Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”
“Knew Eve” – marital relation… some people think the Fall of man was because of a marital relation. Absolutely not. God from the beginning said “reproduce” and said “therefore become one flesh” Many Fathers say that before the fall they didn’t need this relationship. They were as children. But after the Fall, they started to have those needs.
She bore Cain in pain (see last chapter’s notes)
“A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (John 16:21)
This is the first time for a person to name another person
The name “Cain” means acquired – in this case she named him Cain because she acquired him from the Lord. So it’s so important that when we have a child, we recognize that God gave him to us, that he is God’s and that we give him a name as such. This is why we name our children “Mina” and “Kirolos” and “Youssef” and “Monica” and “Mariam” and all of these Christian names.
Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
“Tiller of the ground” is different here from “Farmer”
St Didymus the Blind writes “Now, Cain was not called a farmer but a tiller of the soil; he was not as noble as Noah, who is called a farmer, not a tiller.”
(Read more on this in the Didymus notes)
We see here that Abel’s occupation is mentioned before Cain’s. Because even though Cain was the firstborn, he was not first in occupation. And we see from here that the firstborn in the Old Testament typically loses their firstborn status.
Who was firstborn? Cain Who was the favored one? Abel Who was the ancestor of Christ? Seth
Ishmael and Isaac; Esau and Jacob; Reuben and Judah; Manesseh and Ephraim; David the youngest of 12 sons; etc.
This was a sign of what’s to come. In Exodus 4:22, God tells Moses “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.”’” So Israel has the firstborn status as God’s children… but they will lose it. And it will go to the Gentiles… it will go to the Christians.
So in this verse we start to see this theme of the firstborn losing their status as firstborn, and we will continue to see this theme all throughout the Old Testament.
The firstborn of the flesh, is not necessarily firstborn in spirit. And he who is last according to the flesh, will be first according to the spirit.
This is why St Paul calls the Church “The church of the firstborn” – not everyone in the church is firstborn of their parents… but it refers to the Church taking the firstborn status.
Science and Archaeology today always talk about “Hunter – Gatherers” – the tiller and the shepherd. There was not agriculture or manufacturing yet.
Shepherding usually indicates righteousness (Abel, Abraham, Moses, David, Christ as the Good Shepherd). Because Shepherding indicates taking responsibility. Counting their sheep. Protecting their sheep. David saving his sheep from the lion.
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.
Some Fathers take “process of time” to mean he had been delaying… like when one doesn’t want to pray and finally just offers a small prayer “didn’t even try”
Why didn’t God accept this offering?
The ground is cursed – Cain is giving the fruits of what is cursed
The sacrifice of Abel points to the act that God did with Adam and Eve when He clothed them with animal skins. How did He get animal skins? An animal sacrifice.
So the Fathers say that Adam and Eve taught their kids that they should sacrifice and animal to God, as God sacrificed an animal for them.
Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.
Cain offered as “wageb” (i.e. a duty or out of obligation) and Abel offered as “mazag” (an offering freely given)
And this happens today – in prayers, tithes, liturgies, Bible Readings… are they offerings of habit or are they offerings to God? The widow of the two mites offered two mites but they were the most precious and expensive thing she had (but the rich gave from their excess… the thing I don’t need, I’ll give it to God. They were Cain).
Many times we give to God from “what is left” – that is like Cain
What is left of time – the last few min, or whatever time I have left
What is left of energy – I spend all my energy working and doing in the world, and come to pray and use what’s left
What is left of our stuff – Empty the closet and the things we don’t like or don’t wear: instead of throwing them away, let’s donate them
But if we give from our best, that is like Abel
The beginning of our day given to God (time and energy)
Getting new things and nice things for the needy
And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.
Keep in mind God did not punish Cain… He did not send fire from heaven or anything like that. He simply did not take note of Cain’s offering.
Here we see that Cain did not love God. If he loved God, he would have fixed the situation immediately! But because he did not have love, he fell into something much worse…
And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Why is Cain jealous? All he has to do is come up with a better offering… God did not say Cain was bad or a failure or anything… but jealousy would make Cain say that to himself.
