Damn the earth because of you, Cain

The man came from the ground, and from the ground would come the food that he would eat. It was the land that Cain was so impressed with and so proud of. He insisted on being recognized for his agriculture. The earth was already cursed because of Adam and because of Adam’s sin. Now, because of Cain’s sin against the human race, against God, and against the earth, the earth would no longer yield to him. He lost his beloved calling and was sentenced to become a tramp. It was a situation in which the race had not had time to harden and in which there was not a group of companions for Cain to run and find comfort. One might have thought that Cain would have been sincere, but he was not. Cain did not repent. He complained to God: “This is too much, I don’t deserve it. It’s unreasonable!” That’s what Cain was saying. It wasn’t a humble admission that this trial was really harsh, but he deserved it. Cain was being defiant. “This is more than I can bear. I cannot bear this. What are you trying to do to me? First you reject me and now you are disowning me and taking my livelihood.” The truth is that God was very merciful here. He could have killed Cain, as he did with the sons of Judah, Achan, Agag, and others. Cain had killed his brother for no reason. Abel was one of the most beloved servants of God in the history of the world. However, God did not require Cain’s life at that time. He kicked him out and Cain complained. “I am a fugitive and a tramp. Anyone who finds me will kill me.”

God’s judgment was very generous. He could have reacted: “What if the people who find you kill you? What do you think you deserve?” But God deals with mercy and grace, even with men like Cain. It extended his life, it gave him the opportunity to think about it and to repent. There is no indication that Cain ever did that, but one thing is for sure: he could have. Solomon said that a living dog is better than a dead lion because as long as a man is alive, there is hope.

Everyone, finding me, will kill me

Cain was concerned, now that he was a murderer and a stranger to his family and to God, that he would be a marked and persecuted man. Who was Cain worried about? Well remember there were many people in the world before Adam died at the age of 930 and they were all closely related to Abel. They would despise Cain for what he did to Abel. Cain was right to be concerned about being hunted down and killed.

God was again merciful and put a mark on Cain. What was that brand? There is an old opinion that he turned it black. It’s fine? No, of course that is not true! That is as ridiculous a claim as those who call themselves Christians have made. What is supposed to have happened to Cain’s black race when Noah, who was a descendant of Set, was the only one left in the ark?

So what was it?

What was the brand? I don’t know what it was and I hope to say that no one does. The Bible does not tell or give any clues. Concern about the question deviates from the reason for the brand information. The point is that God’s mercy is protecting Cain from being the object of every vengeful brother and nephew who would come in the next eight hundred years of Adam and Eve’s life, listen to this infuriating story, and seek out Cain to avenge Abel. Cain could be found in the land of Nod because he was found by the sister who would become his wife. It certainly would not be difficult for God to change a sign or appearance that would drive away those who would kill him. It could have been just about anything from cherubs with a flaming sword, to a fierce appearance, to a disgusting disease. But it would be impossible for me to guess, so I leave it there.

© Daniel Earl Cripe, December 26, 2008