The Way of Cain

Jude11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

  1. We sometimes wonder when we read the Bible, “What is the way of Cain”?
  2. Today we will seek the answer in the Bible, because that is where you look for answers to Bible questions.

1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (12) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

  1. Here we get some information about Cain.
  2. He was of that wicked one; Satan.
  3. His works were evil; Abel’s works were righteous.
  4. He murdered his brother because he was jealous of Abel’s good works.

Genesis 4:1-12 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.

  1. God did not respect Cain’s offering.
  2. When I first read this before I was saved I didn't understand why God was not pleased.
  3. Cain offered what he had.
  4. When we read of Israel, they brought offerings of things grown.
  5. Why was Cain’s offering wrong?
  6. It was not the offering God required.
  7. Cain was disobedient to God.
  8. Cain brought to God what he wanted to offer.
  9. He denied that he was a sinner by bringing an offering of the ground when a blood sacrifice was needed.

Genesis 4:1-2 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.

  1. We don't read a lot about Cain.
  2. But in God's Word we can see things about Cain and his offering.
  3. Cain was the first born child of Adam and Eve.
  4. Cain did a religious thing, he made an offering to God.
  5. But it was the wrong sacrifice.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

  1. Blood is all that will cover sin.
  2. People might argue that we don’t see blood sacrifices before the book of Exodus but God provided a blood sacrifice for Adam and Eve when they sinned.

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

  1. God has always required a blood sacrifice for sin; blood was shed here.
  2. This is the first sacrifice pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ shedding His blood for the sin of mankind.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

  1. Throughout the whole Old Testament, we find that man was required to offer innocent animals, without blemish, as sacrifices to God for their sin.
  2. All are sinners.
  3. Jesus, who lived a sinless life gave Himself as the Lamb of God.
  4. He offered His perfect blood to atone for the sin of the world.
  5. All of the blood sacrifices for sin in the Bible pointed to the coming Messiah.
  6. Cain refused to bring a lamb which was the needed sacrifice.
  7. We read in Genesis 4:2 that Cain was a "tiller of the ground"; he was a farmer, he raised crops.
  8. Cain would have had to work hard to produce these crops because of the curse.

Genesis 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; (18) Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; (19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

  1. No more easy life in the Garden of Eden.
  2. Though Adam was to tend the Garden, the work would not have been a burden.
  3. Now only through hard labor, “The sweat of they face” would the ground yield something for food.
  4. Thorns and thistles would grow great; they still do.
  5. Cain grew things, his brother Abel, was a shepherd.
  6. He was a keeper of sheep.
  7. Cain provided food and Abel's sheep provided wool for things like clothing, blankets and milk.
  8. At this time mankind did not eat animals.

Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

  1. When God created Adam and Eve they were vegetarians.
  2. Abel’s sheep weren't killed, only sheared.
  3. Only after the Flood could mankind eat meat.

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

  1. God told Noah this after the flood.

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

  1. We don’t know how long a time passed.
  2. But both men were grown enough to be a farmer and a shepherd.
  3. They were raised by Adam and Eve who knew God.
  4. There had to have been sacrifices and offerings before this one.

Abel brought the sacrifice God wanted

Genesis 4:4 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:

  1. Abel brought the firstlings; more than one, of his flock.
  2. Also the firstborn; the best lambs he could find and offered them to the Lord.
  3. He also brought "the fat thereof" which shows us that this was a sin offering.
  4. "The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering".
  5. We read that Abel offered what he did because of faith.

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

  1. Abel showed his faith by seeking forgiveness for his sins through the right sacrifice.
  2. God’s word tells us that Abel was righteous.

Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

  1. Abel was killed by his brother.
  2. Abel was righteous not of himself, but had God’s righteousness imputed to him because of his sacrifice which pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. It was not so with Cain.

Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

  1. God had no respect for Cain's offering; Cain was not happy.
  2. He was so mad it could be seen on his face and in his actions.
  3. God had not rejected Cain, but his offering because it was not what was required.

Genesis 4:6-7 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.

  1. God told Cain if he did the right thing he would be accepted.
  2. God was very merciful in warning Cain of the consequences of his rebellion.
  3. But Cain did not bring a sin offering to God.
  4. Cain offered what he wanted, not what God said to bring.
  5. He rebelled against God; he offered what he wanted.
  6. He wanted a works religion; not one of faith.
  7. Cain like many after him made up his own religion.
  8. That is a curse of mankind; they want to worship their way not God’s way.
  9. Abel by faith offered a sacrifice for sin understanding by faith that his sins would be covered.
  10. Instead of bringing a sin offering Cain trusted in his works religion.
  11. In anger over his rejected offering Cain murdered his brother

Genesis 4:8 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.

