Man Without God

Genesis 4

“Without God man has no reference point to define himself.”

–R. C. Sproul

In Genesis 4, we witness the first major effect of sin on man – deception, lies, and murder. Man without God becomes like the devil who lies and kills. The just is killed by the unjust. Darkness seems to overshadow light. It so happened that Cain and his brother Abel came to offer sacrifices of their produce to God. God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected that of Cain. Cain became angry and schemed to deceive and kill his own brother Abel. We see here that the devil succeeds at perpetuating his nature in man when they trusted him in the garden.

https://livingourbible.wordpress.com/2024/01/07/god-our-judge/

What can we learn from Genesis 4?

#1. God accepts those who do well and rejects those who do not do well. (Genesis 4:1-7)

There is none righteous before God. He shows mercy to whom He shows mercy to. God does what pleases Himself and not what pleases us. He accepted Abel and rejected Cain because Abel recognized His existence and did what pleased Him. God always leaves a witness for man to respond to and worship Him.

#2. The devil replicates his nature of deception and murder in those who are not of God. (Genesis 4:8-9)

The Bible says that the devil goes to and fro looking for whom to devour. Cain was prepared to be used because he let in sin at the doorstep. Just as God said, he could have resisted it to flee but he entertained it like his parents did in the garden and was led to deceive and murder his own brother.

#3. God hates and punishes sin. (Genesis 4:10-15)

Here again, we see another case of God’s nature of being a Holy Judge who hates sin and honours righteousness. He passed judgment on Cain for his deeds in the flesh but still granted him life. God’s graciousness is everlasting. He granted him life obviously so that he could repent from sin and do well.

#4. Even the unrighteous enjoy the common grace of God. (Genesis 4:16-24)

Sinners do not have any reason to live, love and enjoy creation but the abounding grace of God grants sinners to experience them. Why should a just God allow sinners to live? He is merciful. Even with his wickedness, God allowed Cain to live, love and enjoy creation. But this is definitely not forever. There will be a final day when the man without God will be judged.

#5. God can use hopeless situations to bring hope to humanity. (Genesis 4:25-26)

Even in this case of hopelessness, hope for humanity was birthed when Seth came on the scene after the kind of Abel. The God we serve uses imperfect situations for His perfect will to be done on earth. Eve conceived and gave birth to Seth, out of whom came a people who started seeking God. How did they know God, you may ask? Simple, in all creation, there is evidence of His existence (Psalm 19).

God can use the most hopeless situation to bring hope and fulfill His plans on earth. As if to say the devil had won by using Cain to kill the just man, He gave Adam and his wife another seed who started calling on Him. He does not leave us without a witness. Without God, man cannot reflect the nature of Satan.

Take Action: Ask God to breathe hope in your hopeless situation as you put your trust in Him.