Presentation 14

Presentation 14

Life on earth can be described as a journey, an earthly pilgrimage. In the Bible we learn that God provides us with the necessary instructions, encouragement and warnings as we undertake this journey. Clearly, the story of Cain fits into the warning category. In Jude v11 we are warned against going ‘the way of Cain’. The writer urges his readers not to take this route - it leads to disaster.

Of course, in order for this warning to have its effect we are required to ask, “What is it in particular about the way of Cain I have to avoid”?

Introduction

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We’ve already noted that Cain thought he knew better than God. He had exalted human reason above divine revelation. We have good reason to believe that God had made it clear he could be approached only in a certain way, through animal sacrifice. Cain’s response had been, “I have developed a different route, my own way. I’ll trust in my own ability to get me into God’s presence”. But Cain’s route turned out to be a dead end, a blind alley. It provided no access into God’s presence! But Cain was too proud to retrace his steps and to approach God in God’s way.

He was also too stubborn to heed God’s warning about the destructive power of sin. And its domino effect resulted in the murder of his brother!

Introduction

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But that only serves as an introduction of what is meant by going ‘the way of Cain’. Significantly, it also involves going out of the presence of God, and stopping ones ears to God’s voice. It involves cutting oneself off from spiritual reality and walking out into a spiritual desert. That is the awful tragedy of the life of Cain, a tragedy regularity repeated and experienced by men and women today.

Introduction

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Let’s change the focus and ask are we indifferent to the spiritual need of those around us, towards those in our family, our friends, those of our own neighbourhood? Does their spiritual condition really matter to us? How concerned are we about our husbands, wives, children, parents? We may enjoy the blessing of God in our lives and enjoy coming to church. But if God asks us, ‘where is your brother’, do we reply “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

When conscience points its accusing finger, do we tremble in shame and humility before God and seek his forgiveness or do treat it with disdain and try to bluff our way out of responsibility for our actions or lack of them?

The Indifference of Cain

The first step in the tragedy is Cain’s indifference. Cain was soon to discover that God did not share his casual approach to sin. God takes sin seriously because it offends and contradicts his very nature. Was Cain surprised after the murder of his brother, when God called him before his bar of justice and began to interrogate him? Was he surprised to discover that nothing could be hidden from God? Just as surely as God approached Cain, he approaches us today, when we sin. He speaks not audibly, but through the voice of conscience and asks, “What have you done?”

Do we recognise that this is the approach of God and that conscience is his mouthpiece? What is our attitude towards God’s mouthpiece? Do we allow it to do its convicting work, uncomfortable as that might be?

The Indifference of Cain

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How had Adam and Eve responded, when the alarm of conscience began to ring? They knew instinctively they had done wrong. They were filled with shame, they trembled before the awfulness of their deed. They knew they dared not face God and so they hid themselves. In stark contrast with that response, Cain demonstrates a marked indifference - there is no shameful blush. Instead there is a display of arrogance.

He begins with bluff and denial and proceeds to express his indifference both towards both his brother and his sin with his infamous expression, “Am I my brothers keeper?” v9

The implication being that he did not consider he was! It mattered little to him that he had offended God by destroying that which was dear to his heart.

The Indifference of Cain

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Do we share Cain’s indifference towards our brother’s welfare? Its easy to become indignant towards those, who are polluting the environment or engaged in ethnic cleansing on the other side of the world. But are we at the same time indifferent towards the welfare of those on our own doorsteps. What of those situations in which we are personally involved? Do we profit at other’s expense? Do we advance our own job prospects and reputations at work by engaging in verbal violence against workmates. To do so is to display the indifference of Cain.

Like the religious leaders in the story of the Good Samaritan [Lk.10.25ff] we pass by on the other side. Why? Because we do not really believe that we are our brother’s keeper.

The Indifference of Cain

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The second dangerous step taken by Cain is a step of despair. In v11-12 God had pronounced his judgement on Cain. Cain is denied the two things he expected from the earth, sustenance and settlement. He finds himself condemned to the restless existence of a nomadic wanderer. How does he respond? cf v13 “this is more than I can bear”. That’s the voice of despair. He’s gone from one extreme reaction to another, from indifference to despair. Thomas Brooks describes despair as ‘the Devil’s masterpiece’. It leads people not just to see the folly of sin but persuades them they are in too deep, that there is no remedy to their situation.

People sometimes say “I am beyond hope, I have sunk so far into sin that nothing can save me. I am too bad for God”.

The Despair of Cain

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In contrast, self-despair has been described as the ‘womb of hope’ for men. Despair of self, when it is accompanied by faith is a good ally. It attacks one of the hearts most potent enemies - self confidence. Self-despair causes men to look for help outside of themselves. Self-despair caused the prodigal to come to his senses. It humbled him. It caused him to cast himself on the mercy of God and his father. When a man comes to the end of himself, and considers he can’t deliver himself or save himself then he is ready to look for help from outside.

