“And God said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground’” (Gen. 4:10).
God challenged Cain to recognize the destructiveness and permanence of his sin. What voice is most recognizable to you? For many it is the voice of a parent, spouse, child or sibling. God heard the voice of Abel’s blood. What did it resemble? What did the voice of Abel’s blood say?
In the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John describes those killed because of their faithfulness to God. John writes, “They cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 6:10).
Cain would reap the judgment of taking the life of a righteous saint (Heb. 11:4). Nonetheless, Cain’s punishment was not postponed to take effect at his death. The first installment of his judgment came immediately:
- Cain no longer received the full harvest from his agricultural labors
- He would not enjoy a permanent residence
- Eve’s son would not have the benefit of being in God’s presence
The most forbidding of these three temporal punishments was the deprivation of the blessing of being in God’s presence. Verse 16’s description is graphic: “Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”
Man chooses his sin; God determines the consequence of man’s sin. Cain chose to kill Abel even after God’s admonition of verse 7. Cain chose to be cursed. He chose to be Fatherless, alone. His greatest desire was for God to remove His protection and favor from him, and he acted on that desire.
Man always chooses his greatest desire; oftentimes he fails to realize what he is choosing.
“Nod” means “restlessness.” Cain chose to have no peace. He elected to have no society with his Creator-God. His selection of self-will over God’s will resulted in present and permanent lack of peace and stability. Why? Because there is no peace or stability outside of God’s presence.
How highly do you value your family relationships? Remember that your family includes those blessed by God with the filling of the Holy Spirit. You are a part of an earthly and heavenly family. Does your treatment of your siblings correspond with Romans 14 and 15 as well as I Corinthians 8?
If you are lacking peace in your life, look closely at your heart’s affections.
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