I have asked myself this question over and over again, why did Cain kill his brother? When I read the verse and chapter in the bible Abel had no role in the events leading to his death. A look under the microscope however reveals some important truths that I want to share with you today.
Gen 4:2-8
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 Over time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
The Bible is crystal clear that Cain was angry at God’s ruling and so he took his anger upon innocent Abel. Even when God had tried to talk it out with him he still went on to commit this evil deed. What was he trying to achieve with this you may wonder? To get back at God! Can a man even score with God? No not at all he is no match.
We also learn from other commentaries that God had first taught the offering ceremony to our first parents Adam and Eve after the fall where he killed a lamb to atone for their first transgression committed in the Garden of Eden. This lesson was to be perpetuated to future generations until the coming of the Messiah who was the exemplification who then was to atone for the human race by his sacrifice on the cross.
What lessons can be drawn from this piece of scripture? Every time the word of God is taught or preached there are two resultant groups of people, the Cains and the Abels. Be it at home, at school, workplace, or even at church there will always be these two. In this lesson, I would like to focus on the church setting. The Abels are obedient to the message given but the Cains for some reason do not agree with the object lesson and seek their own will or the dictates of man instead.
Their anger and resentment towards God the lawgiver is however turned towards his innocent children who want to please him at all times. So who are these Cains you may wonder? They are our close family, friends, colleagues, and brethren whom we interact with daily. Have you ever wondered how at times it’s the people who are closer to you who can tempt you to turn your back against God? Realizing that she had transgressed Eve went on to lure her husband to alike transgress.
Matt 12:46-50
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
I have compiled for you the three types of Cains to look out for in your daily life. The first one is the original Cain from Genesis. This type will hate the fact that God approves of your sacrifice and way of life they will seek to end your life instantly.
Matt 14:3-9
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people because they considered him a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
Secondly, we have the administrators and the satraps Cains. These hate the fact that your life is pleasing to God they will seek to find reasons or charges to pin on you so that your reputation is tarnished. Trust me there are such people in your sphere including professed followers of Christ.
Dan 6:3-5
Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so.
They could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”
Thirdly we have the Pharisees and Sadducee’s Cains. These will falsify information about you so that people may look at you the wrong way or view you as a bad person or criminal.
Matt 28:11-15
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him (Jesus’ body) away while we were asleep.’
14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Each time you face such circumstances in your life you ought to tell yourself this one thing, “they are doing this not because they hate me but the one inside of me”. Like Daniel, you will be lifted from the den without any wound because you trusted in God.
Like John, it will be said that you are ‘more than a prophet’ because you believed and persevered and like Jesus, no one will be able to erase your legacy. Your story will grow and spread throughout the four corners of the world and bring many to salvation. At the end, it will be said of you ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
God bless you as you continue trusting and holding onto his dear hands. See you in the next lesson.
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