The Way Of Cain

by Micky Galloway

In the book of Jude, there is urgency given to the need to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.” Jude warns of certain men who had crept in among them who were “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude illustrates the condemnation of these ungodly men by noting the example of Israel who rebelled in the wilderness, the angels who left their proper habitation, the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the illustrations of Cain, Balaam, and Korah (Jude 4-11). In this article, I wish to discuss “the way of Cain” that is condemned and given as a warning to all. What did Cain do that was so wrong after all, wasn’t it his desire to worship God? The text of Genesis 4:1-15 should be read thoroughly.

The way of Cain was the way of substitution. “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah” (Genesis 4:3). By way of contrast, “Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Genesis 4:4). The New Testament tells us, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4). Why was Abel’s sacrifice acceptable and Cain’s rejected? Abel offered his sacrifice “by faith.” As “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 KJV), nothing can be an act of faith unless it is instructed of God. Very simply, Cain did not follow the instructions of God, but substituted something else. He walked by his own opinion of what God would accept. Proverbs 14:12 clearly teaches, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.” Jesus said in the sermon on the mount, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

The way of Cain was the way of envy and hatred. “And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5). Sin is progressive. “But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse” (II Timothy 3:13). Cain had already committed sin, but then he had a choice to repent or go forward into more sin. God told him, “… sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). We are commanded to love one another and not be like Cain who slew his brother. “And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (I John 3:11-12).

The way of Cain was the way of contempt for divine authority. Perhaps we might reason that Cain brought the best of the “fruit of the ground.” But God had not commanded the fruit of the ground. Even a slight variation from what God said showed disrespect toward God. Cain lied to God when asked, “Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not.” He then denied any personal responsibility saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). Cain killed Abel because Abel respected God’s way. Jesus said, “Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). We must have respect for what God has said.

The way of Cain was the way of divine condemnation. “And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth” (Genesis 4:11-12). Cain was given the opportunity to repent. God had said to him of his fallen countenance, “If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up?” (Genesis 4:7). Jude assures us that the Lord is coming, “to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jude 15). The Lord is coming to pronounce judgment upon “… every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (shall be) wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: for there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:6-11).

The way of Cain was the way of eternal regret. “And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me” (Genesis 4:13-14). Condemnation of the ungodly is forever. There was no hope for the rich man in Luke 16:19-31. There is a “great gulf” fixed that there can be no passing over. Jesus speaks of “eternal punishment” contrasted with “eternal life” (Matthew 25:41). Is it any wonder Jude says of the ungodly, “Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain” (Jude 11).

Cain started out desiring to worship God, but deviated only a little bit and ended up a liar, murderer, fugitive, cursed by God, and banished from His presence.