Tuesday, 14 June 2011
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The Mark of Cain: Understanding God's Mercy
The story of Cain and Abel is familiar to many. We know that Cain slew his brother because his sacrifice was favored above his own. We read of how God comes to Cain and pronounces judgment upon him. God told him that he would be a fugitive and a vagabond. Also, the ground would be cursed for him. After hearing these things, Cain cried out to God for he was afraid for him own life. God responds to him by placing a mark upon his head.
And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. Gen 4:15 (KJV)
Some have tried to compare Cain’s mark to the mark of the beast and other symbols, which are incorrect. The mark of Cain was a mark of God’s mercy. Though Cain was guilty, God was merciful to him that he would not reap the full return of what he had done. What is the point?
Many today are afraid of what is to come because of past sins, failures, and decisions. However, if they have returned to God, they do not have to fear the future. God set a mark upon Cain for mercy and Cain expressed no remorse for his acts. How much the more will God show mercy to those who come to Him in confession and repentance and humility? Do not be afraid, God will have mercy even in judgment if He is approached sincerely and honestly. Remember, the mark of Cain showed God’s mercy and not His anger.
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About the Author
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- From: roderickevans
- Name: Roderick
- Location: Elizabeth City, North Carolina, United States
- About Me: Roderick L. Evans is a solid voice in the Christian community as a minister, author, and songwriter. He has written numerous books, teaching resources, music, articles, blogs, and other devotional materials for the Christian community. He is the founder of Kingdom Builders International Ministries: A ministry dedicated to promoting maturity, unity, and holiness in the Body of Christ.
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Comments (5)
Yeah, pretty merciful god to make someone feel like total shit when he arbitrarily favored his brother's sacrifice. THAT makes a lot of sense.
Doesn't justify the murder, of course, but I don't know why people ignore the cruel favoritism of God in this story.
I mean, imagine two little kids offering their dad their favorite toys, both hoping to please their beloved father, and the dad randomly saying, "I like your brother's gift better." We'd accuse him of being cruel. Psychologically abusive, even. That's a horrible thing to do to someone who worships you and wants to give you a gift! What kind of god does that?
Boy, Venca had some strong words there plus she is right and if the story was not a metaphor she would have a valid point. Question is, what is the under lying story.
@Venca@xanga - @AMIGOS_WE_THREE@xanga - I think you guys need to read Genesis again...Cain didn't give his best to God while Abel did. God cares about our hearts. And God even warned Cain about what would happen, but Cain, instead of changing, killed his own brother. But God showed His love for Cain by protecting him from being murdered himself. He even allowed Cain to have a wife and have kids as well. That's pretty merciful.
Good post, roderickevans!
@cute_sushi@xanga - OK Sushi, so help me wrap my head around this and please feel free to do so with me and together we can see God's "Mercy" and how much he cares about our "Hearts".
After Cain commits murder he protects him and displays mercy, therefore by our laws in the USA you might make the argument he aided and abetted a criminal. OK fine, he is God. But there was this one woman who had the nerve, the low life scum sucking didn't listen to her husband ONE TIME bitch that she must have been, you know her as Lot's wife, looks back at a city and she is turned to stone.................Yea right, one of these stories is full of it. I bet if you actually think about it both are METAPHORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Garden of Eden metaphor- Commit sin on earth and loose the possibility of Heaven on earth.Lot's Wife- Listen to God. There happened to be a rock formation that looked like a person so they used this to help make a point about how easy it is not to listen to our father and just as stern and final as being kicked out of Eden for not listening, Lot's wife is stone.
Come on Sushi, you know what a flushing toilet is. You don't worship the God of the Sun, Rain, wind, air, Apollo, or anyone of a million others because you HAVE A BROADER USE OF YOUR BRAIN. But just as Lot and Cain and Adam and Eve would have, you can/have experienced the love of our father in Heaven. But with the intelligence of time and "LAP TOPS" you don't need to believe in Fairy tales, or in this case a metaphor as a fact to know the benefits and consequences of not listening to our Father.
Much love Angel,justmarty
@AMIGOS_WE_THREE@xanga - Cain did get a punishment--it's not like he got away from killing his brother. Lot's wife probably was struck by the hail because she hesitated and looked back instead of running like the others, not necessarily because of punishment--it was natural consequences.
And if the stories in the OT are all just metaphors, why does Jesus keep quoting from the OT all the time? What do you think really happened instead of Adam and Eve, etc? If you don't believe the Bible is true, where do you get your information about God? How did humans fall away from God?