Genesis 4 (Cain and Abel)

The story of Cain and Abel is perhaps one of the most well known stories in the Old Testament. It is also one of the most heartbreaking because it shows the power sin can have over our lives if we let it control us.

God's Gift

The chapter begins with the birth of Cain. In the New King James version, Eve announces that she has "acquired a man from the Lord" after giving birth. Normally I would have just overlooked that sentence. Yes, she gave birth. But when I really studied the wording, I realized that she didn't just give birth--the Lord literally gave her a son.

The wording, I might add, is really important when you study the Bible. In the New Living Translation, for instance, Eve says, "With the help of the Lord, I have produced a man." Producing and acquiring are a bit different. "Producing" gives Eve (humans) credit for the birth of children. "Acquiring" gives the Lord credit--we don't "make" children; God blesses us with children. He gives them to us.

Now this doesn't mean that we should pamper our children and treat them as divine beings. But our utmost responsibility is to care for and provide for them, as God cares for and provides for us. It is also our responsibility to correct them when they're wrong, and to raise them to be loving, caring members of society. Not taking care of them and neglecting their basic needs--shelter, love, food and spiritual guidance--is offensive and hurtful to God. He has given us a precious gift, and so it is our responsibility to do everything we can to raise them well and give them the tools to live in this world. More importantly, we should treat children not as our own property, but as God's children, given to us to love and protect.

The Power of Sin

Verse 2 states that Abel became a shepherd and Cain became a "tiller of the ground." At some point in their lives, the brothers offered gifts to the Lord, but the Lord rejected Cain's gift. The Bible does not state why He rejected the gift, but we can probably assume that it was not given for the right reasons. Perhaps Cain failed to give the Lord the best of his offerings, or he failed to provide the offering out of love and respect for the Lord.

After the Lord rejected the gift, "Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell." The Lord addressed Cain and asked why he felt dejected. He also reminded Cain that if he had given the gifts for the right reason (and done what was right), the gift would have been accepted. In response to Cain's anger, the Lord warned, "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."

In other words, we should not let feelings of anger and disappointment rule our hearts, especially when we are responsible for the actions that led to those feelings. When we do the right thing and act in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, we will be rewarded. But when we fail and must face the consequences of our actions, we should not let negative thoughts consume us. We have to take control of them, before they take control of us.

Sadly, Cain allowed his sinful thoughts to fester and grow. And in a moment of jealousy and anger and hatred, he killed his own brother. As the Lord predicted, Cain let sin control him. He allowed his feelings of anger to expand and boil over until they became hatred.

As I think about this story, I know that sometimes I let sin and hateful thoughts consume me as well. I also know that thoughts often lead to action, just as they did for Cain. It is up to me to control sinful thoughts and to "subdue [sin] and be its master."

Although I knew the story well, I never really paid attention to the significance of their occupations. But the word "shepherd" is really significant in the Bible. David (who infamously fought Goliath) refers to the Lord as "shepherd" numerous times in the Psalms. Likewise, in the New Testament, Jesus is often referred to as a "shepherd" of the people. In other words, a shepherd is one who cares for his people and protects them, just as God takes care of us.

Cain, on the hand, became a tiller of the ground. Remember that in Chapter 3, after Adam and Eve sinned, God said, "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it...By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food." The chapter also says, "So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken." So God's punishment to Adam (and mankind) for sinning was the fact that he would have to "work the ground" and work for his food all the days of his life.

So Abel, the shepherd (who is referred to as "righteous" and "faithful" in other parts of the Bible) was killed by a "tiller of the ground" (the punishment for sin).