The God of Cain

My Bible reading today included the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16). If you are not familiar with the tale, here it is in brief: Cain and Abel are the first offspring of Adam and Eve. Cain is a crop farmer and Abel is herdsman. When the time of harvest comes, both men bring an offering to God. God likes Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. Cain reacts by killing his brother, and God exiles Cain from his family and God’s presence. As a life-long church attendant, I know the story and sometimes skim over it. Yet this time I purposely am focusing on the text and looking for what God wants to show me in His word. So I noticed what a whiner Cain is.

First he sulks because God honors Abel’s offering (his first and best portion) and not Cain’s (not his best). God tries to reason with Cain on this issue, but Cain doesn’t repent. He kills his brother in jealousy. So when God calls him on this latest sin and exiles him, Cain again whines against his punishment. “It’s too harsh!” “I’m gonna die!”

Notice how God responds to this sinful, pathetic man: He places a warning mark on him so that others will be punished if Cain is killed. God doesn’t tell him to “man up” or “you made your bed, lie in it.” No, God sets a mark of protection on him. Yes, Cain has sinned, but God still cares for him! Cain didn’t get what he deserved – death for a death. Mercy again in the first chapters of the Bible, the Old Testament.

Cain was under the old law of the time. He was exiled from God’s presence because of his sin, but God put a saving mark on him.

Under the new law, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we don’t have to wander in exile because of our sin. Through His death on the cross, when we seek forgiveness or repent of our sin, His sacrificial blood offering wipes us clean of our sin. We can return to the Father’s presence and stay there.The God of Cain, who placed a mark of protection on him, is merciful to everyone who seeks Him.

And I have to wonder, was that mark on Cain perhaps the shape of a cross?