Raising Cain

RAISING CAIN
(By Dan Richardson)

Jude, a servant of Christ, wrote by inspiration to admonish Christians to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).  The need for this is apparent by the warning in the next verse: "For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (vs. 4).  In further description, Jude said, "Woe unto them!  For they went in the way of Cain ..." (vs. 11).  They had raised (resurrected) Cain by imitating his spirit and behavior.  From Genesis 4, consider what this involved.

HE DISHONORED HIS NAME (v 1).  At his birth his mother praised and thanked God for blessing them with a son: "I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah".  Based upon this fact, she gave him the name Cain, which means "to get".  Every mention of his name would be a reminder of God's goodness and blessing to that family.  But Cain disgraced his name with behavior that disregarded God's help and guidance.  .  Solomon said, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches... (Proverbs 22:1; cf. Ecclesiastes 7:1). 

HE REBELLED AGAINST GOD (v 2-7).  "And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah" (3).  In a time when many laud any and every religious effort of man, the text says that with respect to Cain's offering, God "had not respect" (5).  But why?  The epistle to the Hebrews states, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous" (Hebrews 11:4).  Abel's response "by faith" necessary implies that God gave commandment regarding which offering would please Him.  Saving faith is never separated from God's word, but is always in response to it (Romans 10:17). 

Furthermore, for Cain's sacrifice to be displeasing to God, it is equally implied that God communicated His will to Cain, as he did to Abel.  They both heard God's word and understood it.  This is apparent from God's statement to Cain: "If thou doest well, shall it (his countenance, DR) not be lifted up?  And if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it" (7).  Cain was guilty of rebellion - he chose to be guided by his way over God's!  Perhaps it was Cain's pride in his labors and earthly accomplishments, for he was a tiller of the ground (2).  Or, perhaps it was jealousy that his brother could sacrifice from his flocks but he couldn't of his produce.  Or, maybe it was just a matter of convenience with Cain; his fruits from the ground were handy and he wasn't willing to put forth the effort to acquire the necessary animal.  Why he did it is really not that important, because there is never a justifiable reason for disobeying God (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22; Hebrews 3:16-19).

HE MURDERED HIS BROTHER (v 8).  Two factors are mentioned in scripture that contributed to Cain taking his brother's life.  First, he allowed himself to be overcome with wrath (Genesis 4:5).  "But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20).  Second, he was envious of Abel's good sacrifice: "Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 John 3:12). 

Characteristic of those who refused to have God in their knowledge (having instead had a "reprobate mind"), it is said they were "full of envy, murder... etc." (Romans  1:28-29).  While many of us may be assured in our minds that we would never murder our brother, consider these words of the inspired apostle John: "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him" (1 John 3:15).  John's reference to Cain (v. 12) is made in the context of our need to have a heart for brotherly love.  The point is, before Cain actually committed the outward act of murder, he was already one in heart.  And, it's the heart God observes and calls us to focus on (1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 4:23). 

Let us be careful that we don't "raise Cain" by our attitudes and actions.

 

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