And God Said... Where is Your Brother?

“And God Said…
Where is Your
Brother?”
What is Wrong with our Families?
What is God calling us to do?
What is Kind of Heart is God looking for?

Genesis 4
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore
Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the
LORD.” [2] And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel
was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
[3] In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an
offering of the fruit of the ground, [4] and Abel also
brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat
portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his
offering, [5] but for Cain and his offering he had no regard.
So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. [6] The LORD said
to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?
[7] If you do well, will you not be accepted?

And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its
desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” [8] Cain spoke
to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain
rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. [9] Then
the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He
said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” [10] And
the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your
brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. [11] And
now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened
its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
[12] When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to
you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on
the earth.”

[13] Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater
than I can bear. [14] Behold, you have driven me today
away from the ground, and from your face I shall be
hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth,
and whoever finds me will kill me.” [15] Then the LORD
said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall
be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on
Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. [16] Then
Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and
settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Warning in Genesis

Cain & Ishmael & Esau &
Abel Isaac Jacob

Leah & Joseph &
Rachel brothers

God is the Most Pleased with Us
when We are Pleased with Him

God’s Pleasure was Abel’s Pleasure
Abel gave God His First and the Best

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and
bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of
the LORD.” [2] And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now
Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the
ground.

v.1 Cain was Eve’s Hope – the Promise?
v.2 Cain took his Father’s job tilling the ground

Abel became a shepherd

God Enjoyed Abel’s Gift
[3] In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an
offering of the fruit of the ground, [4] and Abel also
brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat
portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his
offering, [5] but for Cain and his offering he had no
regard.
v.3 Offering to the Lord meant “gift”

v.4 Something about Abel’s offering got the Lord’s
attention, God gazed upon it – pondered it –
thought about it – admired it

Parents have same experience
-A Child brings home his homework from school – not so
good, not his/her best… the parent doesn’t spend time
admiring it – but decides to correct

- A Child brings home a report card that demonstrates his
best – and the parent rewards the child, admires the
work, and spends time affirming the child

God’s Response Revealed Cain’s Pleasure
Cain was Concerned with Himself

[5] but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain
was very angry, and his face fell.

v.5 Cain’s face fell and was angry – he was hot with
anger - His internal fire – was seen outwardly in his
countenance – downcast, dejected, seething

Anger began in his heart – and became visible.
Anger doesn’t go unnoticed for long

Why was Cain Angry? He saw that his brother was
accepted. He compared himself to Abel. He was
jealous

God’s Pleasure was in Restoring Cain
God Sought Cain to Offer Encouragement

God Offered Cain Encouragement
[6] The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why
has your face fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be
accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at
the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

v.6 God sought out Cain…Pursued him to encourage him –

Warning
If you do good – you will be uplifted
If you don’t – you will be dominated and attacked with sin

Obedience is a battle

Instruction
You must master your will and obey God’s will.

Principle
Obedience brings Joy

God’s Response Revealed Cain’s Pleasure
Cain was Concerned with Himself
Cain Rejected God and Honored Himself

Cain Refused God’s Instruction
[8] Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in
the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed
him.

God’s Justice Demanded Death
God Sought Cain to Execute Judgment

God Looked for Truth – Repentance and Confession
[9] Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your
brother?”

God Heard a Lie
Cain Lied to God and Lied to Self
He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”

Keeper = Guardian

God Judged Cain
Conviction: [10] And the LORD said, “What have you
done?
Testimony: The voice of your brother's blood is crying to
me from the ground.
Punishment 1: [11] And now you are cursed from the
ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your
brother's blood from your hand. [12] When you work the
ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength.
Punishment 2: You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on
the earth.”

God Judged Cain
Punishment 1 – Power
Cain Now Perpetually Weak
No Reward – No Benefit “Man Sows God Grows”
Even in the Curse – the land produced
Cain was now a failure
Nothing to give to God
Related to both the Evil and his Skill
Punishment 2 – Separation/Death
Cain Now Separated from God
Hunted – Suspicious – Fear – No Home – No Roots
No more direction, relationship with God

God’s Mercy Preserved Cain
God Heard Cain’s Cry Even Though He Heard Abel’s Blood

The Root of Cain’s Sin was Displeasure of God

• Cain Worshipped God in His Own Way

He Was Casual
He Apparently Lacked Respect for the Creator
Lacked Reverence

• Cain Ignored the Will of God

• Cain Ignored the Warning of God

• Cain Abandoned God

Cain Had a Total Disregard for God’s Word
God No Longer Pleased Cain – Only Cain Pleased Cain


In Killing Abel:
1. Cain Attempted to Destroy God’s Image
2. Cain Attempted to Destroy Worship
3. Cain Attempted to Destroy God’s Word
4. Cain Attempted to Destroy God’s Pleasure


Sin Begins in the Heart and
Ends in Destructive Actions

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that you have heard
from the beginning, that we should love one another.
[12] We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one
and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him?
Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's
righteous.

The Root of Abel’s Righteousness was
His Pleasure in God’s Pleasure
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more
acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was
commended as righteous, God commending him by
accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died,
he still speaks.

God is the Most Pleased with Us
when We are Pleased with Him
Our Families are Mended when
Each Member Begins to Honor and
Please God.

Thanksgiving Starts the Healing

And God Said... Where is Your Brother?

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And God Said... Where is Your Brother?