January 5 Daily Devotional

Genesis 4

God sent Adam and Eve forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from which Adam was taken. God placed “at the east of the garden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” Adam now had to work hard for a livelihood, for he was under the curse of God, for it is said, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return to the ground.”

The first son born to Adam and Eve was Cain. Of him Eve said, “I have gotten a man from the Lord.” Their second son was Abel. “Abel was a keeper of sheep (shepherd), and Cain was a tiller of the ground.”

“And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be bid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”

Cain had many descendants; they did not fear the Lord. They were called sons of men. One of his descendants was Lamech, who took two wives—Adah and Zillah. Adah had a son who was called Jabal; he was the father of such as dwell in tents and have cattle. His brother’s name was Jubal; from him descended such as handle the harp and the pipe. Zillah had a son whose name was called Tubalcain; he became an artificer in brass and iron.