Genesis chapter 4 is a story of “firsts.” Throughout the 26 verses that make up this chapter, we see many first-time activities described, that set the stage for what will take place as the story of Scripture continues.
- The first child was born to Adam and Eve (v.1)
- The first sacrifices to God were recorded (v.3-4)
- The first rejection of a sacrifice was made by God (v.5)
- The first murder took place (v.8)
- The first city was built, as the idea of industry was initiated (v. 17)
- The first example of bigamy was recorded (v.19)
- For the first time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord (v.26)
All these firsts are significant. Some are indicators of God’s favor and blessing upon humanity – children being born, life continuing even after Eden, gifts being offered to God in worship of Him.
As humanity developed and the world grew, God was still very much involved, and people understood their rightful place in relation to Him.
But there were also many firsts that were the cascading results of sin. This much is clear from the Lord’s encounter with Cain, Abel’s brother and Adam and Eve’s first-born son.
He had been the hope and joy of his parents -the first child actually born on the earth. Humanity’s first experience with pregnancy and birth, the first infant to arrive in the world, Cain was a child of promise. Undoubtedly, his parents had high hopes for him, and wondered at this gift from the Lord.
But sin was hidden in Cain’s heart. Of course, it had been built into him because of the fall. The sin of his parents had brought a curse upon all humanity, and Cain was the first in line to inherit it. And this is why things so quickly spiraled.
According to God’s words to him in verse 7, sin was “crouching at the door” of Cain’s heart. God warned that sin’s desire was FOR Cain – that sin wanted to corrupt him, to govern him, to ruin him. He was told to “rule over it”, to exercise self-control, to submit to God and turn away from the sin that was rising up in him.
Cain was angry. He and Abel had brought sacrifices to God – Cain some of the firstfruits of the ground (he was a gardener), and Abel an animal sacrifice, whose blood had been shed. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted, but Cain’s was rejected. The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament tells us that this was because Abel’s offering was made “in faith.” Cain, most likely, offered his out of obligation, or maybe out of pride (“Look what I grew with my own hands!”). Whatever it was, the rejection made Cain furious. God knew his heart, knew what he was feeling and thinking, and stepped in to warn him.
Isn’t that a merciful act on God’s part? To step in the way to try to prevent His child from sinning, rather than sitting back and letting him act like a fool without regard to consequences? I’ve experienced this in my own life – God giving warnings, putting roadblocks in the way, acting mercifully to try keeping me from temptation.
Cain was warned – sin was rising up in him, threatening to corrupt him. God implored him to rule over it, to turn away from it, to resist the urge to give in to the sin nature trying to rule over him.
But Cain didn’t heed the warning. He committed the first murder, acting out in rage and ending his brother’s life.
And, as we read the rest of the chapter, sin continued to spread. Anger, fear, curses, bigamy, more murder. Cain’s sin didn’t just involve Cain. It affected the people around him and carried consequences upon future generations.
And this is a clear example of the poison of sin. It infects a person’s heart and makes them do evil things, but then it goes on to affect the people around him and can even wreak havoc on future generations, impacting families, communities, and even societies.
Sin inflicts damage on not just the perpetrator, but also collateral damage on the world around him.
And this is why we must resist. We must “rule over it.” We must learn that sin/the devil/the flesh are all contrary to pure and godly living, and that we have an enemy who wants to ruin anything good in our lives. We must have awareness, discernment, wisdom, boldness, confidence, and strength in God to rule over the things inside of us that can poison our hearts and damage our lives.
Remember and live by the words of 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”