(Genesis) Genesis 4:11-15
God's judgment on Cain for his sin and the protection of Cain from those who would harm him, despite his evil nature.
In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis. He highlights how Cain's sin of offering an unacceptable sacrifice to God led to him becoming a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. Despite his wickedness, God still protects Cain from harm by placing a mark on him. The preacher emphasizes the importance of turning to God and confessing our sins, as Cain failed to do, and highlights the contrast between Cain's evil deeds and Abel's righteous ones.
Full Transcript
Now I read on in verse 11 of chapter 4 of Genesis, And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. And when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength. A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
The earth to date, by man's use, loses its fertility. It has to be renewed as man goes along in the use of the land. Verse 13, And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Well, why didn't he then, if it's greater than he can bear, why didn't he just turn to God and confess his sin and cast himself upon God? It was too great for him to bear. But God was providing a Savior for him if he'd only turned to it. Verse 14, Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face shall I be hid.
And I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and it shall come to pass that everyone that findeth me shall slay me. And he says now that he's to be hidden from the face of God. And that's exactly, of course, what happened.
That was the suggestion here in verse John 3.12. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, slew his brother. Wherefore slew he him, because his own works were evil and his brother's righteous. That is the picture that's presented to us.
And he's now hidden from the face of God. But now notice God protects him. And this is strange.
God is actually harboring a murderer, a criminal. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
I don't know what the mark is. There's been a lot of speculation, and I don't know why I should add my speculation to all of this. But God protects him.
There's no law given. He's a sinner, but he's not a transgressor. Because there's been no law given about murder, you see.
But his great sin is he didn't bring the offering that was acceptable to God. His deeds were evil. In what way? In what he brought to God.
And he manifested that evil nature in slaying his brother.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Curse of Cain
- A. God's judgment on Cain for his sin
- B. The effects of the curse on Cain's life
- II. Cain's Response to the Curse
- A. His feelings of guilt and despair
- B. His refusal to turn to God for forgiveness
- III. The Protection of Cain
- A. God's protection of Cain from those who would harm him
- B. The reason for God's protection
- IV. The Nature of Cain's Sin
- A. His failure to bring an acceptable offering to God
- B. The manifestation of his evil nature in slaying his brother
Key Quotes
“And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand.” — J. Vernon McGee
“Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” — J. Vernon McGee
“And he manifested that evil nature in slaying his brother.” — J. Vernon McGee
Application Points
- We must acknowledge our sin and turn to God for forgiveness, rather than trying to bear the weight of our guilt alone.
- God's protection is available to us, even when we have failed and sinned, but we must acknowledge our sin and seek forgiveness.
- The nature of our sin is not just the act itself, but also the motivations and attitudes behind it, which can reveal our true character.