Notes on Genesis

The Old Testament speaks about Christ. Christ victorious and resurrected. Everything points to it. The birth of Seth was for the purpose of creating a line that would end up with Christ. Cain's sacrifice was not done in light of the promise and was done to "bribe" God to give him the promise. Abel's was a blood sacrifice and was done in light of the promise and was so accepted. Cain "the one obtained" and was God's way of giving them the promise. When her second child was born "a triviality, a mere breath" he was named Abel. Cain felt no need of deliverance and his life was one filled with fear. The sacrifices were to be offered out of the heart and out of gratitude for life and Christ. Cain did not truly believe or devote his life and heart to God and had no gratitude and so his sacrifice was not worthy. There was an implicit demand for blood and Cain did not bring that. Cain brought "some of the fruit" whereas Abel brought "fat portions". This was their form of worship. Cain confronted Abel and murdered him. The murder was not a problem but rather it was a sin because Abel was an image bearer of God. He bore the image of God and Cain killed that. He attacked an image of God and so it was an assault on God. Abel's blood could only cry out for restitution, but Christ's blood provided restitution and deliverance for those born into sin. God asked a rhetorical question when he asked where Cain's brother was. Cain had to turn his back to his home because of his shame and punishment of being cursed. He went east...east, meaning away from God. Adam and Eve's faith was now sorely tested. Both sons were lost to the promise. Cain married his sister, bore a son, and built walls, characteristic of those living in fear away from God. Down that line there was Lamech, who married two women and began the abominable practice of polygamy. Also, Eve bore another son, Seth, their son of the promise.