Adam and Eve start populating the earth in chapter 4. First Eve bears Cain and later she has Abel. Don’t you know she was smacking her head with each painful contraction, thinking, Stupid Eve! All this misery for one lousy bite of fruit!
Abel grows up to be a shepherd and Cain becomes a farmer. The Bible says 3Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock, and goes on to say God was pleased with Abel’s gift, but not Cain’s. Now at first blush it seems like God just prefers a good steak over veggies until I realized that He’s not in the business of being petty. It wasn’t what Cain brought, but the condition of his heart that God was displeased with and that bad attitude was only the beginning.
One would think humankind would sort of ease into the whole sinning thing. But mortal number three jumps right in with both feet. Anger, jealousy, lying, and the big one – murder. And not, “oops, I only meant to scare or hurt you,” murder, either. Here’s a great argument for nature over nurture, don’t you think? Cain lures Abel out to the field and then kills him because he was angry that God liked Abel’s offering better.
God asks Cain where his brother is, a rhetorical question because, you know. He’s God. He knows everything. But Cain doesn’t catch on to this so he lies and gives God a snotty answer. Do you think he believed for a second he could possibly get away with offing his brother? Why else would he lie to God? Well anyway, he doesn’t get away with it and is cursed with wandering the earth and a black thumb.
He then has the audacity to whine to God about his punishment! I can’t bear this punishment. You’re driving me from the land. I’ll be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless wanderer. Whoever finds me will kill me. Wah, wah, wah. Dude! You killed your brother! Let’s add selfishness to his list of character flaws. But God is merciful and marks Cain so that no one will kill him lest they suffer vengeance seven times over. I guess God wasn’t into smiting yet.
Wait a minute. Back up a tad. Right there. Do you see that? “…whoever finds me…” That would indicate there are more than just three people on the earth. In fact, as you read on you find out that Cain goes to the land of Nod, east of Eden, and has a wife. Where did these people come from? I’ve heard different theories, but I’d like to hear yours.
A six generation genealogy of Cain’s family is given and the writer thinks it’s worth mentioning that his great, great, great grandson, Lamech, kills a young man just for wounding him. Verse 24 says, If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times. Forget God’s justice. He just took care of the situation himself. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?
At the end of the chapter Eve gives birth to a third son, Seth, to carry on the family line. Seth fathered Enosh and at that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. At least Seth’s family seemed to get it.
Discussion Questions:
1. Did Cain think God didn’t know he’d killed Abel?
2. Where did the other people come from?
I don’t think Cain was thinking, which is why he chose to backchat to the Creator. He was probably in panic mode. What’s fascinating to me here is that as you indicate, one would think that folks would ease into sin, but that’s certainly not the case. Though goodness and light were/are plentiful, it seems evil and darkness were available choices even then.
Where did the other people come from? My guess is that even though Eve’s 3 children were spoken of, she might’ve had daughters who didn’t receive any press. But that doesn’t answer who they might’ve married, etc. So all that to say…I don’t have any idea. Thanks for making me think.
By: gretchen on June 28, 2009
at 3:05 pm
I think Cain thought alot like my preschoolers at school think or even my own teenage children think. They know I know but they figure if they talk fast enough or creative enough I will either forget what happened or give them points for being creative. For example, for Mother’s Day I got one chocolate bar (yes, just one SMALL bar) My husband told all the children “this is mom’s, don’t eat it” I still had four choclate covered mouths looking at me saying “you must have forgot you ate the rest.” (and this is TEEN+AGE CHILDREN)
As for Cain’s offering I think the key is in the word “some fruit offerings” It doesn’t say ,one of each fruit or the best friuts,or most of the best friuts. Where as, Abel gave the fat potions or possibly the plumpest, best meat. He didn’t save back better pieces for himself.
I have always wondered where the people of Nod came from , there are many theories on the History Channel. Most I can’t remember at the moment. But I think God created more people after Eden. They aren’t mentioned since they didn’t know God yet. They simply existed without God in their hearts. Does that mean God knew Cain’s action before Cain knew or did God whip up wives “overnight”? Idk??
By: Bev on June 29, 2009
at 12:00 am
Bev – You’re exactly right about Cain’s offering. It was just “some of the fruits”, probably whatever Cain thought he could do without.
Gretchen and Bev – you both touched on theories I’ve heard.
1 – Eve bore many children, including daughters. At that time their genetics were so pure that there was no harm in intermarriage.
2 – God created other humans after the Great Creation.
Frankly I don’t care. lol It’s just interesting to ponder.
Thanks for playing along!!
By: Jennifer on June 29, 2009
at 12:22 am
Cain has typical oldest child syndrome! I’ve seen this attitude in my own oldest child. “You love baby brother better. Baby brother never gets in trouble. I get blamed for everything! So on and so on!” Why is it that oldest children feel this way?
Maybe, it’s because Cain’s parents screwed him up. We know that the fruit was “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom” but could it have been and aphrodisiac also? Maybe, afte Eve at the fruit she found Adam extremely attractive and vice versa. Maybe they experience a Blue Lagoon moment in the Garden of Eden and the shame they felt was not only from being naked but also having sex. Fast forward nine months and the evidence of that shame shows up in bodily form – Cain. Now every time you look at this child it reminds you of what you’ve done.
I think Cain knew full well that God knew he killed Abel. Cain may have been “acting out” not only with his parents but ultimately God. Then of course, God poses the rhetorical question hoping he’ll fess up. I’ve done this many times with my own kids. I know they’ve done wrong but I want them to confess so they get the benefit of confession. God did the same question and answer bit with Adam and Eve. God goes easier on us when confess our sins just as I tend to go easier on my own kids when they’re honest. Honesty leads to trust and a more mature healthier relationship. Cain, obviously wasn’t growing up anytime soon!
One particular theory I’ve heard about the “other people” was of course, that Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters. But it expounded on the fact that siblings could intermarry because their physical bodies were closer to God’s original design meaning their bodies were healthier because sin had not taken as much of a toll as present day. It certainly sounds logical especially now as we see increased problems not on our bodies but also in the environment.
By: Laura on June 30, 2009
at 8:46 pm
Laura – “oldest child syndrome”. LOL!
That’s the theory of the “others” that I’ve heard, too.
By: Jenster on July 3, 2009
at 12:53 am
One more thing, Laura. Do you think they felt shame for having sex? I always looked at that as a gift from God and not something shameful (as long as it’s within His boundaries) from the very beginning. Hmmm… Something else to ponder…
By: Jenster on July 3, 2009
at 12:55 am