Genesis 4 through 6, Jack Abeelen

Genesis covers 2,500 years, this chapter 1,500 of them.

Adam and Eve have Cain

He believes Eve is thinking that this child will undo the sin "He is a gift," but she was wrong.  It wasn't through Cain.  He instead manifested his sinfulness.

We are not told much about them except that Abel grew up as a farmer and that Cain was a shepherd fending off sheep.  Both had to face the consequences of sin and had a hard life.

v.3 "In the process of time, it came to pass that Abel

respect---implies "received"

Abel brought his offering by faith---responded to that which God had communicated.
Cain was no atheist.  He was conscientious, hard working guy.
Abel agreed with God, Cain did not.
Abel believed God and it was counted to him as righteous.
Cain drew righteousness out of himself.  There is the "way of Cain."  Cain should teach us that there are many men.

No guilt of sin, no admission that he needs help.

Hallmarks of false religion:
Force
Falsehood
Futility
Fear

Genesis 6

uniformitarianism--catastrophic events did not cause the land forms but gradual change. 1700's proposed.
1832 William Wewell--Cambridge, 1785 James Hutton, weathering of bedrock, old earth view, supernatural theories not needed to explain history

catastrophism--

two cataclysmic events
1. creation
2. flood, 371 days

creation gave us the first earth, the flood gave us the second one

Cain--"raise Cain"  v 2
Abel was a keeper of the sheep.  Abel means breath, to ascend.
fighting the weeds, fending off wolves
both Cain and Abel had a sense that they could not just approach God anyway they wished.
"in the process of time" =at the end of the day, euphemism (as time passes...)

received  Abel's....but not Cain's.  We are not told why.
God testified of Abel's gift and the way he brought his gift.
Cain was no atheist...hard working

Genesis 5--Jack Abeelen

There are two ways to get to God---
"the way of Cain" man giving to God what he thinks he deserves.  Cain becomes the first false religion.

1. The word of God
2. The work of Jesus
3. The witness of God's Spirit

Cain's religion revolves around himself.  Salvation must be earned.
It shouldn't be about human sacrifice, but about God's sacrifice.
The terms of the relationship God establishes. Abel brought it by faith.

When you give to the Lord, you give Him your best.

Cain's religion is marked by
1. force--first degree murder, characterized by violence and opposition to God's ways.
2. falsehood--"Am I my brother's keeper"--a lie and a revelation.  We blame others.  Falsehood is the cornerstone of man's religion.
3. leads to futility--now cursed from the earth.  Sin made Cain a fugitive, satisfaction would evade him, trust in his skills would let him down.
4. fear---my punishment is greater than I can bear.  Without peace, in fear, sinks into a nameless grave at an unrecorded age.  Isaiah--the wicked are like the troubled seas, they can't rest.

All his descendants will die in the flood.

land of Nod.
No to sin and yes to God.
If you set aside the ways of the Lord, you will continue to battle with God the rest of the days of your life.
Not by the works of your own hands.
I can't "will" sin out of my life, but if I look to Jesus, I can become "more than a conqueror."

Cain believed in God but he didn't believe God.

Had children for 800 years after the birth of Seth.  No genetic danger zone yet.

Lamech--first song in the Bible, song of the sword,

Enoch began a line of prophets.

Methuselah...when he dies, it shall come.  The year he dies, the flood comes.
His long life should convince you that the Lord is long suffering.

Enoch, "And God took him."

Noah....Shem, Ham, and Japeth