Cain and Abel: Genesis 4

 Cain and Abel: Genesis 4

Introduction

Welcome readers to The Daily Manna! Here we read God's word as our daily manna. Allowing it to nourish and transform us into the image of Christ. 

Today's topic is the very first book of the Torah and the old testament: Genesis. Today we will be taking a deeper look into Genesis 4. This chapter shows the power of the heart: how jealousy, anger, and disobedience can destroy when not surrendered to God.

A Brief recap of Genesis 3 reveals that sin entered the world and broke that perfect relationship between God and man through temptation and disobedience. 

I do want to remind you that these posts are meant to be a helping companion not a substitute for reading your Bible. This works best if you read the section before reading any further. 

Summary of Genesis 4

Verses 1–2: Adam and Eve have two sons — Cain (a farmer) and Abel (a shepherd).

Verses 3–5: Both bring offerings to God; Abel’s is accepted, Cain’s is not.

Verses 6–7: God warns Cain to rule over sin instead of letting it rule him.

Verses 8–10: Cain kills Abel — the first murder.

Verses 11–16: God punishes Cain but still shows mercy by protecting him.

Verses 17–26: The line of Cain vs. the line of Seth — humanity continues, but sin multiplies.

Key Themes and Meaning

Heart of Worship 

Genesis 4:2-7 NIV

[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. 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.”

At first glance we think that God just prefers Abel's offering just because it seems greater than Cain's offering. However if we look at Hebrews 11:4 and 1 John 3:12 we see:

Hebrews 11:4 NIV

[4] 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.

1 John 3:12 NIV

[12] Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 

 

Here we see that God cared more about Abel’s heart than the offering itself. 

Jealousy and Sin

Sin begins in the heart long before it shows outwardly. We can see that here with Cain and his jealousy after witnessing God preferring Abel's offering over his own: 

Genesis 4:5-8 NIV

[5] but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. 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.” [8] Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Cain murders his brother out of jealousy. Notice how quick sin spreads from parents to children. This shows that it's generational. It's in all of us. Below we will see the same pattern we seen with Adam and eve when God asks Cain to confess to his sin. Watch Cains response: 

Genesis 4:9-12 NIV

[9] Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” [10] The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. [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.”

Cains response, like his parents, does not take ownership of the sin he committed. Instead he shows not only a lack of ownership but also a anger or rebellion of God. For sin there are always consequences, which is why God curses him and tells him he will no longer be allowed to work the ground or yield crops. His punishment was just. 

God’s Justice and Mercy

Genesis 4:13-16 NIV

[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; 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, east of Eden.

 Cain faced consequences and only then did he become sorrowful. He became full of self pity. He wasn't sad over what sin he committed, only the consequences of that sin.

God still placed a mark of protection and added that anyone who harms Cain will suffer vengeance 7 times over. This was out of mercy. From there Cain went out of God's presence and went to the land of Nod which means “land of nothing”. In the next blog post we will see how fast people become corrupt outside the presence of God. 

New Beginning (Seth): God provides hope through the birth of another son of Adam and Eve, this was Seth— the lineage that will lead to Christ.

Reflection for Today

What kind of heart are we bringing before God?

Do we let jealousy or comparison affect our worship and relationships?

How do we see God’s mercy even in discipline?

Closing

As we reflect on Cain and Abel, we are reminded that God doesn’t just look at what we bring, but how we bring it. Our offerings, our worship, and even our daily actions are meaningful when they flow from a surrendered, humble heart. Jealousy, pride, and comparison still crouch at our doors today — but through Christ, we have the power to rule over them. God’s mercy is greater than our failures, and His desire is always to bring us back into His presence.

Father, teach us to worship You with pure hearts. Help us o

vercome jealousy, anger, and pride, and instead walk in Your love and forgiveness. Amen.