A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

abandon Cain. Rather the Lord came to Cain and asked him a series of three probing questions that should
have helped him understand his real problem. “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If
you do well, will you not be accepted?” (Gen. 4:6-7)
As Cain began to think through this series of questions, he was being forced to recognize his own
failure. His countenance was fallen because he was angry. He was angry because he thought God had unjustly
rejected his offering. But deep down inside he must have known that God would have accepted him and his
offering if he had done what was right.
God offered Cain another chance. God told Cain, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And
if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door” (v. 7, KJV). There is a question concerning the word sin what was
at the door? There are two ways this word has been interpreted. First, the Old Testament uses the same word
for sin and sin offering. God could have told Cain there was an animal at the door that he could use for a sin
offering. This first view emphasizes the grace of God. Even though Cain brought the wrong offering, now
God was giving him a second chance to bring a blood offering. The second view interprets sin to be the
imminent judgment that is on the other side of the door of opportunity. The Scriptures are silent concerning
any response to the Lord’s questions on the part of Cain.
When a man chooses to live life his own way, his ability to communicate with God or others is greatly
influenced by his decision. When one directs anger toward God, it is not long before he does not feel like
engaging in prayer and Bible study and begins to find it difficult to get along with others. That was the
experience of Cain. Not only did Cain have difficulty responding to God, he soon could not communicate with
his brother. “Now Cain talked with Abel his brother” (v. 8), but the word used to describe that conversation is
significantly different than one would expect. The word ‘amar used here is almost always followed by the
statement which was spoken. Here there is nothing recorded that Cain said, implying he had nothing to say.
Some ancient versions recognized the significance of this word and added the phrase, “Let us go out to the
field” (Samaritan Pentateuch, LXX, Syriac, Vulgate). The emphasis of the statement here is “Now Cain said
to Abel his Brother . . . “ but the words just didn’t seem to come.
RESPONDING TO GOD
The Way of Cain The Way of the Lord
1 Offering of anything to God Giving God the first and finest
2 Anger toward God for personal sin Repentance toward God for personal sin
3 Fallen countenance The joy of the Lord
4 Ignoring God Obeying God
5 Hating (murdering) his brother Loving God and others, even your enemies
6 Denying personal responsibilities Accepting personal responsibility
7 Accusing God of injustice Accepting God’s judgment and
confessing sin
8 Cutting oneself off from God Seeking to please God by faith and growing
into a greater intimacy with God
THE WICKEDNESS OF CAIN (Gen. 4:8-15)
Cain is best remembered by most Christians today not for his sacrifice to the Lord, but rather his
slaying of Abel. But why would a man like Cain kill his own brother? The Bible answers this question of
motive noting, “Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). When a man allows