Gen 4:1-4 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
Genesis 4 introduces us to the first family brought forth after the fall of Adam and Eve. There are a number of things we can glean from this account.
Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant. It’s sad how the world has twisted the use of the word “lay”. The phrase simply means that Adam and Eve lay down together, and enjoyed sex with each other. The King James version uses another English word: “And Adam knew Eve his wife;”.
That’s an interesting word to use – “knew”. But it gives us an insight as to why the Lord created sex – so that husband and wife would know each other, would grow intimate with each other. Those of us who are married know how the sexual act bonds and binds a couple together. That is why sex was created.
It also shoots down the understanding that sex was made solely for making babies. That may be a secondary reason. But the primary reason for a husband and wife to have sex is so that they may “know” each other.
This is why when people have sex before marriage it is both premature and immature. Premarital sex is mostly selfish, self centered. Rather than enjoying it to know each other, it is done for selfish pleasure. And when there is a break up it is painful, or it leads to a loose lifestyle of just doing it with anyone we please.
This is also why extramarital sex is destructive. It destroys the bond that we have with our spouse. And instead of growing closer to our spouse we waste our energy on others.
But, of course, Adam and Eve “knowing” each other was also meant to “go forth and multiply”. And so they eventually bore children.
4:1 “…and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.”
Imagine the feeling of Eve – for the first time she gets pregnant and gives birth to a child. It must have been a wonder for her! But she recognizes that all of this happened because of the Lord. She names her firstborn “Cain”, which sounds like the Hebrew for “acquired”. And then she proclaims “with the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man”.
A few moments later she gives birth to Abel. There is no indication as to how long the gap between Cain and Abel is – whether it’s minutes or years. We assume that they are twins.
Both boys grow up as all of us do – unique and with our own God-given skills and talents: “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.”.
It is important for us to recognize what skills and talents the Lord has given us, and to put them to use for His glory. Many people wish that they were like others, and end up coveting what other people have. But this should not be the case. We should recognize what God has given us, be thankful for them, and put them to good use.
Abel kept flocks while Cain worked the soil. Each did what they were equipped for by the Lord. As they grew more mature another aspect of life became evident – their worship unto the Lord:
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.
Notice how natural it was for these two boys to give to the Lord the fruit of their work, of the talents they had been blessed with by God. The word “offering” used here is a Hebrew word that literally means “apportion”. They gave a portion of their blessings, of the fruit of their work to the Lord.
Life is more than just giving birth, raising children, growing up, and using our skills and talents to work. We must not forget to worship. It was automatic for Cain and Abel to give an offering to the Lord. Our talents and skills, our work, all the blessings we receive, are all from the Lord. We must not forget to apportion what He has blessed us with and offer to Him a thank offering for what He has done.
