Cain had chosen to reject God’s way of salvation. He wanted God’s blessing, but he wanted it on his terms. God could not accept Cain’s rebellion. It is important to note that man does not set the terms of how we approach God and how we enjoy His forgiveness. God set the terms of obedience for Adam in the Garden. When Adam rejected those terms, he became an instant sinner. Cain was born with a sin nature. He needed to listen to God and choose to ask God to change him. Abel chose to do that. It was not difficult to do. The problem was that Cain was a very proud man who wanted to do things his way.
We live in a time of a multiplicity of religions today. Most people have no idea what true religion is. Most people ignore the Word of God and just go with what feels good to them, and thus they need to give others that same liberty.
The problem comes when someone declares there is only one right way and that way is absolute because it is established by God. We know in the past the Catholics had much greater control over world governments and they would try to force people to follow their corrupt ways. They would persecute anyone who chose to follow the truth. People were killed because they chose to reject the Catholic false doctrine.
Cain would not accept the counsel of God. His anger was not subsided because he rejected God’s counsel. He chose to have a meeting with his brother while still filled with wrath. We know that Abel was a godly man. The Bible tells us this. He did not encourage Cain to sin. However, Cain refused to accept his brother’s righteous nature. He killed his brother in a fit of rage. We know from this account that he did not regret doing that. When God came back to him in verse 9, Cain lied. He stated that he was not his brother’s keeper. He did not need to watch over his younger brother. The fact was that he knew exactly where his brother was. He had murdered him.
In verse 10 God pointed out that he knew where Abel was. Earlier, God had called out to Adam and asked him where he was. Adam chose to accuse God of creating a problem for him. Cain tried to absolve himself of any responsibility for his brother.
God stated that Abel’s blood was crying unto the LORD from the ground. God knew all about what had taken place. Abel was a righteous man and his blood was crying out to God. His soul was already gone. It was in paradise. It was resting, but justice needed to be done on this earth.
In verse 11 Cain discovered that there were consequences to his actions. He had rejected God’s way of worship. He chose to come to the LORD on his own terms and the LORD rejected that. Now the LORD would punish him for his continued rebellion against Him. Now Cain faced a further curse to that which God had already placed upon Adam and Eve. The same earth that had received Abel’s blood, would create greater hardships for Cain.
In verse 12 we read that when Cain would go about his farming ventures, the ground would not produce as it had before. He would have difficulty growing enough food to eat. He would be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth. Rather than be able to settle down and farm in one place, he would be unsettled and searching for some ground that he hoped might produce better. He would never find that sweet spot in life.
In verse 13 Cain took the typical approach to this curse. Rather than acknowledge his sin and seek God’s forgiveness, he chose to blame God for being too hard on him. God had set the standard of righteousness. Cain knew that standard just as well as Abel did. Abel chose to believe God. Abel was not born righteous. He chose to turn to God and be forgiven. He was made an Old Testament saint. He trusted in the promise that God had made in Genesis 3:15.
Cain chose to reject God. He wanted God’s blessing, but he did not want to be a blessing to the LORD. With Cain it was a one way street. He would set the rules, and he would give God what he wanted to give Him, and the LORD needed to be thankful for Cain’s “generosity.”
In verse 14 Cain accused the LORD of driving him from the face of the earth. He knew he was now cut off from the LORD. God did not design any place on earth where rebels can be content. This was Cain’s choice. He would not know the blessing of the LORD. He would be an unsettled wanderer and he would not have any safe place to dwell. At this time, his enemies would be those of his own family. There were no other people on earth except those born to Adam and Eve.
In verse 15 we see that the LORD was not interested in playing Cain’s game. He warned that anyone that would murder Cain would face seven times the judgment that God had just placed upon Cain. God put a mark upon Cain so that others would know who he was. We are not told what that mark was. God protected Cain, even though Cain had rejected the LORD.
In verse 16 we read a sad commentary. Cain went out from the presence of the LORD. When a person rejects the true God, there is no hope. There is no other place of blessing. God had already warned Cain that his life would be a real struggle. Nothing God warned him of would soften his hardened heart. He was intent on having it his way. God showed him that his way was wrong and extremely difficult. God not only showed Cain, but all of humanity knows that Cain’s way does not work. Yet the majority of society chooses to remain in rebellion against God. The devil is a liar and the lost have been blinded by the lies of the devil.
Cain chose to dwell in the land of Nod. The Hebrew word translated as “Nod” means “wandering”. God warned that Cain would be a wanderer and the places that he lived became known as Nod. He separated himself from his family for fear of being slain. He would live a miserable life, never knowing true peace and joy.
We are told that Nod was on the east of Eden. At this time, Eden was still identifiable. It would be thus until the time of Noah’s flood. No man could enter Eden, but they knew where it was. Cain is an early warning to mankind of the danger of choosing to remain in sin. We will see that the majority of people chose to follow Cain’s way. That is still the way it is today.

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.