Cain's Curse

Last time in Bible Understanding, God confronts Cain after he has murdered his brother Abel. Cain denies responsibility and lies to God. God responds: "Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receiver 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." I don't know about you but I am hopeful at this point of the story, my heart holds out for some hint, some sign of regret or remorse on Cain's part. Alas, this is Cain's response: "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." The self indulgence of Cain's response to the curse is appalling, with no sign of conscience or pretence of having committed a wrong, let alone having murdered his brother. Cain is not sorry and he resents Gods curse, clearly, the punishment does not fit the crime (at least humanly speaking). There is one acknowledgement in Cain's self seeking response, and that is his future lack of access to Gods presence, his alienation from God. God is allowing Cain to live, his life is spared, at least for the time being. More about the curse of Cain when next we meet, in Bible Understanding. 

Abel's Blood Cry

Last time in Bible Understanding, Cain murdered his brother Abel. Following this, God asks Cain "Where is your brother Abel?". Cain responds, "I don't know, am I my brothers keeper?". Cain had deliberately tricked his brother by inviting him out into a field with the intention of killing him and with callousness after the fact, he lies about knowing where his brother is and suggests to God that his brother really isn't his responsibility. Of course God knows what Cain has done and questions "what have you done?". This is not an inquiry, this is Gods way of pointing Cain to acknowledgement of the heinous crime committed. Cain's unwillingness to confess, despite the recent shedding of his brothers blood, has dire consequences and is a foreshadowing, a fortune telling of the evil that exists in man and the resultant destiny that follows when Gods created are murdered. With disregard for life and a hardened jealous heart, man is capable of killing and God as Creator has the final word: "Listen! Your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground." There is something horrific and eerie in Gods instruction to LISTEN...I invite you to listen and to see with your minds eye the shock, the pain of realization and perhaps the desperate cries from Abel as his own brother shamelessly betrayed his trust and with murderous intention, laid his hands on Abel, thieving him of his life. Alas, regret and remorse are not to be for Cain and we learn just how calloused a man he is, when next we meet in Bible Understanding.