There is good jealousy and bad jealousy
Good:
I find someone praying and say “I too want to pray like that”
I find someone giving more than tithes “I too want to increase in my giving”
I find someone who serves a lot “I too want to live a life of service”
Bad:
I find someone with a lot of money “Why did God give him a lot of money”
And we start to see this jealousy throughout the Bible…
Joseph’s brothers. Why be jealous? He’s the younger brother, his mom died, you all have your moms. He never got to know or feel his mother’s love. Nope. Jealousy filled their hearts.
Cain was very angry
When you get angry, ask yourself the question God asks Jonah – “Is it right for you to be angry?” You will find that the answer is no.
Countenance fell
Cain felt he was rejected by God. Did God reject Cain? No! God simply accepted Abel’s sacrifice. God did not reject Cain, himself. Even to the point that God will go and find Cain and talk to him.
Cain is telling himself “You are a failure. Your brother wants to take your place.” – we don’t see the serpent, but the serpent is working.
So the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?’
The first question God asked man – “Where are you?”
The second question God asked man – “Why are you angry?”
Cain did not need to be jealous
First human ever born!
Your name means “Acquired from God”
Many Fathers say that Eve thought Cain was the Savior that God talked about when He told the serpent that her Seed would trample him. She thought Cain was the Savior! That he would take them back to Eden
Why has your countenance fallen? Why look to the ground? You were made to look to heaven.
Cain did not answer that question – so you know he was focused on something else – his anger to Abel. “Behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and dine with him and he with me”
If you do well, will you not be accepted?
A boy comes home from school and he got a bad grade on the test. 5/10. He’s mad and says “the other boy got 10/10”. His mom takes him on her lap and says “Why are you angry? He studied more. Study more so you can get 10/10.”
God is telling him that he still has a chance!
And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
As Christ said: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew 5:21)
What is “without a cause”? Can I have a cause?
I can be angry at myself because I have not prayed and it causes me to go and pray more.
I can be angry at my brother because he is sinning or going in the wrong direction, and out of love for him, I am angry.
Cain could have been happy for his brother… he even could have surpassed him.
God is telling Cain “I see your heart. I hear your thoughts. You want to get rid of your brother.”
“But you should rule over it” – You have the authority to say no! You have the authority to tell those thoughts to go away. I created you as a king, not a slave!
This verse is the entire definition of Spiritual Warfare. Sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you. But you can rule over it.
Whenever you think “life would be easier if xxx wasn’t around” or “if xxx wasn’t my brother” or “if xxx wasn’t my dad” or “if xxx never existed” – your heart is one step closer to Cain’s.
Now Cain talked with Abel his brother
Cain went in his anger to talk to his brother. If he had talked to God first, and calmed down, his conversation with his brother would have been different.
How do we talk to people? Do we talk to people when we are angry? Do we take it out on them?
And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
We went from a sin in Chapter 3 – eating a fruit, to the sin in Chapter 4 – killing of man
Sometimes we think we have small sins and say “they won’t reach anything” or “they’re not a big deal” – but even the smallest things lead to bigger things. Sin leads to sin.
The devil is bad. But we give him the chance sometimes – how many people are killed every year? By their siblings, their spouses, their friends… the devil is bad.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
When God asks “Where is your brother?” it means you are responsible for him… where is he in your love? In your care? In your thoughts? Are you paying attention to him? How is his spiritual life?
Again, what does God want? For Cain to confess
He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
This is a lie. Cain buried his brother with his own hands to cover his act
Lying comes from many reasons, but the two biggest ones are
Fear – fear of embarrassment, fear of something they did, etc.
For a reward – to receive praise, or honor that doesn’t belong to him
Sin brings sin. Jealousy brought anger brought murder brought lying etc.
The devil is not satisfied with one sin. Judas sold Christ – for the devil, that wasn’t enough. He pushed Judas to suicide.
And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”
When we raise our children, we teach them to confess their sins. When they do something wrong, they need to tell us. And we make them know that it is wrong.
Blood has a voice – has a crying out. And if the blood of Abel has a voice – what do you think the sinless Blood of Christ is saying? This is the point St Paul makes in Hebrews 12 – “You have come to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
“This is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you.
God told Adam “Cursed is the ground for your sake” but when Cain killed, God said “You are cursed from the ground”
For Adam it was – work hard so you can eat. For the man who hates is brother – work hard and you still may not eat and you won’t be satisfied with what you eat
“You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;” (Haggai 1:6)
A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.
