Did God Loose Sight Of Cain?

There were two brothers who were friends of a pastor from childhood. Born into the same family, fed the same food, reared in the same church, exposed to the same truth they were also susceptible to the same temptations. One from his earliest days began to show a genuine love for the Lord and a desire to order his life in accordance with divine principles. He disciplined himself in study and preparation, married wisely and well, and eventually became a singularly effective missionary in a primitive part of the world where very few white men ventured. Like every other man he was not exempt from sin crouching at his door, but he did well and was lifted up in blessing and honor before God and man.

Meanwhile his brother who was less disciplined and less inclined to honor the Lord began to fudge around the edges. His business began to suffer, his marriage began to deteriorate, and eventually he became so gripped by the sin which lay in wait to devour him that he lost family, wife, and business and eventually sat desolate in a prison cell.

Cain killed his brother, denied that he killed him and then complains to God even though God let him live. Then God put a mark on Cain and lets it be known that anyone who harms Cain will suffer for it. Now Cain leaves the land of his parents and turns his back on God. This is where our study of Genesis takes up today. So welcome and let's dig right in.

Gen 4:16-24

16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son--Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.

19 Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah. 23 Then Lamech said to his wives:

"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!

For I have killed a man for wounding me,

Even a young man for hurting me.

24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

1. Cain Turns His Back On God Completely (vs. 16)

Cain cast off all fear of God, and followed God's ordinances no more. He went out from the presence of the Lord, and we never find that he came into it again, to his comfort. Having made his complaints Cain submitted to that part of his sentence. He was hidden (cut off) from God's face; for (v. 16).

Does this mean God could not or did not see Cain? No it does not, God sees all, knows all and is every where at once. He saw Cain, but Cain willingly renounced God, and was content to forego God's blessings. Cain had turned his back on God, and he went out from the presence of the Lord, in doing so he abandoned the teachings of God. He turned his back on Adam's family and altar, and cast off all pretense of fear of God, and never came back to his family, or cared-for God's ordinances, any more.

2. Cain lived in Nod (vs. 16)

The land Cain dwelt in was called the land of Nod, which means, 'shaking,' or 'trembling,' and so shows the restlessness and uneasiness of his own spirit, or 'the land of a vagabond:' they that depart from God cannot find rest any where else. Those on earth who looked for the heavenly will only find it in God.

Cain chose his land. He went and dwelt on the east of Eden, somewhere distant from the place where Adam and his family, who still walked with God; resided, distinguishing himself and his accursed generation from the holy seed. After Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, he never rested.

The geographical situation of the land of Nod, in the front of Eden, where Cain settled after his departure from the place or the land of the revealed presence of God cannot be determined. The name Nod denotes a land of flight and banishment, in contrast with Eden, the land of delight, where Jehovah walked with men.

3. There Cain knew his wife (vs. 4:17-24)

There is an age question, where did Cain's wife come from. Well there are all kinds of guesses and ideas, but they are just that because all the Bible says is, “ And Cain knew his wife.”

Her name is traditionally said to have been Save. No previous mention is made of Cain's marriage; but that is not wonderful in so succinct and fragmentary a history. Whether Save was a daughter of Adam or the daughter of one of his numerous sons, the Book of Genesis does not give an answer.

However it also presents the lapse of many years (maybe hundreds of years) before Cain's marriage experience. Since all life came from the first divinely created human pair, it is necessary to conclude that at some time brothers and sisters were married to each other. Many Bible scholars believe that before the Great Flood that there was no disease and that brother-sister marriages would not have been genetically impossible. By the time Cain was ready to marry, Adam and Eve had numerous descendants. There is no need to imagine another race of people already well established in the world. Cain's wife was one of the family of Adam and Eve.

Another theory put forward is that Cain’s wife accompanied him in his exile; also, that she was a daughter of Adam, and consequently a sister of Cain. Again the marriage of brothers and sisters was inevitable in the case of the children of the first men. The human race is actually to descend from a single pair, Adam and Eve.

4. Cain Built A City (vs. 17)

It appears very surprising that Cain, who was to be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, would have established himself in the land of Nod. This cannot be fully explained, either on the ground that he carried on the pursuits of agriculture, which lead to settled abodes, or that he strove against the curse.

In addition there is also the curse, "the ground shall not yield to thee her strength," was so appease by the grace of God, that Cain and his descendants were enabled to obtain sufficient food in the land of his settlement, though it was by dint of hard work and strenuous effort. Martin Luther had a reasonable thought on this subject. He wrote that the correct understanding of the curse, is that Cain should be a fugitive upon the earth, as relating to his expulsion from Eden, and his removal from his immediate family.

The construction of a city by Cain is not surprising, if we consider that at the commencement of its building, centuries had already passed since the creation of man, and Cain's descendants more than likely by this time have increased considerably in numbers.

The fact that Cain undertook the building of a city, is also significant. In it's building we cannot fail to detect the desire to neutralize the curse of banishment, and create for his family a point of unity, as a compensation for the loss of unity in fellowship with God, as well as the inclination of the family of Cain for that which was earthly, a home.

Some say that the Hebrew word "city" is from a root signifying something to be deep. They maintain that Cain's dwelling was a cave, in which Cain established himself, and so he was the first Caveman. But such an idea is inconsistent with the language of the context, which expressly relates that he "built" or "began to build.” Whether the habitations built consisted of huts made of branches, plastered with clay and thatched with grass, whether they were wholly mud cabins, which in early times were (Job 4:19; 24:16), and still are so common in the East; or whether they were formed of huge blocks of stone does not matter. The point is that they “built” a city.

Although the building of this city is recorded apparently in the continuous course of events subsequent to Cain's exile, and immediately after the birth of his oldest son, it is probable that centuries had elapsed, and he himself, as Augustine suggests, was an old man, some 500 or 600 years of age, when he laid its foundations.

God’s way is for man to overcome the forces of sin. Cain did not, and sin abounded and reigned. The same principle works today. The identical challenge confronts us today. Will we turn our backs on God and the things of God or will we walk with Him daily?