I am taking seminary classes again, and as part of one of those classes I had to do a devotional to open one of our class periods. I thought I would share my notes.
Genesis 4
[Read chapter 4]
Cain (Qayin) can mean “spear(er)” or “craftsman”, but it also sounds like the word for “possession.” Consider, too, that this is a man who killed his brother (so “spearer” applies) and built a city for his son Enoch (so “craftsman” applies).
The meaning of Abel (havel) is “breath” or “vapor”. This is the word used in Ecclesiastes, “Meaningless, meaningless,” “vapor of vapors!” It can give in inclination of emptiness or fleeting time, which is true of Abel.
Names [should] have meaning. People question if the biblical people really had those names.
Karl Marx (Man of War – more people killed in the 20th Century under his teaching and the wars [cold or otherwise] and famines that ensued), Usain Bolt (runner, “bolt” like lightning), Scott Speed (racecar driver), Daniel Michael Klem (God is my judge, who is like [my] God, [full of] Mercy – became a pastor)
The biblical names really could have been what are listed.
Look at Cain’s lineage, and “spearhead” makes more sense, knowing his descendants were also wicked and even worse.
It is believed (the text gives no reason not to) that Cain and Abel were the first two humans born.
Cain has taken on the job given to their father – to work and keep the ground – while Abel is tending flocks. We see they are taking the mantle of priests from their parents, as well.
Their parents most likely taught them what happened while in the Garden and the “sacrifice” God made to cover their shame. Is this why they bring offerings?
People ask why God rejected Cain’s offering:
- Cain brought some produce.
- Abel brought the fattened firstborn.
- More than likely, this is saying Abel brought the best and showed devotion, but Cain brought whatever he grabbed with a sense of obligation: “I have to do this, so let’s get it over with.”
- As Hebrews 11:4 states, Abel did it by faith.
Now compare this with Seth, whose name means “Appointed” (v. 25), and his son Enosh (v. 26), which means “mortal man” (literally, “frail flesh”) or with an implication of weakness or sickness.
It is at this time (ch. 5: 130 + 105 = 235 years after the Garden) that people started calling on the Name of the Lord: religion is born.
Why this comparison?
It took over 200 years for religion to start, yet we see offerings being made to God before this.
Keep in mind God still appeared to humanity up to at least 130 years after the Fall. How do we know? Ch. 5 states Adam was about 130 when Seth was born, so Cain could have been at least 129 years old (depending on many factors.)
God still spoke and even walked the earth with people (remember Enoch a few generations away), and there may have been few enough people that personal interactions could be common.
Consider, too, v.16: Nod, east of Eden.
Cain joined his parents in banishment, but he is sent to a land which is called “the land of Wandering.” Again, a name that states reality. Was this merely a description or the actual name of the place?
And consider that his descendants wandered further from God. (It’s also interesting that many names in both lineages are similar/identical)
Look back at what happened:
God explained His displeasure with a warning to Cain: v. 7.
- Cain was told to rule over his desires/emotions rather than let his emotions and temptations rule him.
- Compare to ruling over creation. A demotion of status but call to be greater.
- In his anger, though, Cain did not converse with God, he talked his brother into going into a field to kill him.
- When this one who “keeps the ground” finally replies to God, it’s a lie told in self-defense: Am I, “the possession,” the one who holds onto (tends/keeps) my brother?
- The same word of command to Adam for the Garden is the word Cain uses about his relationship to Abel.
- We see that Cain cares more for Himself, and he is driven from the land he worked.
- Compare with his parents driven from the Garden. He wanders outside of the main entrance: an attempt to show control over God?
- Cain’s grandnephew gets to see the rise of religion.
Religion in and of itself is not bad, keeping in mind James tells (1:26-27) us the religion God accepts.
So what can we glean from this?
To go crazy with the allegorizing, Cain is great reminder to not simply go through the motions or try to do things on our own, remembering he essentially was tasked as a priest of God, yet he is the reminder to rein in our tongues and our emotions, or, like James said chapters 1 and 3 (with Paul in Ephesians 4:14), we are like rudderless ships tossed by the sea.
Or we find ourselves wandering – mentally, emotionally, spiritually – even when we look settled.
Instead, we should take after Seth and his lineage and call on the name of the Lord. He alone can give us peace. It is His Name that is important and saves.
[Micah 6:8, Matthew 22:37-40, James 1:27]
We are supposed to care for and help each other, tend to each others’ needs, and give all that we have and are to God.
[As seminarians and priests in Christ’s Church, this looks like doing all of our homework and readings, and helping each other stay focused and encouraged, not grumbling and complaining (lament is okay). It is giving our all in ministry, even when we are tired and have to finish several assignments. It is loving the people around us, even when we just want to finish our work and take a nap (not necessarily in that order).]
So, may we be people who seek God and His glory, ruling over our emotions and weaknesses to be less like aimless Cain and more like faithful Christ.
a simple man of God 