Genesis 4:1-26 (NLT)

Genesis 4 is a favorite story for moralists, those people who are always looking for a moral lesson in every biblical story. This is surprising, because the story of Cain and Abel blows the whole project of moralism out of the water. Read the entire chapter moralistically, rather than just the opening verses, and here are some of the quaint moralisms one might end up with: Kill your brother and gain God as your bodyguard (v. 15), kill your brother and end up living a long prosperous life with many children and grandchildren (vv. 17-22). Honestly, it isn’t the most compelling moral story. Abel gets slain; Cain gets to enjoy a long and prosperous life.

Now, I know there’s more to life than enjoying length of days and prosperity. I’m even aware of Hebrews 11:4: “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel’s offering to show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us because of his faith.” I understand that Abel was a good guy and that his fame and influence far outlast his all-too-short life. I also see that Cain’s long line of descendants get into all kinds of trouble. But I can’t help noticing, on top of all this, Cain’s good fortune. We’ve already noted a few, here are some more: He gets to marry and do that thing married people get to do (v. 17). He names a city after his son (v. 17). He becomes the father of agriculture (v. 20), the arts (v. 21), and the bronze and iron industries (v. 22). Not a bad deal if you ask me, and quite unfair. And so we’re faced with the scandal of grace. God’s blessing comes to the most undeserving, and in His whacked system of grace, people like Cain not only get spared but even blessed. I’ve always heard Genesis 4 as a challenge to be good–“Be like Abel.” But it’s really a story about how bad we all are. It tells us, “You are like Cain” and, “This is your family history; fratricide is in your blood.” In other words, its primary purpose is not so much to exhort good behavior as to show us our true blemished nature. As a story about our beginnings, it explains a great deal about the way we are today.

I’ve also heard Genesis 4 as a tragic story of murder. There’s no denying that, but there is so much more. Because in the course of chapter 4, I count a total of twelve births! Yes, that’s right, twelve! That’s a whole lot of birthing going on. And the number twelve is not insignificant. Because it points to what God will do later on when he calls a people, a nation unto himself, made up of twelve tribes, out of which will come Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, who will walk around the dusty streets of Palestine with twelve disciples in tow, who will go on to spread his message of grace. In other words, this chapter is first and foremost a story about how God brings forth life out of death.

Reflection:
Be reminded of some shortcomings or failings you experienced lately. And think of how Genesis 4 challenges us to approach even the darkest situations with a glimmer of hope in our hearts. Thank God for blessing Cain, because in doing so, we’re shown that He can bless people like you and me, who are not much better, maybe even worse, than Cain.

*This devotional first appeared in Encounter Monthly Journal, March 2006