It was this vital element, which was missing from Cain’s despair and which made it so dangerous. Cain despaired of everyone EXCEPT himself

The Despair of Cain

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Cain’s despair was directed towards GOD. He fails to see any evidence of God’s mercy. It is punishment that fills the horizon of his thinking; “My punishment is more than I can bear” v13. But God could have taken Cain’s life! That would have been consistent with justice, ‘a life for a life’. Did Cain not appreciate the wideness in God’s mercy? Had he forgotten the way in which God had treated his parents after their rebellion? Mercy was not a quality of God that he was unaware of and yet he fails to focus upon it.

The Despair of Cain

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The story is told of Alexander Whyte, an Edinburgh minister, who had been visiting a lawyer on business. Unknown to Whyte, the lawyer was in the depths of despair. At the conclusion of the business the lawyer asked Whyte if he had a word of comfort for a poor sinner. Whyte was initially flummoxed but after gathering his composure spoke only four words of scripture; “God delights in mercy”.

The next day he received a note from the lawyer describing how those words had lifted a burden from his back. Nowhere in scripture do we read that God delights in judgement, but God loves to be merciful. We daren’t lose sight of that! Cain did!

The Despair of Cain

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Cain’s despair also blinded him to the corrective nature of God’s judgement. For corrective judgement has a door of hope built into it. This is something the Psalmist discovered when he wrote, “Thou hast chastened me that I might be healed.” Psalm 118.18. He was saying to God. “Thank you God for that terrible experience which brought me to my spiritual senses!” cf Jb.5.17.

A young man visited a minister and described the way in which his life had been chastened by what he saw to be the judgements of God in his life. And he said, “I’m ready to listen to God now.” Oh if only Cain could have seen God’s judgement in that light!

The Despair of Cain

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From these early chapters of Genesis it is important that we recognise that God is a God of mercy and forgiveness. God is prepared to pardon the greatest of sinners. Other murders in scripture have been welcomed back into the arms of God. Think of David and Paul – both were murderers! Christ paid the price of the foulest of sins, when he died upon the cross to secure pardon for sinful men and women. But to despair of God’s pardon is to forfeit it.

Cain thought himself harshly dealt with, when in fact he had been favourably treated. Why? His mind was more occupied with his punishment than with the sin that caused it.

The Despair of Cain

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Cain’s despair made him believe the worst about others cf v14 “whoever finds me will kill me”. As a result, his approach to life has been described by one writer as being, “like a man in debt believing that everyone he runs into is the bailiff seeking to repossess his goods”. His fear of danger was misplaced. God provides protection – hence the mark placed on Cain for his peace of mind and to warn off others against any kind of vigilante justice. Cain despaired of both God and his fellow man but never of himself!

God’s mercy has reached murderers, thieves, prostitutes, wife beaters, drunkards and drug addicts. But we put ourselves out of God’s reach, when we despair of God’s mercy and fail to despair of our own ingenuity. That was the rut Cain refused to climb out of!

The Despair of Cain

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Finally, Cain was a man who defied God. Rather than allow the judgements of God to bring him to a place of self-despair, where he would humble himself, he aimed instead at frustrating the judgements of God. He was determined to make the most of life without heeding God. God had said, you will be ‘a wanderer’. Cain said ‘I will build a great city’ v17. God’s judgments are often lined with mercy. Could not Cain’s wandering role, had he submitted to it, not have pressed home the fact that he was lost spiritually. Might it not have brought him to the place, where he would say with the hymn-writer;

“My heart is pained nor can it be, at rest till it finds rest in thee”.

The Defiance of Cain

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God left the door of mercy open. Cain closed the door. Cain went out from the presence of God and as far as we know, had no desire to enter it again. He no longer set his sights on God but on this world. He would no longer seek God’s approval but rather that of the world.

Cain’s new ambition was that he and his family would be remembered for their contribution to culture. Many people today behave exactly like Cain. Having decided that spiritual reality is beyond their reach and in an attempt to escape the spiritual bankruptcy of their lives, they throw all of their energy and time into some project or other. It becomes the all consuming passion of their lives. Why? Oh, it stops them thinking about God.

The Defiance of Cain

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The story of Cain is one of human tragedy. He began life thinking he knew better than God. He refused to learn from God. His life was marked by indifference. He chose to despair of God’s mercy and ultimately he closed the door on God. He set his sights on this world rather than on the world to come. Cain’s story is repeated again and again in so many lives. Therefore, are we surprised to discover that the N.T. warns us against going in ‘the way of Cain’?

Conclusion

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