After both Adam and Eve sinned, sin affected their relationships with God and with one another. In verses 1-5, we see the effects of their relationship with God in Eve’s children, Cain and Abel. The Hebrew name for Cain sounds like “bring forth” (translated as “have gotten” in the English Standard Version of the English Bible. Eve said, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” Abel’s name means “breath.”

Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer. Abel brought the fat portions from the firstborn of his flock to offer to God. But Cain brought some fruits from his crops to offer to God but not the first fruits. Later, the law made the offering of the firstborn and first fruit a requirement to God. It is natural to for us to keep them instead of giving it to anyone. But giving to God first suggests He is to come first instead of us.

God was not pleased with Cain’s offering, so Cain became angry and directed his anger to his brother, Abel, as we later. Yet God was gracious to Cain and asked him, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?” God told him that if he does the right thing, his offering would be accepted. In other words, he can correct his mistake by making the offering with the first fruit from his crop again. If not, sin is waiting to overpower him, but he must overcome it. But Cain did not heed God’s warning and directed his anger at Abel. He killed him and let sin overpower him just as God warned him not to allow sin to do this to him. Thus, allowing sin to destroy his relationship with God and others.

When God asked Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?” Cain replied, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” He denied and tried to hide his evil deed, but God knew what he had done. He asked, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.” At least, Adam and Eve were ashamed of their sin, but Cain was not! He defiantly denied his crime.

Until a person humbly admits his sin and repents of it, then he can do what is right and not allow sin to rule over him. Sin has consequences and Cain’s consequences were: “And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 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.”

Cain’s judgment was more severe than Adam’s as the curse focused strictly on neutralizing the benefits of Cain’s primary skill, cultivating crops. Adam had to toil for his food, but Cain had to toil even harder, but no food will be produced. In other words, he has to make a career change or wander about looking or trading for food. Yet Cain did not seek forgiveness or mercy from God. He pled for survival.

Although God didn’t remove the curse but put a curse on anyone who attempts to kill Cain, “Vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold” God said. He then put a mark on Cain so no one would kill him. “Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”

What is this mark? Some said it was the color of his skin. So, they suggested that Cain was a black man. There is no consensus on what the mark was, but the Bible only said it served as a warning, not what form it took. The word, “mark” in Hebrew is ‘owth,’ which could mean a sign, an omen, a warning, or a remembrance. It is the same word used to describe the stars as signs or omens (Genesis 1:14), like the rainbow as the sign of the flood (Genesis 9:12), or the circumcision as a token of God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:11), and the miracles performed by Moses before Pharaoh. The point was God showed mercy to Cain by protecting him with this mark in answering Cain’s plea to God to protect him.

Whatever it was, the consequence of his sin is painful, and the price is high. Cain’s basic need was now a matter of survival, the consequence of his sin of murdering his brother. The result of it was being cursed by God and endangered his life. We often hear people ask, “Why do good men suffer, and evil men prosper?” It was not true in Cain’s case. Evil men do suffer for their evil deeds too. Those who do not suffer for their evil now will eventually do so. They will not get away. Sin has consequences yet our God is gracious to us as sinners. However, we must heed God’s call to repent of our sins. Cain found grace in the midst of his sin. But it is better to find grace to be able to master over sin than let sin master over us.