CAIN AND ABEL: Genesis 4
Immediately upon the departure of Adam and Eve from the Garden in Eden, an example of the ‘enmity’ predicted in Genesis 3:15 develops in the two ‘seeds’. What a remarkable and dramatic illustration of the hostility between the two classes: the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Cain brought an offering of the ‘fruit of the ground’ (that God had cursed) and even when he is given opportunity to ‘do well’ or right, Genesis 4:7 instead he becomes angry against God. Thus, he and his descendants display the characteristics of and come to represent ‘the seed of the serpent’, 1 John 3:12.
In contrast: “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous”, Hebrews 11:4. Abel’s faith is evident in bringing the required sacrifice and identifies him with the seed of the woman. Despite this, Cains anger turns to a fit of rage and he murders his righteous brother Abel. Hebrews 11 is the chapter of the faithful and provides a testimony of many Bible characters including Abel, who, despite having died, will rise again at the coming of Jesus Christ as promised by God.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TWO SEEDS.
Genesis 4 continues and provides a genealogy of Cains descendants with insight as to their ‘carnal’ thinking. They were very industrious, but the seed of the serpent bore ‘fruit’ in godless thinking.
Once again, in contrast to this we are introduced to Seth, a son appointed instead of Abel: “God has appointed me another offspring in place of Abel, for Cain killed him.” Genesis 4:25 What follows in the next verse, Genesis 4:26, is in reference to Seth, whereby the seed of the woman continues: “then men began to call upon the name of the LORD” (or: to call themselves by the name of the LORD). The genealogy of the seed of the woman follows from Seth and is recorded in Genesis 5.