Not Good Enough

Then The Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" I don't know, " he replied, "am I my brother's keeper?"

The God said, "What have you done? your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened up its mouth to receive your brother's blood you have shed. If you work the ground it will never again give you it's yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

But Cain answered the Lord: "My punishment is too great to bear! Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me." 

Then The Lord replied, "in that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." And he placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him.

Then Cain went out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east od Eden. Genesis 4:9-16

Cain had a belligerent attitude, no wonder his offering was not acceptable. The fact that, when rejected, he killed his brother Abel, who was accepted.

He had a real hide speaking to The Lord the way he did. It is a wonder he was allowed to live. Later when the law was given and a man killed his brother he would lose his own life. God even allowed him to bargain for his life.

It is interesting that the fact that Abel's blood was spilt on e land it would no longer yield crops to Cain. As in any sin, Cain had failed, in his fury, to count the cost of his behaviour. Cain was banished from his family and his GOD. God was good in marking Cain and preserving his life.

I praise God that Christ came and paid the price for separation and sin. Through repentance I am made right with God. Although sin separates, Christ's blood redeems. Amen