Shouldn’t the price of murder be death?
God gives Cain an opportunity to repent. Abel will go to paradise – but Cain still needs time to repent
If God extends our life it doesn’t mean that we are righteous – it means that we need to repent
Vagabond (Lost)
Most of the people in the world are vagabonds – they’re lost. Just wandering. Might get married, get a job, live… but he’s lost. And it’s because he doesn’t know his purpose in life. Doesn’t know he was created in God’s image, to glorify God, to prepare for an eternal life. He’s just focusing on the earthly life. He’s just living because he’s alive.
“Let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die” (Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, Proverbs, Luke, 1 Corinthians)
God’s will and plan is for us to love. When you love, you become like God. Love God and love men.
When you find yourself lost, you are lacking love. Forget yourself and remember those around you, and you will find your way
And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!
This sounds like it could be the beginning of repentance!
My punishment is too heavy, I cannot bear it in my heart… Christ replies: “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”
Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”
Feeling of guilt puts blockers in front of your eyes and makes you see things that aren’t there… “I am a failure” – “I am hated” – “Everyone hates me”
The Lord does not desire the death of a sinner but rather that he returns and lives… it’s like imagine a doctor who when someone sick comes to him, he says “get away from me you’re sick” – what kind of doctor would this be? No, a doctor goes to those who are sick.
There are stories of people who committed a murder and after 20 years, they went and confessed and turned themselves in… even after the lawsuits had closed and people stopped looking for them. Why did they turn themselves in? Because the feeling of guilt was like a prison in their mind that was worse than any prison in the world.
Look at how scared Cain is – “Anyone who finds me will kill me” – there’s no one around to kill him and no one is gonna find him… but he’s terrified.
And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.”
If it was me I would say “You deserve it! You brought it upon yourself!” but God is the opposite. He said whoever kills Cain will be avenged seven times more. As if Cain did something good… but God wanted to calm Cain down to bring him to the love of God and to repentance.
And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.
What is a mark? A sign?
St Athanasius says Christ chose death of the Cross to leave us a sign (The Cross)
Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden
Cain left from his parents and from the presence of the Lord. So he is separating himself from the first family…
Someone who makes a mistake might come running to the Church begging for God’s mercy. Someone else makes a mistake and runs away from the Church. St John Chrysostom says “the Church is a hospital for sinners not a courthouse.”
The family of Adam and Eve symbolizes the first Church. Cain thought he would go to be judged, so he left them and their God. He could have went and his parents would tell him “Repent! Offer a sacrifice to God” but instead he left them.
And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch
Where did his wife come from? (Famous question)
Adam and Eve had many more children sons and daughters. And back then in order to populate the earth, it was okay for them to marry their brother or sister until there were many nations.
And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son – Enoch.
This is the first time we hear of a city. And even until we read about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we will see that God does not really like this idea of cities. Cities represent something that is earthly.
Cain built a city without God or anyone telling him too. It’s as if he now associates himself with the ground… tiller of the ground, killed his brother in the field, buries his brother in the ground, cursed is the ground to him, built a city on the earth… it’s as if he doesn’t look up to heaven at all. Many people are like that and don’t give God a thought
What is the name Enoch? Has nothing to do with God
To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
So all of these are the descendants of Cain, and of course, they don’t know who God is. They are living away from Adam and Eve’s family. They are learning from Cain who is not mentioning God at all… so they are raised away from God completely.
Then Lamech took for himself two wives
This is against what God said in Genesis 2… so of course they had no idea about God’s word or God’s law.
The name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
Then Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”
Here we start to see an example of the descendants of Cain’s behavior… taking multiple wives, murder anyone who hurts them, even killing children, thinking that they will be avenged by God… this becomes the way of the land. This is completely opposite of what God intended for Adam and Eve and humanity.
And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”
Seth is of course the grandfather of Christ
And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord.
This is an indication that Cain’s family did not call on the name of the Lord. But Seth and his family were children of God.
"For 'whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved'" (Romans 10:13)
Genesis 5
This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.
This is reviewing Genesis 1 of course
And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
The image and likeness kept going despite the Fall.
