WHO IS THE SLAVE?
Genesis 4:6-7Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? 7 If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”
King James Study Bible Notes:
- Introduction to the First Book of Moses Called Genesis
- Gen. 4:6, 7 God approached Cain in love and offered him a chance to correct his mistake. Again God asked convicting questions. He made no accusations. He gave him the opportunity to do well, that is,...
- Gen. 4:8 Cain’s anger had already been noted in verses 5 and 6. Now, in a fit of anger, he murders Abel. Thus begins the long history of human violence and man’s inhumanity to his fellowman. This...
- Matt. 23:34–39 That upon you may come: The generation to which these words are addressed represents the climax of the whole sinful history of the nation, beginning with the murder of Abel by his...
- Forgiveness of Sins: Ephesians 1:7 The word forgiveness literally means “to send off or away.” In Scripture this means separating the sinner from his sin. God accomplishes forgiveness by transferring our sin...
- Heb. 11:4 Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain: In what way was his sacrifice better? Was it because his was animal and Cain’s vegetable? Or his a firstling and Cain’s not the...
- Jude 11 Cain’s heart was not right before God (Gen. 4:1–12). Balaam led Israel to sin (Num. 22–24; 31:8–16; 2 Pet. 2:15; Rev. 2:14). Core (Korah) led a rebellion against Moses and thus against God (...
Introduction to the First Book of Moses Called Genesis
Genesis is the book of beginnings. It records the beginning of time, life, sin, salvation, the human race, and the Hebrew nation. It begins with primeval history centered in four major events: the Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the dispersion of the nations.
Genesis 4
V 1–2: SONS The first two sons of Adam and Eve are Cain (who becomes a worker on the land) and Abel (who becomes a shepherd). V 3–7: SACRIFICE As an offering, Abel sacrifices his best sheep, which pleases God, but Cain’s bloodless offering does not please Him. God warns Cain about sin. V 8–12: SIN Sin begins to spread through anger, jealousy and murder, and leads Cain to lie to God. God sees Cain’s sin in murdering Abel, curses him, and makes him homeless. V 13–15: SIGN God puts a sign on Cain, by way of a mark, to protect him and prevent him being killed. V 16–24: SETTLING Cain and his descendants settle in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. V 25–26a: SETH Adam and Eve’s third son is called Seth who later has a son called Enosh. He begins a godly line leading to Abraham, David and eventually Christ. V 26b: START This is the beginning of people calling on the name of the Lord.
Genesis 4:6 "And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen?"
God approached Cain in love and offered him a chance to correct his mistake. Again, God asked convicting questions. He made no accusations.
Genesis 4:7 "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."
God gave Cain the opportunity to do “well” that is, to make the right kind of sacrifice with the right heart attitude. He then warned Cain that an offering of good works would not be accepted.
God reminded Cain that if he had obeyed God and offered the animal sacrifices God had required, his sacrifices would have been acceptable. It wasn’t personal preference on God’s part, or disdain for Cain’s vocation, or the quality of his produce that caused God to reject his sacrifice.
“Sin lieth at the door”: God told Cain that if he chose not to obey His commands, ever-present sin, crouched and waiting to pounce like a lion, would fulfill its desire to overpower him (3:16).
God judges the heart. He saw that Cain's heart was full of sin, jealousy, and even murder. God would not require something that was impossible to do. Cain was trying to take a short cut.
He offered what was easy to acquire and would cost him very little. Cain brought an offering of his choice, rather than an offering that would please God. So many times, we choose to do what we want to do, and not what God has called us to do.
When we fall on our faces in failure, we want to blame anyone, or anything, except ourselves for our failure. God has a perfect plan. We are not happy until we fit into that plan.
God even mentions to Cain, that Cain was the firstborn and would actually rule over his brother, if Cain would straighten up and do what was right. God reminded him that, even then, he was plotting in his heart a terrible sin.
Resources » Asbury Bible Commentary »Part II: The Old Testament » GENESIS »Commentary » I. Primeval History (1:11–11:26) » B. Sin Enters the Created Order (3:1–6:8) » 2. The spread of sin (4:1–16)
2. The spread of sin (4:1-16)
The fall of humankind witnesses the enlargement of sin in terms of its occurrence and intensity. Ch. 4 relates the first murder and its consequences. The logic of alienation from God is alienation from one's fellows. Cain, whose name is derived from the Hebrew qânāh meaning “to get” (v. 1), is brought into confrontation with his younger brother Abel (Heb. “vapour,” “nothingness”). For whatever reason, Abel's offering was accepted by Yhwh, whereas Cain's was not. The predicament thus presented is a common one. Life deals its bitter blows. How will Cain deal with it? Presumably the older brother bore some culpability in the rejection of his offering (cf. v. 7a). The dilemma to do good or evil is dramatically portrayed in the warning Cain receives from God (v. 7). Sin aggressively stalks its prey like a wild animal, eager to destroy the harmony of the created order (cf. 1Pe 5:8). Whereas the serpent illustrated the subtle craftiness of sin, evil is here depicted as powerful and destructive. Yet, nevertheless, it is a force that can be mastered (v. 7b), though, alas, not on this occasion by Cain.
