Cain’s punishment for the murder of his brother was to live a nomadic life. God told him, “When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth” (Genesis 4:12).
After the birth of his son, Cain built a city in an attempt to provide security for himself.
Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch, and he built a city and named it Enoch after his son Enoch (Genesis 4:17).
In the ancient world, a city was a means of protection against warring parties and wild animals. Walled cities were particularly effective means of defense.
The interaction between Isaiah and King Ahaz illustrates the tendency of humans to attempt to provide security separate from full reliance on God.
Isaiah met Ahaz “at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the fuller’s field” (Isaiah 7:3). The king and his son were inspecting the water supply in the event of a siege by their enemies.
Isaiah challenged the king to trust God rather than their ability to withstand the assault. His message was appropriate then and remains true today.
“If you do not stand firm in faith,
you shall not stand at all.” (Isaiah 7:9)
God offered Ahaz a sign to reassure him of His protection. However, Ahaz’s seemingly pious words were merely a facade, disguising his defiance and lack of faith.
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test” (Isaiah 7:10-12).
Whether it is trusting in America’s national defense (850+ billion in 20205) or our human abilities, God’s word is true. If we don’t stand firm in faith, we won’t stand at all.
Cain, like Ahaz and society after him, reveals the propensity of humans to live separate from God. While filled with anxiety and fear, we trust our provisions and refuse to place our full trust in the Lord.
Polygamy and Problems
We encounter Lamech several generations after Cain’s family. He is recognized as the first recorded polygamist and is credited as a pioneer in industry, agriculture, and the arts.
Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe.
Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah (Genesis 4:19-22).
In his commentary on Genesis, Victor Hamilton notes that polygamy consistently has problems in the Old Testament account. There are no apparent ill effects of polygamy in this passage, but problems will emerge in future references to the practice.
Industry, agriculture, and the arts were gifts of Lamech’s children to humanity. These gifts did not prevent the continuation of sin.
Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say:
I have killed a man for wounding me,
a young man for striking me.
If Cain is avenged sevenfold,
truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Genesis 4:23-24)
Lamech apparently believed that God would protect him, even after killing two men.
His behavior reminds me of words I read in a commentary on Amos where the author said, “We’re able to put a man on the moon, but our morality hasn’t risen above the 8th Century BC.”
Seth
The line of Seth is important in Genesis. As chapter 4 concludes, we are introduced to Seth.
Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.”
To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:25-25).
God’s covenant name is YHWH and is usually rendered Yahweh or Jehovah. This is the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
Let’s not miss the importance of knowing God’s name. First, God is personal. He is far more than a force or impersonal power. He speaks to us and listens to us.
Second, God forms agreements with us. His promises are often His side of the agreement. Our love, trust, and obedience are our side.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 