He did WHAT!?!

As we viewed the trial and sentancing of the first murderer, God pronounced a curse upon Cain that would cause him to be an outcast and a wanderer for the rest of his life. Cain, rather than being remorseful for his sin and the loss of his brother, was more concerned with his punishment and how others would view him. However, he did understand the implications of his sentence and he understood that when God spoke, things happened.

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Cain set foot upon that path to which the Lord had sentenced him. The use of landmarks such as Nod and Eden here are indications to the authenticity of the Scriptures.

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. A lot of people like to speculate as to where Cain got his wife. They speculate a second creation, or angels, or that Adam and Eve were not the only humans to be created in the beginning. Remember, Here we deal with Scriptures, and look at only what the Scriptures say. They say that Man and Woman were created on the 6th day, that God named Man- Adam, that Adam named his Woman- Eve. According to Scripture, therefore, 1 Man and 1 Woman were commanded by God to "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." Thus, Adam and Eve did as they were commanded and Cain took a wife of those that were produced. Now, Cain has a wife and children are born to that union. And the first city was built: Enoch in the land of Nod.

And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. Here we have a slight genealogical tree for Cain. It is to get to the story of Lamech.

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Specific named females, only the second occurance within the Scriptures. And look what their children did. Talk about pride in ones children.

And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. Here is the first mention of tents and of cattle farmers. Abel was a tender of sheep remember.

And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. The inventor of the harp and organ. Let me also point out that here the fathers taught their sons their way of life. For Jabal it was tent-dwelling (and likely making) and cattle farming. For Jubal, it was proficency with the harp and organ (organ here comes from an unsed root of breathing. It means a reed instrument according to Strong's).

And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. Tubalcain was the first to work in iron and brass. A lot earlier than the Iron Age as those who profess to be experts place it. I have wondered at the inclusion of Naamah here but as it fails to elaborate and in the scheme of redemption it bears no further importance, I usually stop right there.

And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. It is an interesting story here. Lamech calls his wives and told them to listen. He then proceeds to relate to them this event. "I have killed a man for wounding me, and a young man for bruising me." Wounding here comes from the word meaning "to split" and hurt means "bruising". So Lamech killed a man for hitting him and opening a wound.

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. If Cain was to be avenged if killed 7 fold for an unjustified murder, Lamech, who feels he was justified in his reasons for killing, therefore shall be avenged 77 times over.

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Time passes and the created continue to obey the Creator's decree. Eve bore another son, Seth, whom she also attributed to God (rightly so). Notice that she terms Seth a replacement seed for Abel whom Cain slew. Cain was driven out because of his sin so in effect he was considered dead. Well Abel was dead because Cain slew him, so that would leave Eve considering the promise of God unfulfilled because she had no seed to bruise Satan's head. As we look down the passage of time, we see that the savior would indeed be a descendant of Seth because Noah was descended from Seth.

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call (accost, preach, proclaim,cry unto) upon the name (authority, honor, character) of the LORD. Seth also had a son and he named him Enos. And in that time, men began to preach or proclaim the honor or authority of God. The phrase "upon the name" is derived from one word (H8034) and is not listed in the Strong's definitions of that word

Lessons from the Text:

1.) God's word is true. Cain was sentanced to a life away from God, being a wanderer and a vagabond and Cain went out from the presence of God. If God's word was proven true in the garden and man died, then God's word again was proven true in the sentencing of Adam and Eve in that they left the garden, and now it was proven true once again in the sentencing and subsequent carying out of that sentence, would it be too great a leap of logic that when He declares man can be saved through obedience to the blood of Christ, that we can indeed be saved?

2.) Man has great ability and inventiveness. Cain built houses and cities, thus was an example of and possibly the first architecht. The descendants of Cain had tents, invented and used instruments, worked brass and iron. Man has great potential and, as can be seen, that potential can be used for good or evil.

3.) There is a difference between murder and killing. Cain murdered Abel. Lamech killed the one or ones that first caused physical hurt to him. Self defense versus premeditated murder.

4.) God provides. Cain was gone through his sin. Abel was gone because of Cain's sin. So God provided Adam and Eve another son Seth.

5.) Remember, as Abram found out later, we can not force our interpretation upon God's word. Eve appears to be thinking that her children were the fulfilment of God's promise prior to them leaving the garden (Genesis 3:15). While God's promise was fulfilled through the descedants of Eve's child, her child itself was not the fulfillment.

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