Genesis 4:11-26

the downfall of Cain

Gods word is so rich / true.

Moses wrote this some 3500 years ago, writing about a time thats some 5000-6000 years ago.

Yet its more relevant to us today than whats in our daily newspaper.

The way of Cain: a

The Curse (11-12)

The wages of sins is death… you shall surely die Ezekiel 3.

So God offers the just condemnation over Cain

The opposite of being cursed is to be blessed/graced/favored

“You are cursed from the ground”

It means that the evidence of Cain’s sin is THERE on the ground and is CRYING OUT for God’s judgement

“You have BLOOD on your hands!”

“Your soul is stained with blood… as the land itself is stained with blood!”

So God offers a regional judgement upon the land also, it won’t be productive/fruitful

CONTRAST between EDEN and a WASTELAND

CONTRAST between HEAVEN and the WASTELAND of Hell that awaits the ungodly sinner

The Complaint (13-14)

Cain thought it was TOO MUCH to bear… punishment far outweighs the crime

Like getting the death penalty for J-walking, or going over the speed limit

But it was the opposite… far too lenient

The truth of the matter is that God withheld the full measure of His just judgement upon Cain!

God will impose the death penalty… Gen 9:6… why not here? Was He not capable? NO!

He should’ve taken his life IMMEDIATELY!… Ananias and Saphirra

Cain didn’t understand, justice. eye for and eye tooth for a tooth

Proverbs 28:5 “5 Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things.”

Verse 14

Driven: expel, run out, drive out, cast out, divorce, severance.

God is a holy God and cannot look upon iniquity… Habakkuk 1:15.

AND from His face!… Sin has created this chasm.

He will have a restless soul, always be looking for peace but will never find it

A guilty conscience will either drive you away from God, or drive you to God

Stiff-necked like Jews

Humble yourself and repent

The Compassion (15)

God puts a SHIELD around Cain! He protects Cain… vengeance will be taken 7-fold!

Jesus says love your enemies…

Matthew 5:45 “45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Sign for Cain?

What is what? IDK. But it’s an expression of God’s grace, common grace on Cain

The Casting Out (16)

Same as Adam and Eve!

The Children (17-18)

Adah means, “pleasure, ornament, or beauty.” Zillah means, “shade” probably referring to a luxurious covering of hair. His daughter’s name was Naamah, which means, “loveliness.” Lamech’s culture was committed to physical and outward beauty.

The Corruption (19-24)

Genesis 2:24 “24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”???

2 wives?

Competition in the home… Jealousy, Envy, A divided heart in the man… confusion in the children!

Lamech’s pride seeping through these verses.

Not one DROP of humility in Lamech.

1 Peter 5:5 “5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

The only thing good in you, is the grace of God…

Paul said “I am what I am by the grace of God”

In 1 Cor 4 he said “What do you have except that which you have received”

We should be the most humble people on earth.

Chapter ENDS with the first glimmer of hope…

In a family dicoteme that was harsh, brutal, with God’s face being hidden from them… there’s hope.

And there’s hope extended to you today.