The first murder in the Bible can be found in (Genesis 4:1-15). It involved two brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain, the oldest of the two brothers, was what we today would call a farmer. Abel, the younger brother, was a shepherd.
Why Did Cain Kill Abel?
The Bible tells us that when it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift, which was the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. (Hebrews 11:4) says by faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain or his gift. Because of this, Cain was very angry. God proceeded to tell Cain that if he did what was right, he would be accepted. If he refused to do what was right, sin was crouching at the door, eager to control him.
One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out to the field.” While in the field, Cain attacked his brother and killed him. Afterward Cain is asked by the Lord, “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain famously replies, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord then said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.”
Cain’s Punishment
Due to the fact that he committed the first murder, Cain was cursed and banished from the ground. The ground would no longer yield good crops for him. He was to become a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Because Cain now feared he himself would be killed, the Lord put a mark on him as a warning to anyone who might try to kill him. God told Cain that whoever was to kill him would suffer a seven fold vengeance.
As Cain learned, refusing to do what is right, and then attempting to hide your sin will never end well.
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