In this section of the Creation story we are able to trace the development of some of the characters (mostly the firstborn) of the subsequent five generations following Cain. As we see immediately, none of Cain’s fears about what fate would befall him (“anyone who meets me may kill me!” Gen. 4:14) actually came to pass. Following his banishment from Eden he took a wife and conceived a son by her and thus continued the human race.
Following the 9:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, I was approached in the narthex with the question, “So who did Cain find to marry if he and Adam and Eve were the only people on the face of the earth?” As we sit down with this passage of scripture, we really do not find any clues at all that might help us answer this seemingly reasonable question. In my opinion we can really get remarkably “off track” in our reading and understanding of the truths God is trying to help us understand through the Bible when we try and subject the narrative to this kind of rigorous test of literal credibility. I personally enjoy playing “gotcha!” when watching a movie and then notice that one of the characters is using a cell phone that had not even been invented at the time the movie is set. I would hope we would not read the Bible with that same kind of “gotcha!” mindset.
For me, there are two primary themes that come through in the reading and study of this passage. First we receive a powerful reminder of God’s protecting mercy and grace. We see that this same Cain – the one who killed his brother in a fit of childish rage – has indeed been protected by God and has gone on with his life. We don’t know what kind of a life he was able to lead “in exile,” but we know he was at least secure enough to take a wife and have children.
Some commentaries on this passage make the point of comparing the seven generations listed here and their contributions to creation with the seven original days of God’s handiwork described in Genesis 1. In contrast to God’s creation of the stars and the skies and the oceans and living things and humankind, Cain’s lineage contributes to the creation of the specific human pursuits of persons who tend livestock, artists, and metalworkers. And judging by the triumphant song sung by Lamech to his wives, human creation has also taken violence to a new, and more frightening level. In the Cain and Abel story, the retribution for Abel’s killing was taken by God. And in terms of a limited view of justice, the punishment did not fit the crime. God was generous and gracious toward Cain.
In Lamech’s song we see that justice – from a divine perspective – is not served here, either. Retribution is taken not by God, but by the hand of Lamech. And instead of grace, we see an escalation of violence… a wounding is answered by a killing.
This story is archetypal in many ways, but chief among the many truths it seems to be communicating to us is the truth that echoes in the words of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah, speaking for God, reminds us that, “… as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Let us approach this day with the humility that leads us to surrender our thoughts, words, and deeds to the guidance of God.
Rev. Russell Brown, Pastor of Support Ministries
(913) 544-0219
russell.brown@cor.org
