God the Judge: Cain (Genesis 4)

 God the Judge: Cain

When Cain had murdered Abel God showed up as a judge.

Much of this process of judgment echoes the judgment given in Genesis 3 against Adam and Eve and the serpent.

It is good to read this in this context too and repeat some of the principles. The more Scripture emphasises something, the more it should be repeated.

Just like with Adam and Eve, God first asks questions to Cain. This is the way God works as a Judge. He first wants to get the truth out using questions.


[Gen 4:9 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?"


The defense wasn’t that good. Now the evidence is presented:


[Gen 4:10 NKJV] 10 And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.


Then the judgment is given:


[Gen 4:11-12 NKJV] 11 "So now you [are] cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."


It is interesting to see the legal language in this passage. The earth was considered as something that had ‘consumed’ the blood of Abel. This blood was now crying from that earth.
In this way that earth had become cursed for Cain. That blood basically meant Cain was not legally safe on that land.
This principle will often be repeated in the Old Testament.

Cain was cast away from the land where he originally lived, before the sight of God, and he would have to flee. Besides, his work of tilling would be harder.

Cain is given a chance for another response to which God does react:


[Gen 4:13-15 NKJV] 13 And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment [is] greater than I can bear! 14 "Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen [that] anyone who finds me will kill me." 15 And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him.


We have already talked about how God hears Cain’s prayer here and how he can still be merciful even in His judgment of the wicked for now. God cares to listen and here it is part of the judgment process.

And finally the judgment is executed:


[Gen 4:16 NKJV] 16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.


This entire judgment process shows some of the character of the Judge Who technically doesn’t have to answer to anyone.

He cares for justice, a due process, investigation, evidence and a possibility for the accused to answer. But He is not afraid to execute judgment when needed.


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