Cain’s original sin – 28 April 2008

This week we are looking at sin, confession, forgiveness and redemption. It seems like Genesis is probably a good place to start – with the first murder of Abel by his brother Cain. A murder provoked by jealousy between brothers - how does God deal with this situation?

The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. Genesis4:10-15 [NIV]

God’s response to this very serious sin is:
- he punishes Cain (from which we can learn that sin has consequences)
- he protects Cain from revenge (from which we learn that revenge by man is not something God approves of)

Cain’s attitude on discovery is not one of remorse and we don’t hear him asking for forgiveness. Rather he is complaining about his punishment and his future.

The sin of murder is perhaps the most serious sin a human can inflict on another – yet God does not strike Cain dead as a punishment. Also, we see in the bible that even murderers can be used (Moses and David were both murderers who were used by God).
Sin is wrong, it has consequences, but that is not the end of the road. No sin, once confessed and forgiven, prevents us from being “put right” with God

Thank you Lord for your grace, mercy and love in dealing with us, your children. Help us to bring our sins to you in confession today. Amen.