Cain and Abel

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

4/9 Reading Portions: Leviticus 13; Psalm 15-16; Proverbs 27; 2 Thessalonians 1

Genesis 4:2

And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

BROTHERS

There are two things we’ll consider from this verse today. One, Abel was absolutely the second child born by Eve. And two, their lives are prophetic and gospel foreshadows found in the differences between Abel and Cain.

First, with regard to Abel, he was the second-born. The very first Hebrew word from the sentence can be literally translated “And was added…” It is the word וַתֺּסֶף (vat-TŌ-sef). In other words, this second child, Abel, was added to the family after Cain. While Adam and Eve had more children during Adam’s 930 years upon the earth (Gen 5:4-5), Cain and Abel were the first two.

Second, we are given a prophetic foreshadow of the gospel in the relative occupations of Abel and Cain. Abel was a keeper of sheep, a רֹעֵה (RO-eh) in Hebrew, a shepherd. Basically, he guided sheep to water and pastures. Mankind did not eat meat in those days. That wouldn’t come until after the flood (Gen 9:2-4). Why then would sheep need tending? For sacrifices (Gen 4:3-4), as told to Cain and Abel by mom and dad (Gen 3:21); or even seen by them, watching Adam offer sacrifices to God as they grew up.

Cain, on the other hand, was a worker, or “tiller” (KJV), of the ground. In Hebrew עבד אדמה (ō-VED ad-a-MAH). Cain was a “servant” or “slave,” עֹבֵד (ō-VED), to the cursed “ground,” אֲדָמָה (ad-a-MAH).

Here again, we see a hint of the gospel. The eldest, Cain, must labor upon the dust of the ground by the sweat of his brow, as pronounced by the curse upon Adam (Gen 3:17-19). His was a life consumed by the works of his hands. The second son, Abel, was a shepherd preparing his family to worship God by shepherding the animals that would shed their innocent blood. In other words, he guarded and treasured the truth of the gospel; whereas Christ, who is the Gospel, also protects, nurtures, and promotes His gospel through His redeemed saints, His church. Hallelujah! What a Savior!