October 16, 2022
“I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.” And the LORD said to [Cain], “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. Genesis 4:14b-15
The first mention of a mark in the Bible is the one given by God to Cain. In His mercy and forbearance, He provided a broad window of opportunity for Cain to repent by marking him in such a way as to protect him from the wrath of man. In the moment, Cain’s largest concern was for his own hide and what other people would think of him. There was no hint of sorrow for the murder of his little brother or for the anguish he had caused his parents. Nevertheless, God extended mercy to a guilty and sinful man to protect him from the wrath of other guilty and sinful men.
In the course of time, there is mention of another mark that is placed upon men. Following the apostasy of the northern ten tribes of Israel which led to their dissolution, and later the southern kingdom of Judah which was besieged and taken into captivity by Babylon because of persistent disobedience;* Ezekiel had been raised up by God to care for the flock, to show them their sin, and to plead with them to repent.
*And He said to me [Ezekiel], “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger [by their sun worship – see v.16]. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. Ezekiel 8:17
Not everyone partook of the abominations. God’s small, faithful remnant yet endured. Ezekiel was shown in vision the calling of God’s angels who had charge over the city of Jerusalem. One had a writer’s inkhorn and was instructed to mark God’s faithful ones. This is Jesus!
And the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” To the others He said in my hearing, go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare or have any pity. Utterly slay young and old men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple. (9:4-6)
This is a small-scale foreshadowing of the end of time. There are so many today who live at variance with even the simplest and clearest of God’s Biblical instructions, yet crow about being saved. The expression they put the branch to their nose is an expression for the sin of presumption. Beloved, we need to humble ourselves and remain prayerful in our walk with the LORD!
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Psalm 19:13