In the early chapters of the Bible, within the book of Genesis, we encounter a profound narrative that delves into the concept of divine judgment.
The stories of Cain and Lamech, found in Genesis 4, offer a striking glimpse into the consequences of human choices and the divine response to acts of violence and wickedness.
These tales not only provide a moral compass for understanding the nature of justice and accountability but also reveal the complexities of God’s interaction with humanity in the face of wrongdoing.
As we embark on a journey through the Divine Judgment of Cain and Lamech, we will explore the intricate layers of these narratives, seeking to unravel the timeless lessons they hold for us.
Divine Judgement of Cain and Lamech
MEMORY VERSE: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Proverbs 15:8).
TEXT: Genesis 4:1-24.
Our study in chapter three ended on a sad note because of disobedience. In our lesson today, we see the beginning of procreation and the progression of sin in the human race.
Procreation was one of God’s blessings upon marriage (Genesis 1:26-28), but its realization began outside the garden of Eden. The firstborn son was named Cain, meaning profit or gain. He turned out to be wicked and divine judgment came upon him. Lamech, the first polygamist, became the second murderer after Cain.
THE PRIORITY OF ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE
(Genesis 4:1-5; 1 Samuel 15:22,23; Matthew 5:23,24; Hebrews 11:4).
Cain and Abel were both sinners because they were born to sinful parents. Concerning the sinfulness of both sons and all men, the Bible says: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
As Cain and Abel approached God, they brought offerings to Him. No doubt, Cain and Abel must have learned that after the fall of Adam and Eve, God clothed them with coats of skin. Despite this knowledge, Cain approached God with an offering without blood, a product of the fruit of the ground, which had been cursed.
In so doing, he presumed upon having fellowship with God without a substitutionary sin offering “…and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9.22). Our sins must first be dealt with through expiation before we can have good fellowship with God. But Cain relied on the merit of his works for acceptance by God.
However, Abel brought an offering involving the shedding of blood, similar to the pattern God showed in Eden. In this act, we observe the faith of Abel in the atoning blood of the Paschal Lamb (Hebrews 11:4; John 1:29).
While Abel submitted himself to God’s appointed way of salvation, Cain devised his way of receiving God’s favor. Sin offering must precede fellowship offering before the offerer can be acceptable in the sight of God.
Before the gift can be accepted, the giver must first be accepted. This is an essential principle that Cain missed out on. Multitudes of religious people are caught in the same error and presumption today.
They gloss over the issue of their guilt, sinfulness, and total depravity but rush into and become addicted to fellowship activities. Being ignorant or deliberately defiant of God’s appointed method of becoming righteous, they establish their righteousness.
They trust in the merit of their regular attendance at services, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage, and some other impressive religious endeavors. No matter how good they appear, such sacrifices are unacceptable before God.
We should never forget that “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Jesus is the only way appointed and approved for our salvation. Our sins are forgiven through His death and justified by His resurrection (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Abel was counted righteous by putting faith in the sacrificial shadow and type of Christ. Many penitent sinners will be made righteous today if they trust His reality.
PREMEDITATED MURDER AND ITS CONSEQUENCE
(Genesis 4:6-9; Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-24; James 1:14,15).
“And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
And Cain talked with Abel, his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose 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? (Genesis 4:6-9).
The rejection of Cain’s offering produced anger rather than godly sorrow for sin. His countenance fell rather than himself falling upon his face in repentance. Yet God, in grace, allowed His mercy to run the entire course before judgment came.
God’s power is often manifested dually: Mercy and justice. If a man rejects His understanding, even without asking for it, he must receive His judgment.
God pointed out to Cain that he would be accepted if he did well. This was an encouragement that the rejection of his offering was not a total condemnation of his person, and he could repent and find favor like Abel.
The story of Cain might have ended differently had he prayed like the Psalmist: “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133). By the act of redemption through faith in Jesus, believers can resist and overcome sin if they choose to.
But Cain was hard and unrepentant. He went ahead in jealous hatred and premeditatively slew his righteous brother. Cain conceived jealousy in his heart, it brought forth murder, and judgment followed.
All those who kill by abortion, suicide, or forcefully taking another person’s life are guilty before God. No matter how cleverly hidden, sin will be punished unless repented of. By Killing Abel, Cain became the first murderer, symbolizing man-made religion and organized persecution of the righteous.
Abel became an example of those who suffer for the sake of righteousness. God took over the cause of slain Abel to let all those who suffer for righteousness know that He who judgeth righteously will be their Advocate.
God asked Cain: “Where is Abel thy brother?” This is the second time God asked man: “Where?” Not that it suggests ignorance on God’s part, but it was aimed at self-exposure and admission of guilt.
But Cain lied, “I know not,” For a cover, he queried God: “am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain had gone the entire length of rebellion against God, and having rejected mercy, he must have judgment.
