Here in chapter four, we see the first offerings brought to God. We aren't told if this was commanded by God, taught by parents, or purely an unmotivated, free will offering. I have heard messages preached that Cain's sacrifice was not accepted because it was not a blood sacrifice, but look at what God says in verse 7. "...if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." Evidently, there was more going on here than just the type of sacrifice offered. Cain seemed to be a sullen, rebellious person. When God rejected his offering, he became mad and sulked. Jealous of his brother, he then killed him. When God questioned him about the whereabouts of Able, Cain lied and gave God a short and disrespectful answer. Cain was insolent toward God. An attitude like this can only bring destruction to our lives. God separated Cain from his family and he became a fugitive.

Sin will separate us from all the good things in our lives. When God chastises us, or shows us something is wrong in our lives, we need to repent and go on from there and try to do better. Resenting God's authority and being jealous of others will only bring us pain and heartbreak.

So Cain left his family and moved to Nod where he married, had a family and built a city. We are not told where Cain's wife came from. It is commonly believed that he married his sister. This view is presented in the book of Jubilees, a Jewish apocalypic work from the second century B.C. which mentions that Cain married his sister, Awan (Jubilees 4:1).

After tracing the line of Cain (which starts and ends here in violence), Moses returns to Adam and Eve and begins tracing a new line of people with their next son, Seth. With this new son, men began to call upon the name of the Lord once again.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

1) Why do you think Cain's offereing was not acceptable?

2) What kind of mark do you think God put on Cain to keep someone from killing him?

3) Where do you believe Cain's wife came from?

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