Cain & Abel (Genesis 4:1-15)

I know up to now, these meditations have been lengthy. The first few chapters of Genesis are so crucial, that it could not be otherwise. Genesis 1-3’s importance called for a significant focus, and that’s what I offered. But this week, I’m thinking it won’t be as lengthy. We turn to the short, condense and packed story of Cain and Abel.

Abel is a shepherd. Cain is a farmer. And Adonai is one who receives offerings. That Adonai – deemed Adonai in the text – is a deity to which offerings are given, this is not novel. However, in the biblical story as a whole, it comes early. We haven’t gotten to Abraham yet! No covenant has been established between God and people yet. But here is a kind of proto-covenant being established. Humans out of devotion to Adonai provide an offering of gratitude to “him.”

Another thing we ought to note is that we are way before Torah, or any kind of divine mandates when it comes to the make up of an offering to Adonai. There are no rules and regulations proclaiming what Adonai wants in an offering. Both Cain and Abel are working on the basis of their own prerogative and judgment.

Abel the shepherd offers one of his flock as an offering to Adonai. Cain offers produce.

Now, the text doesn’t given any reason at all why, but simply states in verses 4 and 5 of Genesis 4, “Adonai accepted Abel and his offering but did not accept Cain and his offering.”

What’s interesting about this is that it’s not just the actual offering being accepted and rejected. The person behind the offerings is included in the acceptance and rejection. Adonai accepts Abel and does not accept Cain. Why?

Is it the specifics of the offering? Maybe Adonai expected an offering that included blood, not produce. And so Adonai was displeased that Cain, a farmer, himself without access to sheep, didn’t ask for his brother’s help to offer up a more pleasing offering. Maybe pride got in the way, and Cain offered what he knew to be inferior to Adonai (though Adonai hasn’t made anything clear yet).

But how was Cain to know what Adonai preferred?

I don’t think the reason for Adonai’s rejection had anything to do with the specifics of the offering. Nor do I think Adonai was discerning, judging, accepting or rejecting the personhood of Cain (or Abel).

Adonai’s rejection of Cain and his offering was time and attitude specific. Something about Cain’s attitude at the time of his otherwise acceptable offering displeased Adonai.

What about his nature at that time displeased Adonai so?

To answer that, we must expand our scope and look elsewhere at the Hebrew scripture. Hosea 6:6 is especially helpful. It offers a sentiment found elsewhere in scripture, but is wonderfully clear and concise: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of Adonai rather than burnt offerings."

It might be that Cain, when he presented Adonai his beautiful fruit and produce, was not so beautiful in spirit. Maybe Cain wasn’t in the right frame of mind. Maybe he lacked appropriate reverence and gratitude. Maybe he was not pleased to be there and presented his offering out of mere expectation not real sincerity.

We know Adonai wants a joyful giver. We know Adonai prefers a soft heart more than anything else. We know Adonai seeks to be deeply known. Maybe, when it comes to spiritual attitude, Cain fails this time when he offers what he has to offer.

Whatever the case may be, Adonai rejects Cain’s offering and Cain himself in this moment of offering.

Things go downhill from there. Cain becomes angry and dark (v. 6). Despite Adonai’s warning that sin was “crouching at his door (v. 7)”, Cain doesn’t stand down. Out of anger, he kills his brother (v. 8).
In the wake of the ghastly act, Adonai goes seeking after Cain.

Adonai knows what’s happened. Adonai asks where Abel is. Cain, in a state of defensiveness and buried guilt, famously replies – and lies. “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper? (v. 9)”

Adonai, heart-broken and anguished, cries out the question, “What have you done (v. 10)?” Adonai can’t help but to convict Cain with a severe consequence. The consequence? No yield from the land and a life of homelessness and wandering (vs. 11-12). Cain gets life without parole as a fugitive.

With Adonai’s words, Cain finally realizes the severity of his crime and the consequence. To Adonai, he states, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. You are banning me today from the land and from your presence. I will be a fugitive wandering the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me (vs. 13-14).”

The fear of human retribution, well, in an act of grace, Adonai will protect Cain from being a target of vengeance. That is taken off the table for Adonai "himself" and for anyone else (v. 15). With this gift of grace, Adonai makes clear to Cain his presence will not completely disappear. Through the grace of Adona’s protection, Adonai will remain present with Cain even if Eden will never be home again.

Is there hope for Cain in the next life? Well, that’s jumping forward maybe a bit too much. But Christ, and his forgiveness via and from the Cross, is a powerful bridge home!