Genesis Ch.4

Father God, we thank you that the entrance of Your Word brings light. May Your light shine forth in every part of our lives as we read and share It today in the name of Jesus, Amen.

From my previous post, we saw that Abel's sacrifice pleased God in comparison to Cain's sacrifice to God. This greatly displeased Cain which later led him to murder his brother (Genesis 4:8).

Genesis 4:9 reads, "Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I brother's keeper?" Clearly Cain was not cognizant of the consequence of his sin despite the LORD telling him "...your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground." The LORD then proceeded to curse Cain for his disobedience as found in Genesis 4:11-12.

Prior to this curse, it is important to note that the LORD had cautioned Cain in Genesis 4:7 when He told him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Nevertheless, Cain did not heed to the word of the LORD.

Genesis chapter 4 also portrays the mercy of the LORD. When the LORD passed judgment on Cain for his sin, he pleaded to the LORD that his punishment was too great for him to bear (Genesis 4:13-14).

Cain was not Abel's Keeper but God was surely Cain's Keeper so God extended mercy to Cain by putting a mark on Cain so that no one would kill him (Genesis 4:15) despite his sin. God's mercy did not deal with Cain the way he deserved especially after murdering his innocent brother whose blood kept crying out to God.

In addition, this chapter also illustrates God's redemption and restoration. We see that Adam and Eve were able to have another child called Seth which meant "...For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed." (Genesis 2:25).

I believe we also see redemption in Cain's story as well. Cain was able to build a city and bear a child, Enoch, with his wife (Genesis 4:17).

My reminder to you today is just as God was Abel and Cain's Keeper, this same LORD is your Keeper as well.

Psalm 121:5 shows us how the LORD God is also known as our Keeper and it reads, "The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand."

The same mercy and grace that was extended to Cain, today God has shared it even more abundantly with all of the world through His Son, Jesus Christ. John 3:16-17 NKJV reads, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Friend, God's mercy for everyone is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and because of His love and grace expressed in His Son, Christ, He does not deal with us according to our sins. At times, you are much harder on yourself concerning the mistakes you make than God is with you. This is God's grace for you. It gives you things like mercy and love that you may feel you don't deserve. People may not forget your mistakes and wrongs but when God forgives you, He also forgets - this is how much He loves you!

Hebrews 8:12 NASB reads, "For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, and their sins I will no longer remember."

If you would like to know this LORD who is Your Keeper and continually invites you to receive His love and grace without judgment of your past wrongs, but with His mercy, He does not remember your sins and seeks to protect you from the consequences of sin and condemnation; - I invite you to make this confession:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

I'll end with this Word found in Hebrews 12:22-24 (NKJV)

"22.But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

23.to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24.to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel."

AMEN. THANK YOU LORD.

PS: I encourage you to read this chapter and to lean into what the Holy Spirit may be speaking to you as well. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Be blessed!