Cain’s Religious Undoing

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

4/20 Reading Portions: Leviticus 24; Psalm 31; Ecclesiastes 7; 2 Timothy 3

Genesis 4:16

Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

DEPART

Cain departed from the presence of YHVH and settled or “dwelt” or literally “sat down” in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Cain’s going out, his departure, his leaving Yehovah’s presence may be more a declaration of God’s longsuffering nature than the depraved character of Cain; yet both are true. First, let’s address the longsuffering grace of God. Despite Cain being a worldling, with his head, his heart, and his hand given over to the land (Gen 4:2), the gracious presence of God had not departed. Despite his pitiful, unfaithful offering before God (Gen 4:3-5), the gracious presence of God had not departed. Despite his hatred for his brother, and his murderous hand against his brother, the gracious presence of God had not departed (Gen 4:6-15). Why? What does this prophetically speak of? This entire episode, among other things, demonstrates the condemnation of the wicked. After everything, even through the pronouncement of judgment upon Cain for his hateful, murderous heart and actions, the longsuffering and gracious presence of YHVH God was there to move Cain’s soul to repent in godly sorrow unto salvation. But Cain would not repent. Cain would not trust in the Messiah to come. He continued to trust only in the efforts of his own hands—for he was a religious man. Yet his religion was not pure and undefiled. His religion did not possess a true testimony of faith in Christ. It is written,

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

When Christ is our trust, we will think, say, and do as Jesus did by His incarnation: visit heavenly Fatherless orphans like us sinners; visit widowed sinners who do not have Christ the Bridegroom; and as Christ was sinless, we surrender to the Holy Spirit to keep ourselves unstained by the world, in the power of Christ (Eph 6:10), as much as a sinner saved by grace is able.

But Cain’s departure is prophetic of every religious person who trusts, not in Christ, but in the works and efforts of their own hands. In that Day, Jesus will command the Cains of this world to depart from His presence. Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23

Tomorrow, we will meditate upon the warning Cain’s episode gives to Christ’s redeemed sinners, you and me, who are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior!