Sermon on Genesis 4:13-16 Within the Torah, the Book of Genesis recalls the primeval history of the Israelites. Genesis 4:1-16 is a historical narrative. It explores the death of Abel at the hand of Cain. This is possibly the first murder and possibly Cain’s first sin, this could even be the very first death. This pericope’s movement is episodic. Cain and Abel are born of Adam and Eve, Abel keeps the sheep and Cain tills the ground; they bring to the God an offering from their respective work areas. After God shows no regard for his sacrifice, Cain grows angry. Cain plots to lure Abel into a distant field, kill him, and then attempt to hide from divine justice. Abel does not speak in this passage; his blood, however, does speak. His blood cries out from the ground and here comes the divine investigation. Yahweh tries Cain for his life. Walter Brueggemann calls this section a ‘lawsuit’.  Cain responds to God by acting indifferent and deflective. The first part of Cain’s response is