Murder

Genesis 4-5

After leaving Eden, Adam and Eve have two sons: Cain, a farmer, and Abel, a shepherd. Both bring offerings to God—Cain from his crops, Abel from the firstborn of his flock. God accepts Abel’s offering but not Cain’s, though the text does not explain why. Cain becomes angry and jealous, ignoring God’s warning that sin is “crouching at the door.” In his jealousy, Cain kills Abel, committing the first murder.

When God questions Cain, he denies responsibility, replying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” God punishes him by cursing the ground and making him a fugitive. Yet, despite his sin, God protects Cain with a mark to prevent others from killing him—showing divine mercy even toward the guilty. Cain settles in the land of Nod, east of Eden, where his descendants build cities and develop trades, but also spread moral corruption. Lamech, one of Cain’s descendants, commits murder and introduces polygamy, showing how sin escalates across generations.

Adam and Eve later have another son, Seth, whom Eve recognizes as a gift from God—signaling renewed faith and hope. Through Seth’s line, people begin once again to “call upon the name of the Lord.”

Chapter 5 traces the generations from Adam to Noah. Most names end with “and he died,” emphasizing the reality of death that entered through sin. However, Enoch stands out—he “walked with God” and did not die, for God took him. His life symbolizes close fellowship with God and the hope of overcoming death through faith.

The key lessons are:

• Sin grows if left unrepented and separates people from God.
• God’s love and mercy persist even when humanity fails.
• True life and peace come from walking daily with God, as Enoch did.
  Even within genealogies of death, Scripture points toward hope, redemption, and restored relationship with God.