"The the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him." (Genesis 4:15 NIV)
We get a glimpse of God’s great compassion and patience with us in the fourth chapter of Genesis. Cain had blown past his Creator’s warning about anger. We don’t know much about this sibling relationship, but it’s safe to say neither brother was perfect. Able brought a better sacrifice, but at the end of the day, he was a flesh and blood sibling. Earthly brothers have been broiled in conflict since the beginning of time.
The situation erupted when Cain lured Able into an open field and killed him. Again, we don’t know the details. Did they argue first? Throw fists? Did a brotherly brawl get out of hand, as they often do? Or did Cain premeditate the event with a rock in hand and murder in his heart? We can only speculate.
What we know for sure is that Cain refused to confess. Even when confronted by the Creator, bull-headed Cain held his ground. So God cursed him. Abel’s blood had to be accounted for.
Cain wallowed in his consequence. He was the originator of ‘Woe is me!’ Rather than owning his mistake, he self-isolated. He hid from God, willfully “going out of His presence” and in doing so; further condemning himself.
We can’t lose sight of God in this story, though. His mercy is evident even with the first murderer. The prodigal Father marked his wayward son so that no one would harm him. We might jump to conclusions and consider this torment – a guilt-ridden man sentenced to die of old age – but all I see is grace. The Creator who cast Cain’s parents from the garden before they ate again and sealed their fate also sent this son into a future long enough for reflection and repentance.
The curse was also the cure. Cain was given ample time and space to come to terms with his fallen nature and declare his need of Creator.
Our merciful God still gives us time. He grants us ample opportunity to reflect and repent and return to Him. That’s why this world is still heaving – He is benevolently offering us every last moment to decide to come Home.
End of day outside of Weimar, TX.
This morning’s verses about Cain makes me reconsider my personal patience levels. Do I mirror my Maker’s forbearance? Or do I give up on folks far too soon? It’s hard to believe that time and underserved affection will turn hearts, but it’s exactly the formula we find in scripture.
This task of patience is impossible in our own strength, but when we are reconciled with our Creator, we never walk the earth alone again. We walk with God. We walk with His Spirit fortifying us, producing fruit we could never grow apart from His presence: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When we walk with Him, we are Spirit-empowered to love others over the long haul.
"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends; with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV)
Lord, please forgive us for our flights from You. Today we clearly see Your patience with man over millennia. What a kind and gracious God you are! Help us, Lord, as we learn to reflect You rightly to the world around us. Grow Your spiritual fruit on the limbs of our lives as we endeavor to abide in You. May Your heart become apparent in us. Amen.