  1. After God talked with Cain we read that, "Cain talked with Abel his brother".
  2. We don't know how long this occurred after God rejected Cain’s sacrifice.
  3. It was a short enough period of time that Cain was still mad at God and killed his brother who was following God.
  4. God once again gave Cain an opportunity to get right.
  5. He had a chance to confess the sin of murdering his brother.

Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

  1. God wanted Cain to confess his sin.
  2. God asked him, "Where is Abel thy brother?"
  3. Cain could have said, "Lord, please forgive me. I killed him".
  4. He was not repentant; he mocked God by saying, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
  5. God knew exactly what happened and gave Cain a chance to confess his sin and be forgiven.
  6. When the fall came in the Garden, God pronounced curses on Satan, Eve and Adam.
  7. Now Cain finds that his rejection of God’s grace has brought a curse to him.

Genesis 4:10-14 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. (14) Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

  1. Cain did not repent of his murder, he complained about his punishment.
  2. He had no regrets that he murdered his brother.
  3. His concern was that people would slay him.
  4. Kind of ironic that after killing his brother he worried that the same might happen to him.
  5. Cain did his will in the offering he brought to God.
  6. His heart led him to do things his way.
  7. He put his ways before God’s ways.
  8. Cain was not repentant; he was not sorry that he killed Abel his brother.
  9. Cain was only sorry that he was being punished for his sin; not of the sin itself.
  10. The Bible calls it the sorrow of the world.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

  1. If Cain had godly sorrow he would have been heartbroken when God confronted him over the killing of Abel.
  2. He could have repented and been forgiven.
  3. But like many people in the world, he was only sorry that he got caught.
  4. When we had an addictions program at Platteville Baptist Church, I talked to people who were ordered by the court to get counselling.
  5. They were never repentant because they drank and drove, only that they were caught and were being punished.

Cain gives us a great Bible truth in verse 14, "From Thy face shall I be hid."

  1. Sin separates us from God.
  2. God gave Cain several chances.
  3. When he brought the wrong sacrifice God told him to do right and things would go well.
  4. When he rejected that counsel and killed his brother, God gave him an opportunity to confess his sin and get his heart right with God.
  5. Now because of his unforgiven sin he sees that he will be separated from God.

Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

We return to Jude 11 where we began: The way of Cain

Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

  1. We are warned about those who have gone the way of Cain.
  2. They are going against God’s word.
  3. They claim to follow and worship God, but they do things their way and not God’s way.
  4. The way of Cain leads to hell; remember 1 John 3:12 told us that Cain was of the wicked one; he was of the devil; a lost man.
  5. The way of Cain goes against the word of God.
  6. Instead of the narrow way of the Bible: Jesus being the only way, they have multiple ways for salvation.
  7. The way of Cain tells us we can worship however we want to.
  8. The worldly ways of Cain will lead men and women astray; down a path that leads to hell.

Cain’s troubles all came when he rebelled against God

  1. Instead of seeking a real relationship with God through obedience, Cain chose his own way of doing things.
  2. He did a religious thing; he made an offering, but his offering was wrong.
  3. Instead of offering a blood sacrifice by faith; he offered what he had grown.
  4. This was to be a sin offering; Cain’s offering could not cover his sin.
  5. Thankfully Jesus Christ offered His atoning blood for our sin so we do not have to offer a blood sacrifice when we sin.
  6. We place our faith in His onetime sacrifice which was sufficient for all mankind.
  7. Cain was being self-righteous; that doesn’t work because our righteousness is not good enough.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

  1. We can only come to God through faith in His Son who paid for our sins by shedding His blood on the cross.

Colossians 1:13-14 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The way of Cain is the way of unbelief

  1. He trusted in himself and not in the Lord.
  2. Cain failed to put his faith in God.
  3. He went to hell for his ways.
  4. The way of Cain leads to hell.
  5. It separates people from God.
  6. Mankind is filled with religions following the way of Cain.
  7. They go their way; the Bible way is God’s way.
  8. Those who follow it until death will spend eternity apart from God in the Lake of Fire.
  9. Cain was separated from God because of his sin; God will not allow sin in His presence.
  10. But Jesus Christ’s blood will wash away that sin.
  11. Believing in Him and accepting Him for your savior reconciles you with God.
  12. An eternity in heaven with the Lord.
  13. The way of Cain; that of rebellion and self-will lead to death.