Adam and Eve have a son and Eve names the boy Cain meaning “gotten a man with the Lord’s help.” She sees this child as a gift from God, as many parents do. They have a second son, Abel, meaning breath.
Abel keeps sheep and Cain works the ground. After a while, Cain brings an offering of the “fruit of the ground” and Abel brings an offering to God of the firstborn of his flock and the fat. The Lord regards Abel’s gift, but not Cains. Why? We don’t know, but Cain knows. Cain gets angry and the Lord asks him, “Why are you angry, if you do well, will you not be accepted?” Then he warns Cain that sin is crouching at his door, but he must overrule it. Cain has the power to change his course, but does not.
Instead, Cain invites his brother into a field and kills him. The Lord asks Cain where is his brother, but Cain asks if he is his brother’s keeper?
As a parent of two children, I see the competition and jealousy of my kids all the time. “Why does she get this?” and “Why do I have to do that?” They are different ages and have different responsibilities, but always must care for each other. Yes, siblings have a duty to not murder each other.
The Lord tells Cain his brother’s blood is crying out from the ground, and the land is cursed to him. As a farmer, the land is everything, but Cain is cursed to wander. Cain is afraid that if any one finds him he will be killed, so God gives him a mark on him of protection saying if any one hurts Cain, he will avenge him sevenfold. Even in his punishment, God shows loyalty and care.
We just celebrated Easter this last weekend so the images of a sacrificial lamb, angry men and blood being shed are fresh in my mind. This feels really similar. Both stories have kin, jealousy, disobedience and death. Both stories share the surprise twist of forgiveness. On the cross, Jesus forgave the crowds who called for his death.
Instead of ending Cain, God gives him a second chance and a mark of protection. Cain moves away to Nod, east of Eden. Nod means wandering. Cain gets married and has a son named Enoch. The Bible lists his decedents and notes the musicians and inventors. After several generations there is a man, Lamech who invokes Cains promise of vengeance but increases it to seventy-seven fold, the opposite of what God was going for.
Meanwhile, Adam and Eve have another son. Eve names him Seth, meaning appointed, she wanted him to take the place of Abel, whom Cain killed. She was promised offspring of redemption. Seth has a son named Enosh meaning mortal. The chapter ends saying the people began to call in the name of the Lord.
