The Knowledge of Men and God

 God Warns Cain had committed a terrible sin. He had killed his own brother out of jealousy and anger. He had no faith or repentance. But before he had chosen to commit the act, he was not wholly left to himself by God. Cain was angry and had the inclination to do this terrible thing. But God warned him. People do not warn others of something they do not care about. God actually cared about this.  He said: [Gen 4:6-7 NKJV] 6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire [is] for you, but you should rule over it." This warning shows that He cared. He wanted Cain to be accepted. He wanted him to rule over his sin. But Cain did not. In this warning His love and care for both Cain and Abel is seen. This character trait is still his. Though he did not force Cain to do well and though he often leaves the choice to the person, he does...

 Lamech the Intimidating From the descendents of Cain we get Lamech. He was the seventh descendant of Adam through this line. In the Genesis narrative he mirrors the seventh from the line of Seth, Enoch. Enoch was a man who walked with God. Lamech, however, is contrasted with Enoch. He inherited the rebellious nature from his ancestor Cain.  In this way the narrative condemns Lamech. Let’s see what kind of spirit he shows. [Gen 4:19, 23-24 NKJV] 19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one [was] Adah, and the name of the second [was] Zillah. ... 23 Then Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold." Lamech is the first person recorded in Scripture who took multiple wives. The Genesis narrative seems to condemn this practice. Not only because Lamech is the first to do thi...

 God Hears Blood Cain had committed the first murder. And God immediately came in the role of a judge. He questioned Cain, pronounced a judgment and executed it. Though He was merciful even in his judgment, He absolutely did not hold back punishment completely. Cain did not even care to confess and repent and the only thing he cared about was that his punishment was too heavy. In this judgment we see something of God's role as a Judge. This role cannot be removed from God. He pronounces and executes judgment. His infinite love necessitates His eternal hatred for sin. Murder is a clear example. Let us see what He says to Cain in the judgment: [Gen 4:9-11 NKJV] 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where [is] Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. [Am] I my brother's keeper?" 10 And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 "So now you [are] cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth...

 Petition of the Wicked Cain was a wicked man. He did not have faith. He was jealous and had hated and murdered his own brother even after being warned by God. And when he was being questioned by God about it, straight up tried to lie to God about it and did not repent or confess. And when God showed He knew what happened there was no sign of a real repentance. It is clear that Cain was an unbelieving wicked man unlike Abel. And yet something interesting can be seen in regards to the character of God. In Genesis 4 we see a process of judgment similar to Genesis 3. An offense happens, God questions the offender, a sentence is given and then executed. But in this sentence we see an interesting conversation between the wicked Cain and the righteous God. Scripture says the prayer of the wicked is an abomination to God. He does not hear it in the way He hears the prayer of the righteous. He hates it. Yet it is in God’s character to even consider the petition of the wicked sometimes in t...

Lying to God and Confession  Adam, Eve and Cain had sinned. Cain had sinned badly and committed a murder out of jealousy. God steps in and starts an investigative judgment again. He already did this in Eden where he asked Adam and Eve some questions and a judgment was pronounced. The same kind of process is executed here. Here we will focus on a particular issue that has not been discussed yet. Our depravity in even our knowledge of God by sin. When we sin, we wish to hide it just like Adam and Eve did. It’s shameful and we’d rather not have people see it. This sense of guilt and shame can get so high that we lose faith in God's power and omniscience. It is easier to think we can get away with our sin and to think that God doesn’t know than to realise and believe the full omnipotence and omniscience of God. Since this is easier and we have already fallen into depravity the next step is to simply take this idea and believe it. Surely God doesn’t see? We would love to remove Him from...

 Jealousy and Anger Issues: Cain Cain was the first human in history who committed a murder. He murdered his own brother. And all this started from jealousy. He trusted and relied too much on himself. And when this ‘self’ wasn’t really accepted by God while the seeming vanity of Abel was, he became offended. Why could he not decide his own way? [Gen 4:4-5 NKJV] 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Cain was jealous and he became angry. Jealousy can create anger. Anger is a passion that often moves to action. And when this anger is rooted in jealousy, which is about another person, this anger will be poisonous and often be vented on that person if it is not controlled. With this anger rooted in jealousy the person often forgets to think through what he is thinking or doing. Passion takes over and the consequenc...

 Religion of Cain and Abel Cain and Abel are the first brothers we see in Scripture and they went completely different paths. Much of history can be summarised in the encounter between these two brothers. Cain was the firstborn and Abel the second. The first murdered the second. But before going into what happened we have to see the root of this unfortunate history. What caused this jealousy and franticide? What is at the root of many problems today psychologically speaking? [Gen 4:1-5 NKJV] 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain an...

When God Curses In Genesis 3 the first curses of God are given. God hates sin and it is in His character and nature to punish it. His principle is against evil. But even in these first curses His love can still be seen. With the thorn comes the rose and God can be graceful in His stern justice. First the serpent is given a curse, who does not even get the time to give an answer for what he did unlike Adam and Eve: [Gen 3:14-15 NKJV] 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You [are] cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." Because you have done this . Done what? Deceived humanity and brought it to destruction. In God’s hate for what Satan did He shows His love for humanity. He actually cared about th...