Generational sins: “Then Lamech said to his wives

hear my voice wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me,  a young man for bruising  me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold” (Genesis 4:23, 24). This is typical Hebrew poetry where each line is is repeated and/or amplified with subtle differences. So we have  'for wounding - for hurting, man – young man, seven fold – seventy sevenfold. Thus Lamech had slain just one youth, not two (as some translations imply).  In particular, the “and” of “and a youth” of some translations,  is not in the Hebrew, and the wound is  bruising.

Like his great grandfather Cain (verses 16-18), Lamech shows no sign of remorse for his deed. And his proud boasting seems to indicate that this is an act of revenge,  an act which goes well  beyond getting even.  Perhaps Lamech's wives feared retribution, and Lamech's proud boasting indicates a couple of things, firstly his confidence that this would not happen. Part of this no doubt, was that his son Tubal-Cain, was “an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron” (verse 22). Interestingly, the name Tubal-cain has a double meaning,  worldly possession and  possessed of confusion, indicating the two things often go together. Commentators agree that  what was being crafted was weapons of warfare. Thus what Lamech seems to be saying if that if God would have avenged Cain seven times if somebody killed him (4:15), then with our “modern” weapons God would avenge him seventy times should anyone dear to kill him!  In other words “wives of Lamech,  no-one would dare!”

Thus we see fear and dominance arising, together with pride and presumption  “God on our side.” It is strangely familiar!  Lamech had not only copied his great grandfather in committing homicide, he had gone further, not only in his deeds, but also in his attitude. The Lord would later elucidate the principle that “the sins of the fathers are visited on the children to the third and forth generation of those who hate me” (Exodus 20:5). “Visited” is to be preferred to some other translations which have “punished” (see Ezekiel 18:20). It means the default for descendants is to engage in the same sins or worse. As I said earlier, there are only two humanities, those of the faith of Abel and those of unbelieving Cain. If we do not love Him, in His eyes it is the same as hate. Jesus puts it this way “He who is not for me is against me” (Matthew 20:30).

There is a “but” that follows the Exodus reference, and “but” changes everything. In this case it changes the line from that of Cain to that of Abel. Verse 6 reads   “but showing mercy to thousands of generations, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”  Note it is not just about loving God, it is also about obeying His commandments. The two are related for “If you love me,  keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Father, most parents want the very best for their children. And when we truly see that our bad gets carried down not only to our children,  but to our children's children,  and to our children's, children's,  children, it can motivate us to change. Too often Lord we don't see our faults, so I am asking this morning that You search me o God,  and see if there be any wicked way in me, that You grant me repentance and lead me in the paths of life,  in Jesus Name Amen