August 11: The Wrath of Man

The Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9

The opportunity and privilege to be divinely corrected was vividly illustrated in the family life of our first parents. The births of Cain and Abel brought much joy. As an adult, Cain decided that he would not bring the offering for sin that Yahweh had specified. The specified offering demonstrated sin’s horror and the reality of resulting death. It was a substitute for the sinner and pointed directly forward to the Lamb of God whose shed blood would be the ultimate substitutionary sacrifice. Instead, Cain brought some of his farming produce: a substitute for the true Substitute.

Now Cain had brought his offering to the right God; his offering of produce is the first example of man’s attempt to save himself by his own means. It represents a “saved by one’s own works” mindset. But only God can save sinners. The Author of life is the Authority who communicates the love-language of total forgiveness and restoration.

Cain wanted to do things his own way and still have God’s favor. His lack of teachability produced a ‘toddler-style’ temper. The refusal to accept correction rapidly escalated into murder and lying. It was “all about what Cain wanted” as illustrated in his statement: “My punishment is more than I can bear!” (v.13). Because of his stubborn self-centeredness, he did not appreciate the prolonged opportunity and privilege extended to him by Yahweh for repentance and salvation. Instead of recognizing his own guilty conscience and sin’s death sentence, he pointed out his fear of being murdered to God. The divine response was to emphasize this golden opportunity to repent by protecting him from the wrath of man:

And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. (v.15b)

Our adversary is the master counterfeiter who has devised a counterfeit mark that will also protect those who accept it from the wrath of man. It has long been in place, and soon it will be enforced by the laws of man. The idea of divine personal protection given by God to extend Cain’s opportunity unto repentance has been co-opted and counterfeited by the adversary for his deceptive purpose: to lead people away from God. On a grand, worldwide scale, this mark will enable those who accept it to claim personal protection for buying, selling, and living in this fallen world.

Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain . . . Jude 11a