Genesis 4:1-26 continuing…
“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. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 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” Genesis 4:8-12 (KJV).
It would be great if we knew what Cain talked about with Abel, but we do not. It almost seems that by his talking he lures Abel out into the field. Cain is identified in 1 John 3:12 as a child of the devil and the devil is a liar – “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 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 John 3:11-12 (KJV); he is also a thief and a murderer. Jude 11 says, “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” (KJV). There is almost no doubt that Cain murdered Abel in premeditation – meaning he had planned it, then, attempted to cover it.
The question asked Cain by God is similar to the one He asked Adam. We have a distinct picture of being given personal responsibilities. God is concerned that we care for our spiritual, personal relation to Him, and that we have concern for our fellow man.
“Am I by brother’s keeper?” was Cain’s denial to God that he had done anything, or knew anything about Abel. I guess Cain did not hear it. The blood of Abel was crying out. God already knew Abel was dead the ground was weeping for the blood shed of Abel. The blood is the life of the flesh (Lev. 17:11). It was Abel’s blood, his life, his testimony that cried out to God. When an innocent life is taken the murderer may escape the justice systems of man, but none can escape God’s justice, because “The blood is the life of the flesh.” God knows every drop of blood – especially the blood of man that is shed.
Because of the murder Cain is cursed by God. He will no longer be able to reap a crop. God seems to be saying, “I will not give you any increase”, as a matter of fact; that is what He is saying to Cain. He is to be a wanderer, having no roots, no basic area of his own. He is a fugitive from God.
The death penalty is given later on by God, for human government to carry out upon murderers. It could be asked, ‘Why didn’t God take Cain’s life?’ We cannot be certain. It could be because there had been no law given concerning the taking of human life. However, his continuing to live may be a reminder to us of God’s grace and mercy. The type of life Cain lived also reminds us of God’s judgment upon sin.
The Fire and Hammer 
SelahV,
Really, in looking at Cain I doubt that he would have even had the Spirit. He had no heart for God or the things of God, or he would have at least yielded when God gave him opportunity.
You are right in that there is far less excuse for those of us who have the Holy Spirit. I too, am so grateful that He still grants us tha same mercy and grace. It truly is amazing.
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Bro. Tim: no, Cain didn’t have the Holy Spirit. Good point. but I wonder…should that have made a difference in obedience to the Maker? Once Eve and Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge, their eyes were opened to both evil and good, right? Surely Cain knew what he was doing was not good. Nevertheless, I think your point may be the whole point of the passage being conveyed to us. We have what Cain didn’t; therefore there is far less excuse for us…and yet, God still grants us the same mercy and grace. Even more so. selahV
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SelahV,
I know what you are saying. Thanks for your great comment. You are correct in what you say.
One thing I might add – as Christians we do have the power that we once did not have, to turn from sin, and yield to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Cain did not have that.
Thanks again.
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Good evening, Bro. Tim: You wrote, “There is almost no doubt that Cain murdered Abel in premeditation – meaning he had planned it, then, attempted to cover it.”
It seems that is the way of most sin, isn’t it? We have some we commit and realize immediately we did, and sometimes the Holy Spirit checks us on, yet we go ahead and yield to it anyway. Then we try to cover it up, backpeddle, excuse it or rationalize it away.
I wonder about the mercy of allowing Cain to live also. We could rationalize that the earth needed to be populated, but that wouldn’t explain why Cain was allowed to kill Abel, would it? Then I think about how God uses all things for a greater good. Jesus, Himself, said to let the tares grow up amongst the wheat. Does make me wonder, though.
I don’t concern myself with it, because I can’t explain that anymore than I can the tribulation of Job. But I am reminded again of the words of our Lord when his disciples were questioning him and He said, “what is that to you?” Sometimes when I question God about something, I hear those words ring in my ear. I don’t think that is a coincidence, do you? blessings, selahV
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