Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”

Cain had slain Abel, but he replied  “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper” (Genesis 4:8, 9)?  As I mentioned last day there are two and only two condition of  mankind, two paths, the one that follows after Cain, and those who are of the faith of AbeI. When God had asked Cain why he was angry, he had refused to look inward to see the condition of his heart (verse 6).  He now moves even further away from God. He tells an outright lie, and fails to take responsibility, not only for what he had done, but also in his natural position of the older brother,  as protector.  There's no remorse, no repentance, no confession, his conscience is seared (1 Timothy 4:2), and pride clearly raises its ugly head.  He had attempted to conceal his crime, but as Proverbs tells  us “He who covers his sins will not prosper, whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

God replies to Cain “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (verse 10). Our God is a God of justice (Deuteronomy 32:4), yes He is merciful too, but the sense that something needs to be done when  things are unjust, is part of our being made in the image of God.  Justice dictates  “judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.” On the other hand  “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). It is only when  we confess our sins that He can be faithful and just to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9). He does this through the divine exchange, the mystery of the substitutionary death of Christ on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). Again we see the two humanities here, it is only to those who both receive Him and put their faith in Him,  that He gives the right to be called His children (John 1:12).

So because there is no repentance,  God is just to curse Cain, and to sentence him to lead the life, neither of the shepherd, nor of the tiller of the soil, but of the roaming Bedouin of the desert (Cambridge commentary verses 11, 12). Cain cries out that his punishment (iniquity some translations)  is greater than he can bear (verse 13)!  There are two kinds of sorrow for sin. Firstly there is the sorry I got caught, the sorry that I am reaping the consequences of what I have done (Galatians 6:7). Then there is the godly sorrow that produces repentance,  a turning away from sin, such repentance leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:9, 10). Clearly Cain's sorrow is of the first kind, and this again emphasizes the two humanities,  those of the human race who are dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) and  those who are of the faith of Abel (Hebrews 11:4).

Father, we might like to think there is a middle ground,  many do. I hear people say things like  “I am a good person.” They are deceived  Lord, for as Jesus told us only God is good (Mark 10:18). Paul thought he was good, but when You opened his eyes, he realized his own righteousness was as filthy rags (Philippians 3:8; Isaiah 64:6). He and I have received the righteousness that comes from You by faith (Philippians 3:9), and now I am a child of God. For this and many other things Lord, I give you thanks and praise in Jesus Name Amen