Our Land of Nod

A Devotional Series from Genesis

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

4/21 Reading Portions: Leviticus 25; Psalm 32; Ecclesiastes 8; 2 Timothy 4

Genesis 4:16

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

WANDERER

If you’ll remember back a few days ago to our devotional thought from Genesis 4:13-14, we discovered that the land of Nod gets its name from the same Hebrew root word that one of Cain’s curses comes from, נׇד (nad), translated into English, “wanderer” (ESV), or “vagabond” (KJV). Settling in the land of Nod is not only the disposition of Cain, departing from the presence of the LORD, but this also serves as a warning to you and me as redeemed sinners saved by God’s grace. Because of the corruptions that remain in our mortal flesh, we have a propensity to wander from God—a tendency toward instability, an affinity to doubt, an inclination to act unwisely, and a susceptibility toward a lapse in faith. While you and I are not eternally condemned like Cain, Scripture warns us not to doubt what has certainly been revealed to us in God’s Word. It is written,

for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6b-8

How does doubt and wandering from faith arise in the redeemed believer saved by grace? It begins in the same way it started for Cain. Instead of trusting explicitly in the gospel promise of Messiah (in Cain’s case), or trusting in the salvation offered by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for God’s glory alone (in our case), we trust on and delight in the labors of our own hands (see the devotional from Gen 4:2).

The wonderful thing for you and me is to simply apply these verses:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, James 1:5-6b

We’re prone to wander; and wandering is an unwise activity. But when we ask for wisdom, faithfully standing upon the truth of salvation by trusting in Christ crucified and risen, our precious God and Savior will strengthen us with that wisdom to act wisely upon His gospel truth. The truth of Calvary’s tree is not a means to an end; it is the very source, stay, and goal of the Christian life. Hallelujah! What a Savior!