Genesis 4
Sibling rivalry is as old as original sin. The shocking story of Cain murdering Abel takes the depravation of humankind to a new low.
God talks with Cain before he lures his brother into a field to kill him. God tries to persuade him ‘if you do well, will you not be accepted?’ He warns him that sin is lurking at his door wanting to master him.
The sad fact is that although his mother Eve had to be talked into sin, Cain her son cannot even be talked out of it by God himself. Nor does he confess or show any remorse when confronted by God after the murder.
When I’ve read this story before, that’s as far as I’ve got: being deeply shocked by Cain’s arrogance and violence. But what’s actually more amazing is God’s gracious response. When Cain moans about his punishment and the risk of a revenge attack, God actually marks him out for protection. The ‘mark of Cain’ was a sign of protection, not a stigma. It was the most a gracious and merciful God could do for an unrepentant sinner.
If God can do that for someone so undeserving who wasn’t even sorry, just think what he longs to do for us when we acknowledge our sin. Let’s praise God in the words of Psalm 103
‘Praise the Lord O my soul
And forget not all his benefits –
Who forgives all your sin
And heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit
And crowns you with love and compassion…’
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in love…
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
Or repay us according to our inquities’
(vv 2-4, 8, 10)
