Adam and Eve’s first two children, Cain and Abel, bring offerings to God. Abel offers the firstlings of his flock, but Cain offers nothing special from among his crops. God is pleased by Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. As a result, Cain gets angry and jealous. God warns him about his sin, but Cain doesn’t listen and instead murders his brother Abel. In addition, when God confronts him, Cain lies. So, God punishes Cain with the inability to grow his own food and with perpetual homelessness. Cain responds with fear; as a murderer, he’s afraid that somebody will murder him. But God, out of His divine mercy, protects Cain with a sign so that nobody will kill him.