Cain's Failure

Cain’s Failure

(Genesis 4:1-16)

Yearly Theme:  “Patience is…”

Series Title:  “Divine Patience (Part 1)”

January 23^rd, 2022

Something to think about:

How merciful are you?  How willing are you to let someone off the hook for an offense?  When was the last time you extended grace to someone who didn’t deserve it?

I am not a naturally merciful person; I have a strong sense of justice.  When I watch a movie, I want to see the bad guy get what's coming to him.  The trouble is, when I stand before God, I don't want to receive what I deserve:  What I want is mercy.  How truly selfish I am when it comes to mercy.

As we continue our new theme this year on the spiritual fruit of “patience,” we come to another story of GOD’s divine patience in Scripture:  The story of Cain and Abel.  Let’s take a look…

Genesis 4:1-16 (NLT),

Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant.  When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” ² Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.

When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.  ³ When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord.  ⁴ Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock.  The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, ⁵ but he did not accept Cain and his gift.  This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

⁶ “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain.  “Why do you look so dejected?  ⁷ You will be accepted if you do what is right.  But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!  Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.  But you must subdue it and be its master.”

⁸ One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

⁹ Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother?  Where is Abel?”

“I don’t know,” Cain responded.  “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

¹⁰ But the Lord said, “What have you done?  Listen!  Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!  ¹¹ Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.  ¹² No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work!  From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”

¹³ Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!  ¹⁴ You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer.  Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

¹⁵ The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.  ¹⁶ So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.^[1]

Here’s the takeaway this morning:

Key Point:  “GOD’s mercy shows His patience toward us even when we don’t deserve it.”

How does GOD’s mercy show His patience toward Cain in this passage?  Let’s take a look…

• GOD’s  was an act of  .

Genesis 4:6-7 (NLT), ⁶ “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain.  “Why do you look so dejected?  ⁷ You will be accepted if you do what is right.  But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out!  Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.  But you must subdue it and be its master.”

• GOD  him for  .

Genesis 4:13-16 (NLT), ¹³ Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!  ¹⁴ You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer.  Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

¹⁵ The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.”  Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.  ¹⁶ So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Something to take home:

Of all the things that GOD could be toward us when we fail, His patience with us is remarkable.  When we deserve nothing but condemnation and judgment, GOD’s mercy is all-too-often extended when least expected, and when least deserved.  GOD’s divine patience as evidenced throughout the Bible stands as a testimony of His very nature:  Love.  And His willingness to continue to pursue us in spite of our sinful actions proves that His love is true.

As we have received His mercy, may we also be conduits of GOD’s mercy and grace wherever we go.  As we have been forgiven much, may we forgive others.  As we have been blessed, may we also bless.  As GOD has been patient with us, may we also be patient with others.

Key Point:  “GOD’s mercy shows His patience toward us even when we don’t deserve it.”

^[1] Tyndale House Publishers.  (2015).  Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 4:1–16).  Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.