Tag: Cain
-
Seventy Times Seven – Genesis 4:24
Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. By the time you reach this verse, the line of Cain has become loud with pride. Lamech does not merely defend himself. He magnifies himself. He takes the principle of vengeance and stretches it beyond all proportion. Cain had become a warning.…
-
The Song of the Sword – Genesis 4:22-23
Genesis 4:22-23 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voiceye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speechfor I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man…
-
Tents, Cattle, Harps, and Organs – Genesis 4:20-21
Genesis 4:20-21 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. These verses are fascinating because they show us something very important about the line of…
-
The Drift of a Godless Line – Genesis 4:18
Genesis 4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. At first glance, this can feel like just another genealogy. But when you look at the meanings of these names, a pattern starts to emerge, and it is not a healthy one. It is as…
-
A Wife, A City, A Name – Genesis 4:17
Genesis 4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. This is one of the questions people ask again and again. Where did Cain get his wife? The answer is really not complicated.…
-
East of Eden, Far From Home – Genesis 4:16
Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. This is one of the saddest lines in the chapter. Cain could have pressed in. He could have humbled himself. He could have sought the Lord whose mercy had still been…
-
Marked by Mercy – Genesis 4:15
Genesis 4:15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. This verse is astonishing. Cain is still wrong. He has not come broken. He has not humbled himself. He has not…
-
Hiding From the Only One Who Could Help – Genesis 4:14
Genesis 4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. Cain’s words are revealing…
-
Greater Than I Can Bear – Genesis 4:11-13
Genesis 4:11-13 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the Lord, My…
-
The Blood That Cries, The Blood That Cleanses – Genesis 4:10
Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. This is one of the most haunting lines in all of Genesis. Abel is dead, silent in the field, and yet God says his blood still has a voice. Cain may think the matter…
-
Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Genesis 4:8-9
Genesis 4:8-9 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? This is…
-
Rejected Offering, Fallen Face – Genesis 4:4-5
Genesis 4:4-5 And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. The difference was not that Abel was loved and Cain was hated. The difference was that Abel came God’s way, and Cain…
-
Acquired, But Not Yet – Genesis 4:1
Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. You can almost hear the hope in Eve’s voice. She has heard the promise of Genesis 3:15. She knows that through her seed would come the One who would deal the…
-
The Three Quiet Thieves – Jude 11
Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. After giving three examples, Jude now gives three explanations. He gets very practical here. He is not dealing in vague danger. He names three…
-
Love Does Not Smirk – 1 John 3:11-12
1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother.And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. John says this is not a new message.…