful desire may be, God wants you to fight against it and master it.  In all circumstances, we must not give in to sinful desires.  We must put the desires of the flesh under our full control.  This is God's direction.  Don't say, "I am weak and my sin is too strong."  Read Romans 8:13.For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
We must master our sinful desire by any means. We should not victim of it. Holy Spirit helps us once we try to overcome it.

Read verse 8. How did Cain receive God's word? What was his motive for murder? Read verses 9-10. Why did God ask the question? What does Cain's response show about him?  What does verse 10 mean? 
 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-88d" \o "See footnote d" d] 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 keeper?”  The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.: When Cain heard God's counsel, he had to repent.  But in rebellion, he killed his one and only brother.
Cain shows the nature of fallen man. 
Because of the power of the sin, a man became a murderer. 
He became zealous toward his brother. Instead of loving his brother when he became zealous toward his brother he ended up killing brother. He became a slave of sin.

“Where is your brother Abel?”
God was not asking information. Now a murder happened already and God knew it.  But God asked this question to give him a chance to confess his sins and be forgiven.  Still there was a chance for Cain to be forgiven even after he murdered his brother.  Read 1 John1:9.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful, he will forgive our sins and purify us." 
I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  
He denied his sin. He thought God might not know what he had done. But God knew all things that we do secretly. We try to ignore or deny our sin but sin doesn’t disappear before God until we are forgiven.
Now Cain was repulsive to God. While Adam became fearful and shameful after committing sin, Cain became repulsive to God. 
He was losing his chance to repent and be forgiven.

“What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
The blood of people who were victimized cries out to God for justice and God doesn’t ignore it. Rather he practices justice.

4. Read 4:11-16. How did God punish Cain? How did he protect him? What does it mean to be a restless wanderer? How did Cain react to his punishment? Why?
11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-95e" \o "See footnote e" e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-96f" \o "See footnote f" f] east of Eden.

God put Cain under curse. Sin causes God’s punishment 
The ground would no longer yield it crops. – he would not earn enough but little despite of his hard work. Rather he would suffer from pervert. 
You will be a restless wanderer on the earth- He will keep wandering without rest and peace. 
The main point of God's curse upon Cain was to leave him severely alone. 
Once man is driven away from God, his soul cannot find rest, because he is disconnected from the source of life.  So no matter where Cain would go, he could not have rest and peace.  No matter what he did, he found no happiness.  He had to live such a cursed life until he would die.

After receiving a punishment from God, Cain became so fearful for death.  So God gave a mark to Cain so that no one would kill him.  

loved him and had some hope that Cain would come back.  So He put a mark on him.

Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-96f" \o "See footnote f" f] east of Eden.
- Cain started living without God’s presence. He was separated from God.

5. Read 4:17-24. Why did Cain build a city and name it after his son? What does Lamach's family show about human culture without God? How did Lamech use God's word of grace and mercy to justify his sinful actions?
Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-102g" \o "See footnote g" g] bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
23 Lamech said to his wives,“Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words.I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.24 If Cain is avenged seven times,
   then Lamech seventy-seven times.

Cain lived in the land of Nod.  Nod means wandering. 
Since he could not find the meaning of his existence in God any more, he tried to find his identity in his son or in achieving some gorgeous activities in the world.

Cain's descendents (4:18-24)
Lamech was proud of killing young man.  Even he made a poem of it to boast about himself.  Also he mocked God's grace.  He shows how quickly man becomes evil when he leaves God.

They developed technology, music and industry.  Through these physical things, they tried to find their identity and the meaning of their lives.  

A society without God was full of violence, polygamy.  Indeed technology without God cannot bring Utopia.  Sin makes the world difficult and dangerous to live.

6. Read 4:25; 5:1-3, 18-32. Compare the descendants of Adam by Seth with the descendants of Cain. What are the signs of hope in Seth's line? What evidence is there of a spiritual remnant of God's people?

25 Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth,[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-105h" \o "See footnote h" h] saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” 26 Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh.
At that time people began to call on[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+4&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-106i" \o "See footnote i" i] the name of the Lord.
This is the written account of Adam’s family line.When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind”[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+5&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-108a" \o "See footnote a" a] when they were created.3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.

‘At that time man began to call on the name of the Lord’-. 
-But Seth's descendents maintained a spiritual life.  From Seth's life, God's remnant was raised such as Enoch who walked with God and Noah.  

21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Enoch pleased God so much by his faith that he did not experience death
Walked faithfully with God : living each moment obeying God faithfully. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.(Gal 5:25)
Enoch lived by faith in God in the corrupted world. God took him away to heaven to bless him to enjoy the kingdom of heaven earlier.

When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah[ HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+5&version=NIV" \l "fen-NIV-135c" \o "See footnote c" c] and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”
Noah means “ comfort” 
In the labor and painful toil of our hands : it shows that people had to do a lot of labor and painful toil to survive in the world. At that time people lived long life over hundreds years. But they suffered from painful toil to survive in the cursed land. 
Noah would comfort them through his righteous life before God. In the corrupted world people were sinning greatly and people got stressed out suffering from all kind sin. But when Noah lived a righteous life it brought a lot of comfort to others. 
When we live righteous life by faith in God in this world, people can be comforted seeing our righteous life.