Adam Beecher, pastor of New City Church in Ankeny, speaks to the students about Cain and Abel. He looks at the story of Scripture from the very beginning and gives context to how God first gives whispers of the gospel. He looks at the root of anger and the type of love Cain and Abel had for God.

Scripture Texts

Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 12:24; Matthew 5:21-22

Main Points or Ideas

The Enemy Within

• Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd—both fulfilling God's commission to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion
• Cain brought "an offering of the fruit of the ground" while Abel brought "the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions"
• God regarded (literally "saw") Abel's sacrifice but did not see Cain's
• The difference: Abel was generous, giving the best and trusting God for the rest; Cain's offering lacked faith
• Hebrews 11:4 reveals Abel offered by faith and was commended as righteous
• Cain became very angry and his face fell—his heart was hard
• God's counsel (the first counseling session in the Bible): "Why are you angry? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it"
• This is the first mention of the word "sin" in the Bible
• God warns about a new kind of enemy—not the serpent in the garden, but an enemy within
• Cain represents the first Pharisee—his sacrifice was transactional, wanting God's blessings without wanting God himself
• Application: Why are you here at college? Do you expect God to give you things (career, spouse, life) in exchange for your time and religious obligations? Or do you worship Him because He's worthy?

The Blood That Cries Out

• Cain lured Abel to the field and killed him—the first murder in the Bible
• When God asked "Where is Abel?" Cain lied ("I don't know") and responded with sarcasm ("Am I my brother's keeper?")
• The biblical answer to "Am I my brother's keeper?" is a resounding yes—we are to care for one another
• God's strange statement: "The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground"
• This reveals that when lifeblood is shed and injustice happens, it is deafening to God—He hears it
• God is fair and moved by injustice
• The curse intensified: in Eden, toil came; now Cain is cursed from the ground itself as a farmer
• Cain's ironic plea: he fears murderers when he himself is a murderer—sin makes us irrational
• Despite Cain being a monster and murderer deserving severe punishment, God showed him grace by putting a mark on him for protection
• God is on the side of sinners (not for their sin) and extends grace even to monsters

The Better Word

• Jesus is the hero of the story, and like Abel, He is a faithful shepherd who was innocent yet killed
• Abel's blood cried out "Avenge me!"—calling for justice to be made right
• Hebrews 12:24 says Jesus' "sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel"
• When Abel died, his blood worsened the curse; when Jesus died, His blood overturned the curse
• Jesus' blood cries out "Forgive them!"—this is why He's the hero
• As Jesus was being murdered, He said "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing"
• God doesn't lose His sense of justice, but He is also gracious, merciful, loving, and long-suffering
• Jesus offers salvation to all and forgives murderers—Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, was a murderer whom Jesus forgave

Conclusion

The gospel is a story with a beautiful beginning, an awful conflict with the serpent and the sin nature within, but ultimately a hero who saves the day. As teachers and advocates of the gospel, believers must tell people about the blood that speaks—what Jesus' blood says for them. His blood speaks the word of forgiveness that we all need, the resolution we long for, bringing peace and restoration to God.