Cain, Abel, & Life Outside The Garden

Read Genesis 4

In the fourth chapter of Genesis, we get the first glimpse of what life was like outside of the garden. Cain and Abel both brought an offering to the Lord. Abel’s was accepted while Cain’s was not. Mark Driscoll comments that the sin was not what Cain brought in his offering but what Cain brought in his heart. We see further evidence of the effect of Cain’s heart when his anger becomes so great that he kills his brother Abel. God reminds us here that sin’s desire is to rule over us as it is always “crouching at the door”. And if we do not take seriously the insight from God that we MUST rule over it, we see that the results are catastrophic! The first city ever established is further evidence of this truth. The city, Enoch, was named after Cain’s son. In this first city we see trade, commerce, poetry, musical instruments, and forged tools. But none of these things were used for the glory of God. The city was entirely selfish and Godless. Polygamy was even introduced by an arrogant poet named Lamech, who referred to his wives as “wives of Lamech”.
A huge point that develops in Genesis 4 is that we must see sin as God sees sin. It is a matter of the heart. You can go through all of the motions and outwardly look very religious. But if your whole heart is not in it, the sin that is crouching at the door will eventually consume you. We also learn that God redeems a people for his glory. In the close of the chapter, God blesses Adam and Eve with another son, Seth. It was at this time that people began to call upon the name of the Lord.