Genesis- Oh Brother Pt.2

Thursday, September 10th

Last thing I want us to pay attention to in this passage, marked by mercy. The interchange between God and Cain continues where God lays out the consequences of Cain’s actions. This wasn’t necessarily a punishment, as much as it was the reality of consequences.

Because Cain didn’t tend to what was crouching within, this is the pain that resulted from it. We get this glimpse that Cain says, “it is too much to bear.” Some theologians argue this was a reckoning for Cain, where he began to see the waywardness of his actions, to the point of repentance. But again, I want us to draw our attention to God’s response. Notice Genesis 4:15- 15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

Yes, Cain was going to bear the brunt of his actions, continue to wander; isolation from God and family, the ground was going to be even harder to work, those were the consequences.

But how should God have handled Cain? What did Cain’s actions require? Later we will see a law that God establishes of, “do not murder.” We will see an eye for an eye. We will see capital punishment. If you take a life, your life should be taken.

But that’s not what God does. The first murder that takes place, God extends mercy, to Cain by marking him. I would go back and read that sentence again.

God, despite Cain not heeding his warning, allowing sin to rule, lying to God, God still extends mercy by not giving to Cain what he deserved. God didn’t treat Cain according to his sin.

Psalm 103:8-12- 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

This is a reckoning passage for how God doesn’t treat us as according to our sin.

Which should be a “blowhorn” for us as well. Aren’t you thankful that God doesn’t treat us according to our sin. When we don’t heed his warning, when we don’t tend to the sin that is crouching within and live in moral failure, our sin deserves punishment, deserves payment. But because of Christ and Christ alone, God does not treat us as our sin deserves. Because our sin was nailed to a cross, in the life of Jesus, and we don’t deserve that kind of love and grace, yet it is given, given freely, but given at a cost.

I encourage you to sit with this song, in light of your life today, how can God meet you right where you are and invite you into love, forgiveness, and mercy?

To the Table by Zach Williams