Scripture References: Genesis 4:12-24
When we think of Cain, we automatically think of the first murder. As tragic and horrific as that is, I believe there is something that the Lord, through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration is trying to tell us, something that is far greater a catastrophe than murder itself.
Remember, any sin can be forgiven, including murder, save for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Now, I’m not going to dwell on that unforgivable sin, rather, the point I want to make is that the murder of Abel is not Cain’s greatest sin, but rather, the sin that followed, and a sin that most likely is on par with the unforgivable sin.
Cain left us a lasting legacy and murder is not that legacy. Jesus made the statement, “He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning . . .” (John 8:44). Satan, the devil himself, holds that title. However, we shall endeavor to discover Cain’s legacy and the horrific stain it has left on mankind.
“My punishment is greater than I can bear,” cried Cain and I would imagine it dawned on him as soon as his passion had spent itself and the consequences of his wickedness became apparent, and this is how most feel when they find that they now live in the presence of an irrevocable deed they have done. It most likely seems too heavy a penalty to endure for the short time that a person’s passion gets a hold of them as it did Cain; and yet as unable as Cain was to rouse the dead Abel so unable are we to revive the past we have destroyed. Thoughtlessness has set in motion agencies we are powerless to control; the whole world is changed to us. One can fancy Cain turning to see if his victim gave any sign of life, possibly even striving to reanimate his dead brother, calling the familiar name, but only to see with growing dismay that the one blow had finished all with which that name was associated, and that he had put himself into a whole new situation and his world as he knew was forever changed; in essence, a new world. We also are often times drawn back in thought to that time which has forever changed our lives, striving to see if there is any possibility of altering the circumstances of the past, but only to realize, to late, we might quite as well try to raise the dead. No voice responds to our cries of grief and dismay, and repentance of a thing once done is far too late. All life seems now to be is but a reaping of the consequences of the past. We have put ourselves in every respect at a disadvantage. The world around us seems cursed to the point that we are hampered in our moving forward and can’t make as much of our situation as when we would had been innocent.
We have removed ourselves from right relations with our fellow men and can’t feel the same to them as we should feel; the heaviness of guilt and the face of God appears to be hid from us, so that now and again as time after time it appears our hopes are no more and our life is darkened and disturbed by the obvious results of our own past deeds, and thus, we are tempted to cry out with Cain: “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
Yet Cain’s punishment was actually less than even he expected, I’m sure. He was not put to death as he would have been at any later period of the world’s history, but rather, he was banished. Also, even this punishment was lightened by God having given him a token, a sign, that he would not be put to death by any zealous avenger of Abel. Rather, he would experience the hardships of a man entering as it were, unexplored territory; however, even this, to an enterprising spirit, might not be without its advantages and even charms.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
You must be logged in to post a comment.