Gen 4:8 Murder most foul

Gen 4:8   Cain spoke to Abel his brother ('let's go out into the field' is inserted in some texts). And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. (ESV)

Well this isn't going to be a very cheery blog entry! Murder is not exactly a fun topic, except that for some strange reason people do love to read about them! I've even been to a murder mystery party. It was a bit frustrating having to talk to people in character (complete with American accent) when I would rather talk to them for real. Also it gets slightly awkward when you turn the page of your booklet over and discover that you are having an adulterous affair with your friend's wife. (The final nail hammered firmly into the coffin of Murder mystery dinner parties came when was when I was asked to play a lady but the less said about that the better). I'm not throwing stones though, I like a good James Bond film as much as the next man and they have their fair share of murder and deceit.   

So what is it about murder that produces countless novels, films, and games (wink murder is a good one!)? I think it must be the magnitude of it and the effort that is put into bringing the right person to justice. Then there is the motive. Why would someone do it? What would drive a person to murder another. We are at once drawn into the inner workings and dark corners of the human mind.  Finally, if you will forgive another M, there is the mystery of it. Not in terms of the "who done it" but "what happens next". When someone dies it makes you wonder what happened to them. Where did they go? What will happen to me when I die.

Well, when Cain Killed Abel it was a big deal. God says "what have you done? Listen!, your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. You are now under a curse". Killing a person made in the image of God is very serious.  God always hears every act of injustice and he will punish it. Amazingly though, after the pronouncement of a curse, there is grace as God responds to Cain's cry for help.

Why did he do it? Jealousy, anger, religious hatred. The usual things it seems. But what happened to Abel. The first man to physically die? That mystery will be revealed much later in the NT where we will also read in graphic detail about the murder of God's only son and  how his blood "speaks a better word than the blood of Abel".  


20th August 2010 
Just found some pics I did when I preached on this a few years ago.