Elmhurst CRC

Sunday's Comin' #247 - Genesis 4: 10-16

November 08, 2022 Jeff Klein Season 1 Episode 247
Elmhurst CRC
Sunday's Comin' #247 - Genesis 4: 10-16
Show Notes Transcript

Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach

Jeff Klein  0:07

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose in the word of God. This is Jeff Klein, serving as Pastor of Outreach at the Church. Today is Tuesday, November 8. I'll be reading from Genesis chapter 4, verses 10 through 16.

Jeff Klein  0:19 

The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive 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.”  Cain said to the Lord, “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.” But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Jeff Klein  1:01 

Have you ever heard God say to you, "what have you done?" I have. It's the most shameful moment in the world - the moment you realize that something is really wrong with you. In Cain's case, he is the cause of the first person ever dying on planet earth. What made Cain kill his brother? It seems like Cain had a hard time trusting the story God wrote for him when he saw that his brother's offering was accepted and not his own. That deep inner fear of not being as valuable rose up inside him. The deep inner insecurity, that voice that whispers, "What's wrong with your offering? What's wrong with you? Why is God not giving you the praise that he gave your brother?" These thoughts were crouching a Cain's door, and he gave into it.

Jeff Klein  1:41 

I remember this being the source of many fights in the Klein house - the sense that you are not as loved, or as valuable as your brother or sister; you aren't getting as much praise or attention. The punishment Cain receives is a repeat of the curse given to Adam in the Garden of Eden. The ground is cursed, and as a farmer, Cain relies on the ground. This punishment is gonna make his life super difficult. But even in God's punishment of Cain, there is still mercy. Still God's slow-to-anger and merciful nature are on display. Cain will live (it will be more difficult to live), but he will live under the Lord's protection.

Jeff Klein  2:16  

The last verse is most disturbing. So Cain left the Lord's presence, and settled in the land of Nod, East of Eden. Is that possible? To leave the Lord's presence? It definitely can be a choice to live aware of, and seeking the Lord's presence, seeking the Lord's face. It's like he tried that once, felt rejected, and it led to a big mistake - so, he's done. Off to the land of Nod, East of Eden. It's almost like Cain has given up on his relationship with God. Have you ever felt so let down by God, or so discouraged by your life, that you felt like giving up on your relationship with God? Don't. Turn towards him and trust even when all seems against you, including God, he is for you.