The Mark of Cain

Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
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.
4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
4:12 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.
4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
4:14 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 every one that findeth me shall slay me.
4:15 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.

Cain's name means tiller : to work, to serve, enslave, keep in bondage.

Cain represents the so-called self-made person. He's a type of flesh in the church that tries to serve God through what he does.
He's enslaved to himself. His main concern is himself!

Cain is the type of person that's unwilling to give his best first to God.

He's like so many today that think only of themselves.

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Notice Cain's offering......

All offerings, whether fruit offerings or animals represents Christ! His offering had to be the best, or the firstfruits or firstlings of the flock, so as to represent Christ our offering and sacrifice!

Cain brings of the fruit of the ground, which should have been the firstfruits in order to please God.


Cain brings a portion of the fruit of the ground.

It wasn't the "First-fruits" of his garden, but just some of the fruit of the ground. It must have looked pretty bad, because, "unto Cain and to his offering He (the Lord) had not respect.

I'm sure if we're honest, we've done the same to God. Giving according to self.

God expects our best! We are no longer our own! We've been bought with a price!

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Cain was very wroth! Which means to glow with anger! His countenance fell! Not only was he mad as the devil, he looked like the devil too!

He's mad and longed-faced because God has no respect for him or his scrubby left-overs of an offering!



Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
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.

The Lord gave Cain the opportunity to make it right.

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?"

God directly speaks to Cain and gives him instruction in righteousness and he refuses to take heed.

God also tells Cain of the consequences of disobedience....you will still be held by your sin!

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: Genesis 4:4

Abel brings his offering of the firstlings of his flock! He gave first to God, because he recognized God as the source of his life! He brought his best to God! Not some mealy offering to God and hoping he would bless him for it. No! Abel had respect from the Lord because he esteemed the Lord more worthy than his own self!

We should learn this truth, in all we are or all that we do and say! May we give first our best unto the Lord.

We should guard our heart and repent to God for the selfish spirit that so tries to influence our walk with the Lord and with man.

If unchecked, the spirit of self can lead to murder.

This selfish attitude that was so much a part of Cain, caused him to rise up against his brother Abel, and killed him!

And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. Genesis 4:8

Now, when Cain is confronted with his sin, he lies to God, which always has a tragic consequence!

He's driven out from God's presence and is a man marked by death!

To be carnal minded is death! Everything that he sows brings only death! No fruits come forth from a person who is marked by a selfish heart and spirit. His trail is marked well, it's easy to follow, because all along the way is a way of a life lived to only please himself and choosing to reject God and His ways.

May God give us grace to give our total self to Him and enter into that rest where unto we have been called.

Jesus said: "Come unto Me, ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Our lives are to be that "Living Sacrifice" offered to God for His glory!

Let Christ live in His Church today!