The Way of Cain... Notes on Genesis, Chapter four

"Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain..." (Jude 11)

Genesis, Chapter Four tells us just about everything we can learn about Cain, the first-born son of Adam and Eve. So the 'way of Cain', Jude mentions, obviously has something to do with the events described in that chapter.
Nothing is written about Cain's childhood or adolescent years.
He is born. His younger brother Abel is born. And the next we know of them, they are grown men with occupations. Cain was a farmer (a 'tiller of the ground'), and Abel raised sheep (Ch. 4 Vs. 2).
They apparently had been doing this for a good while (one cannot raise a 'flock' of sheep overnight) and in the 'process of time' Cain brought an offering of his crops (the 'fruit of the ground') to God. Abel followed suit by bringing a young lamb to the Lord. There is no reason to believe that both men did not bring the very best they had. But God let them know that He appreciated Abel's offering only--not Cain's.
From Scripture, this is all we know... Cain brought an offering of the "fruit of the ground"--grains, vegetables, etc. Abel brought a lamb--a blood sacrifice--and the 'fat' of the lamb--a burnt offering. Another thing we know from Scripture, is that Abel acted in "faith"... "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." (Hebrews 11:4)
With what we know now, concerning the gospel, it's easy to understand why Abel's sacrifice was "more excellent". It was prophetic--a foreshadowing of the 'offering' God Himself would give for the salvation of the world.
But how could Abel have known that?
I really don't think he did. Perhaps he did remember his parent's story, though, of how God had no respect for their hand-sewn, fig leaf, garments, with which they had attempted to cover their nakedness and shame... And how God Himself was the first to spill the blood of animals, then use their skins to make coverings for them instead. Maybe, it was from that little bit of knowledge, that there arose in the heart of Abel, "faith" that the sacrifice he would bring to God would be pleasing.
There is, of course, some speculation in all of that. And speculation, apart from Scriptural evidence, is something we cannot afford to rely on. But many have 'speculated' that there was something wrong with Cain's initial motivation or attitude. And I have been unable to find any Scriptural evidence for that... But the very fact that according to the Bible, Abel was acting in "faith", leads me to believe that Cain, on the other hand, was acting on his own 'reasoning', not necessarily selfish motivation.
I believe Cain brought the very best he had, and 'reasoned' that surely God would appreciate his effort. When it became known to Cain, that God was not pleased with his offering, but with Abel's only... That's when the problem began.
"...Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it' " (Ch. 4 Vs. 5-7).
Oh, the power and wisdom of God! But what a critical moment for Cain! He was faced with such a great opportunity--such a crucial decision.
I'm convinced, God had no problem with Cain's effort, nor did He question his motives. He questioned Cain's reaction to the praise Abel received. He questioned Cain's anger and his sad, whiny expression, over the fact that his act of 'worship' was not what God was interested in... 'After all', Cain must have thought, 'What had Abel done, that was anymore of a sacrifice than his was?'
I believe this was the first case of someone being 'hurt in church'. It's like the lady who works for weeks making a big tapestry or something, that she wants to bring to church and hang on the wall--as her gift to the Lord. Or maybe it's like the man who feels he is to offer a song solo in Sunday morning church. If the tapestry is just plain ugly, and the soloist has absolutely no musical skill, someone is going to have the rather unpleasant task of lovingly and diplomatically as possible, saying 'thanks, but no thanks'. Hopefully, that loving response would be enough, but in spite of everything, there will be times when the person gets 'hurt' and never darkens the church door again. In days to come, the only answer they would offer as to why they no longer attend church?... They were 'hurt'--the 'church hurt them'. But was it the lack of skill in singing or interior decorating that caused the problem? Was it that 'mean spirited' deacon, who would not allow the tapestry to adorn the wall of the sanctuary?
No, it was their 'anger' and 'fallen countenance'--and the 'sin that lay at the door, ultimately ruling over them'.
I'm sure I could have come up with better analogies, and there are much more serious situations than those. But even in the cases of spiritual abuse, religious legalism, obnoxious personalities, etc., there are better ways to deal with it, than to assign blame to 'the church' in general, and allow sin to rule because of your 'hurt'.
Cain was not without God-given options. He was offered the opportunity to "do well" and "be accepted" also. He could have taken some of those good vegetables of his to Abel, purchased a lamb, and made an offering to God, which he now knew would be well received. But he made the wrong choice, thus, inviting sin to rule. His anger grew in him to the point he finally said to his brother, "Meet me in the field" (paraphrased--Ch. 4 Vs. 8), and he murdered him.
The blood of Abel, the Word says, cried out to God from the ground (Vs. 10). God punished Cain by banishing him to the wilderness, to be a "fugitive and a vagabond" for the rest of his days. Cain left, along with his wife, and dwelt in a place called "Nod", east of Eden. (Vs. 16).
[ NOTE: Some have attempted to challenge the integrity of the Word by asking, "Where did Cain get his wife?" The answer to that, is simple... He brought her with him from Eden. Cain's wife was one of his sisters. Cain and Abel were only two of many "sons and daughters" of Adam (Ch. 5 Vs. 4). And incest was not an issue prior to the giving of the law (which forbade it), especially considering that it was also prior to any possible degradation of the human gene pool. Thus no spiritual nor physical ill-effects would have resulted. ]
In the story of Cain and Abel, the disastrous progression from hurt feelings, to sinful, murderous actions, vengeance and misery is told. Yes, the blood of Abel "still speaks" and tells the story...
But now, the blood of Jesus speaks, and tells the rest of the story-- speaking "better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24).
Abel's 'blood' cries out to God for vengeance... The 'blood' of Jesus cries, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do".