The latter half of the narrative concerns Cain's punishment and has similarities with the judgment of 3:9ff. With inquiry (vv. 9-10), judgment (v. 11), and sentence (v. 12) culminating in banishment (v. 16), Cain is condemned to be a fugitive away from the presence of God yet incomprehensibly marked and protected by the God whom he has offended. Cain has not only been guilty of murder but of lying and insolence to God (v. 9). He has abrogated his responsibility toward his brother (v. 9b). By repeating the term brother three times (vv. 9, 10, 11), God asserts the responsible nature of our existence within the created order. Murder, then, is not only an attack against God's sovereignty over creation in that all life belongs to him, but a strike against the harmony intended between creatures.
☆ Genesis 4:1-16
Cain and Abel (4:1-16)
Adam and Eve’s first two sons, Cain and Abel, maintained a belief in God and presented offerings to him. Abel offered the best of his flock in humble faith and God accepted him. Cain’s attitude was arrogant and his life ungodly, and therefore God rejected him (4:1-5; cf. Heb 11:4; 1 John 3:12 (refs2)). Since the attitude and conduct of the offerer were more important than his gifts, God told Cain that if he wanted God to accept him, he would have to overcome the sin that threatened to destroy him. That sin was like a wild beast crouching at the door, waiting to attack its victim (6-7).
Cain failed to overcome his sin and in jealous anger he killed Abel. His taking of Abel’s life called out for revenge from the one who had given that life. God therefore drove Cain into the barren countryside, away from the place where people, though sinners, at least still worshipped God. Although Cain remained unrepentant, God in his mercy protected him from any possible revenge killing (8-16).
Dictionary of Bible Themes:
- 1443 revelation, in OT The OT bears witness to God’s revelation in the history of Israel and in the inspired testimony of the prophets and other writers of the period. This knowledge of God prepares the way for the full disclosure of God in Jesus Christ in the NT.
- 5004 human race, and sin As a result of the fall, human beings have become separated from God through sin, and are divided amongst themselves. All are in a condition of spiritual blindness, slavery and death, and are incapable of saving themselves from this situation.
- 5082 Adam, significance of Throughout the NT, Adam is seen as a real historical figure, from whom all humanity is descended and by whose sin all humanity is affected.
- 5299 door A point of entry, especially to a house. The door-frame was given special significance within the law of Moses, and temple doorkeepers had a special status. Used figuratively, it relates to opportunity, and Jesus Christ used it of himself as the means of access to God.
- 6022 sin, causes of Sin is the result of the fall, at which the creation rebels against God its Creator.
- 6109 alienation A state of being separate or apart from something or someone, often accompanied by an awareness of the separation. Human beings are alienated from God on account of sin. Alienation is also encountered in other areas of life, including relations between believers, and between believers and secular society.
- 6155 fall, of Adam and Eve The first human beings abused their God-given freedom. Their original disobedience and resultant expulsion from the Garden of Eden is usually referred to as “the fall”.
- 6603 acceptance, divine God’s gracious favour shown both to Israel and to the Gentiles. God accepts people who respond to him, and worship that is offered sincerely and is accompanied by wholehearted commitment.
- 7031 unity, God’s goal of God’s purpose is to bring together and reconcile to himself the whole of creation. This desire for unity is a reflection of the unity within the Godhead; it is expressed in marriage, and demonstrated in the fellowship of the church.
- 8765 grudge A persistent feeling of ill will or resentment held by one person against another, often as the result of an injury or insult. Christians are not to bear grudges against others; instead they are to forgive those who have wronged them.
- 8796 persecution, forms of Scripture identifies a number of reasons why individuals and governmments may attempt to persecute believers and also the methods by which they may carry this out.
Wesley's Notes for Genesis 4:7
4:7 If thou dost well, shalt thou not be accepted? - Either, 1. If thou hadst done well, as thy brother did, thou shouldest have been accepted as he was. God is no respecter of persons; so that if we come short of acceptance with him, the fault is wholly our own. This will justify God in the destruction of sinners, and will aggravate their ruin. There is not a damned sinner in hell, but if he had done well, as he might have done, had been a glorified saint in heaven. Every mouth will shortly be stopt with this. Or, 2. If now thou do well: if thou repent of thy sin, reform thy heart and life, and bring thy sacrifice in a better manner; thou shalt yet be accepted. See how early the gospel was preached, and the benefit of it here offered even to one of the chief of sinners. He sets before him death and a curse; but, if not well - Seeing thou didst not do well, not offer in faith, and in a right manner, sin lieth at the door - That is, sin only hinders thy acceptance. All this considered, Cain had no reason to he angry with his brother, but at himself only. Unto thee shall be his desire - He shall continue in respect to thee as an elder brother, and thou, as the first - born, shall rule over him as much as ever. God's acceptance of Abel's offering did not transfer the birth - right to him, (which Cain was jealous of) nor put upon him that dignity, and power, which is said to belong to it, #Gen 49:3|.
Is The Holy Spirit Active In You?
The Spirit functions as fruit-producer in our lives. When He indwells us, He begins the work of harvesting His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not works of our flesh, which is incapable of producing such fruit, but they are products of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.
1 Cor 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind
and is not jealous;
love does not brag
and is not arrogant
And this is the fruits (works)
of the Holy Spirit through you...
only a personal relationship
with God will produce these
fruit (works)
(Galatians 5:22-23)
John 15:5
I am the Vine; you are the branches.
The one who remains in Me
and I in him bears much fruit (works),
for [otherwise] apart from Me
[that is, cut off from vital union
with Me] you can do nothing.
Matt 3:10
The axe is already laid at the
root of the trees; therefore every
tree that does not bear good
fruit (works) cut down, thrown in to
the fire ...
