Chapter 4 - Cain and His Descendants
(How to Lead a Life of Godliness?)
Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. (I John 3:12)
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. (Jude 11)
Scripture says of Cain like this:
1. He belonged to the evil one (Satan). Though Cain was given by God as the eldest son of Adam and Eve, he gave place to the evil one - Satan and became his child.
2. He was found guilty of walking in a wicked way. When he saw that God did not approve him and his offering, he got irritated and his countenance fell.
3. His deeds were evil. He chose to do evil (harm) rather than good to his brother Abel. So he killed his brother Abel.
The first generation of Adam saw the grave sin of "murder." Man began to commit sin upon sin. As a result, man completely lost his unity (relationship) with God. After murding Abel, Cain went out of the presence (fellowship) of God and became the father of an ungodly generation. The godly man - Abel was no more to have a godly generation in this world.
Lamech - a Descendant of Cain!
Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.
To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. (Genesis 4:17-19)
Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me." (Genesis 4:23)
Lamech was the fifth generation descendant of Cain, who killed Abel. This Lamech walked in the footsteps of his ancestor Cain and killed a young man who had wounded him. He also made it known to his wives.
Lamech not only walked in the ways of Cain by killing a man, but also married two wives - Adah and Zillah. Lamech was the first man to have two wives in leading a family life on earth. As the days passed by, it became a culture to live with more than one wife. Till this day, there are many among us who walk in the ways of Cain and Lamech.
Murder¸ adultery and fornication are considered as the works of the flesh. Galatians chapter 5 verses 19 to 21 list out the sins that are committed as the works of the flesh:
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
If any one of us is found guilty of having such sins listed above, he/she cannot enter heaven, which is also called the Kingdom of God. We must repent from our sinful ways and become new creatures to inherit the Kingdom of God.
Descendants of Cain Destroyed!
Cain did not repent of his sin of killing his brother Abel. Instead he wanted to build a city for himself and his descendants and to live in it safely. Scripture therefore does not mention how many years he lived on the face of the earth.
Perhaps Cain's soul was the first soul to go to hell, the place of death and torment. Cain's descendants were wiped out centuries later by the great Flood on earth. So let us not live like Cain and Lamech, but let us fear the Lord and walk in his commandments.
The period in which Cain and his descendants lived is called the age of conscience. That means, ancient men and women lived and lead a life based on the knowledge of good and evil they had in their conscience. Most often God spoke to them through their conscience and sometimes He spoke to them directly.
The ungodly men and women who lived in ancient days did not obey God and His instructions. Instead they walked in their evil ways and did what their minds and flesh wanted. They greatly sinned against God and hence they were judged by God and perished.
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