Bible Basics: Genesis 4-5
Genesis 4
Trouble in the Family
Verses 1–2: Adam and Eve conceive a son, who they name Cain. Note that Eve acknowledges this gift is from God. Despite their disobedience in the garden of Eden and fall from innocence, God still loves them and is very involved in the details of their lives. They also give birth to another son, Abel. Cain farmed, while Abel was a shepherd.
3–7: We saw the concepts of human work, purpose, and achievement in the garden. Now, we get the first glimpse of an offering: bringing back to God the fruit of one’s labor to acknowledge, honor, and thank him for life, provision, ability, and success. Cain brings some of his produce, while Abel offers the best parts of the first of his flock. It seems the former was making a token gesture, wishing to keep the best for himself. Abel, on the other hand, didn’t spare a thing. He had a truly grateful heart that wanted to bless God.
When God sees through Cain’s actions to his heart and reacts with disapproval, Cain becomes very angry. God calls him out: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”. Even though Cain dishonors him, God still reaches out in love, trying to steer him away from the self-destructive path of sin: “But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it” (v. 7).
8: Instead of accepting God’s offer for forgiveness and change, Cain stubbornly wanders farther down the path away from God and his ways. He lures his brother into a field, lets jealousy run its full course, and him kills him.
9: God gives Cain another opportunity to own his bad choices by asking where Abel is. Again, Cain refuses to take responsibility for the wrong he’s done; instead, he tries to hide it from God (as if!).
10–12: Nonetheless, God holds him accountable. Now the work God intended as blessing, provision, and purpose will no longer be difficult—it will be impossible. Instead of farming, having a settled place in life, he’ll have to make do as he can, restless and wandering.
13–16: Cain feels overwhelmed by his punishment. He’ll now be separated from God’s direct presence, and his lifestyle will physically reflect the spiritual reality of his heart. Inwardly, he’ll have no rest. He’s removed from immediate family and fears that those he encounters will kill him. Despite his determined rebellion, God still exhibits love for this prodigal son by ensuring impartial justice to anyone who kills him. God won’t grant forgiveness to an unrepentant heart, but will execute loving justice wherever it’s needed.
Cain and Sons Leave God
17–18: After an unknown period of time has passed, Cain marries and begins to have children. He tries to create a settled life for himself by building a city.
19–24: Cain’s descendants follow his example by continuing to live contrary to God’s ways. Lamech exemplifies this by marrying two women vs. one, and killing a young man who wounded him. (1)
God Keeps on Giving
25–26: God grants Adam and Eve another son, Seth. With Abel gone and Cain unwilling, this offers another opportunity for humanity to follow God and his ways, even if imperfectly. It also affords a chance for ultimate reconciliation between humanity and God, as their Messiah, Jesus, eventually comes through this line. Despite their distance from God after the fall in Eden, people are beginning to seek God.
Chapter 5
How We Began
1–2: God summarizes the human story by stating again that he made all of us in his image. His blessing is a reminder that he is for us—he wants to see us thrive in life.
3–17: More specifically, God recounts our story by listing the line of Adam, through Seth.
18–24: Enoch so faithfully walks with God that he becomes one of only two people in history (see Elijah’s story in 2 Kings 2) to escape death, and enter heaven directly.
25–32: The rest of Adam’s line to Noah and his sons is recorded.
(1) https://www.gotquestions.org/land-of-Nod.html