Ever onwards, ever downwards (Stage 6)

Continuing on from the account of Cain's murder of Abel, his brother, we pick up our journey in Genesis 4:16.

Genesis 4: 16;  ''And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod [literally -Wandering], on the east of Eden.''

What a sorry state of affairs.  Cain, the race's first born, crown prince of the earth, portrays the tragic direction of the fallen man: into exile, separated from the presence of God, wandering aimlessly and without hope in the world. 

But, Cain, well he had big ideas for his family:

Genesis 4: 17;  ''And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.''

Here begins the theme of man's passion to establish his own name in the earth; to make his own mark - who needed God anyway?  And, as time passed, sadly the attitude and behaviours of Cain's descendants would go further and further away from what God would expect and desire from His Creation;  God who after all had created man in His own image and His likeness.

We can see, when man is bereft of any relationship with God, just how bad things can get from the ungodly conduct and abhorrent actions of Lamech.

Lamech was a direct descendant of Cain, the founder of this murderous dynasty:

Genesis 4: 19, 23 & 24;  ''And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.  And Lamech, said unto his wives' Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; ye wives for Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding [killed a man for wounding me], and a young man to my hurt [for hurting me].  If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold.''

''Two wives'' - Lamech's abuse of the creation ordinance of marriage (Genesis 2: 24;  ''Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave [be joined] unto his wife: and shall be as one flesh.'') exemplifies the ungodly spirit of the Cainite culture.

But it is Lamech's taunt-song above which is most repugnant and reveals the swift progress of sin in a Godless society.  Where Cain had succumbed to sin, Lamech now openly exults in it; where Cain had sought protection, Lamech looks around for provocation: the savage and disproportionate killing of a young man (from the Hebrew word meaning 'child'!) for a mere wound is the whole point of his boast.

One of Lamech's sons was Tubal-cain, the first worker of metals, and these verses, which are in the form of a poetic song, are thought to glorify the weapons of war invented by his son.  Lamech in boasting to his wives, Adah and Zillah, that he has killed men, possibly believes more in his own superior strength, now he has weapons,  than the need to seek and rely on God's protection like Cain:

Genesis 4: 13, 14 & 17;  ''And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that findeth me shall slay me.

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayest Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.  And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.'' 

The divine protection which Cain was glad to receive, Lamech scorned.  Cainite culture had culminated in defiance of Him to whom their whole way of life should have been dedicated. 

Oh dear, oh dear - ''Ever onwards, ever downwards'' it would certainly seem.

One final thought: Jesus may have had Lamech's 'seventy- seven saying in mind when God's First-born spoke of forgiveness (and not vengeance) in laying down, through his teachings, the foundations of the New Covenant.   The verse below is one of many in which Jesus provides advice and guidance as to the actions and attitudes that God expects and desires from all who now choose to follow Him:

Matthew 18: 21 & 22;  ''Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me , and I forgive him? till seven times?  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but, Until seventy times seven.''

A big ask - eh?  Well, towards the end of our journey we will see how the Holy Spirit helps us to attain and maintain the attitudes, behaviours and actions God seeks, expects and desires from His people.

Next week, stage 7 - ''Awash with good people''.