PROMPT PRONOUNCEMENT OF DIVINE JUDGMENT
(Genesis 4:10-16; Exodus 21:14; Isaiah 26:9,10).
And he said, What hast thou has done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tellest 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 punishment is more significant than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the world, and it shall come to pass, that everyone that findeth me shall slay me.
And the Lord said, “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. And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden” (Genesis 4:10-16).
“And now art thou cursed from the earth…” (Genesis 4:11). A curse was pronounced upon Cain.
“For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh often upon it, and bringeth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:7-8).
Obedience brings blessings, but sin brings a curse. As this is true of individuals like Cain, it is true of families and nations. Israel could not be cursed by Balaam so long as “God hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he saw perverseness in Israel…” (Numbers 23:21).
But when these same Israelites committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab, a plague swept twenty-four thousand of them away (Numbers 25:9).
The curse upon Cain entails that as a tiller of the ground, God would not bless his efforts. The extent and scope of the curse placed on Adam were extended so that Cain would have more frustration, weariness, and suffering. Moreover, he would be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth:
This means he would be in bondage to fear, perpetual guilt, and aimless wandering. Cain exclaimed that his punishment was more significant than he could bear, yet he did not repent.
Pear of death gripped him, but God assured him that he would live. God set a mark on him that he might not be killed, thus revealing God’s special mercy upon undeserving sinners.
PROFANE AND PAGAN CULTURE THROUGH LAMECH
(Genesis 4:17-24).
“And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden” (Genesis 4:16). Cain lost God’s presence and, with his descendants, began a Godless human civilization. Without God, they endeavored to overcome their generational curse and redeem themselves through creativity.
To avoid being fugitives and vagabonds, they built walled cities. How foolish of men to think they can keep God out from reaching them with their walls!
The vicious cycle of sin continued in the family line of Cain as Lamech came into focus. He became the first polygamist and, in his ancestors’ footsteps, the second murderer on record.
His recorded speech was in poetry or song form with an underlying tone of pride in wickedness. He boasted that if Cain was avenged sevenfold, he must be avenged seventy and sevenfold.
He misunderstood the protection of Cain as an approval of wickedness, just as sinners today mistake God’s mercy and favor towards them as an approval of their sinful lives. How true then that: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes. 8:11).
Lamech brazenly rejected monogamy as God’s ordained principle of marriage and boasted of violence and self-defense. He felt no need for God. With his offspring, they trusted in their creativity and the pleasure of their music. While excelled in skill and achievement, they wallowed in the depths of evil and depravity.
But in the sad story of Cain and Lamech, we see the hidden hand of Satan trying to corrupt the whole human race, having eliminated righteous Abel. His grand plan was to stop the seed of the woman who would bruise his head from coming into the world.
By allowing themselves to be used, Cain and Lamech collaborated with the devil in his avowed opposition to God. The end of Lamech was not worth recording.
There are obvious lessons for all in the story of Cain and Lamech. First, we see the truth of the statement that “sin cannot be confined to the place and hour of its doing. Sin is eminently productive, and each act of wickedness forms a link in a chain unless God breaks it in grace, tangles with eternity”.
The life of Cain illustrates this truth, and every sinner should wisely “break off their sins by righteousness.” No root of sin should be allowed to remain or develop in the heart.
Secondly, we learn not to reject correction directly from God or through His appointed servants. Each rebuke for sin should lead us to a prompt correction of our lives because continuing corruption will lead to judgment. Notably, allusions are made to cattle rearing, iron and brass artificers, and harp and organ handlers.
Today there are several modern inventions, some of which are excellent but true believers should not be entangled in godless technology and perverted music, which encourage sensuality and violence. We must distinguish between sacred music and the unedifying, sensual lyrics of the world despite their mentioning of the name of Jesus.
As the whole world becomes a global village because of technological advancement, believers who “use the word” must consider it enchanted grounds”: and as the Holy Spirit said. “and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Corinthians 7:31).
We must not allow ourselves to get trapped by self-promoting, humanistic, and God—defying advancement. The old narrow way is still the only safe way.
Personal Questions
- (a) State the differences between Cain’s and Abel’s offerings.
(b) Why was Abel’s offering acceptable to God while Cain’s was not? - How do people give offerings like Cain’s today?
- List some sins Cain was guilty of.
- Give a summary of God’s judgment on Cain.
Conclusion:
The stories of Cain and Lamech encompassed within the Divine Judgment of Genesis 4, provide us with profound insights into the consequences of human actions and the nature of divine justice.
These narratives serve as timeless reminders that our choices and deeds carry weight and significance, both in our own lives and in the eyes of the divine.
As we conclude our exploration of these ancient tales, we are challenged to consider the enduring lessons they offer. They compel us to reflect on the consequences of our actions, embrace the principles of accountability and repentance, and seek the path of righteousness and mercy.
