Cain, restlessly wandering far away from the Lord, continued to spiral downward in sin. So did his offspring. He married, bore a son, and built a city in his own honor. “He called the name of the city after the name of his son,” who was his firstborn.
Cain’s coldness toward God increased. His children, and their children, followed in his ways. Lamech, his great grandson, “took two wives,” unashamedly ignoring God’s design for marriage. But this was not his worst. He killed a young man in vengeance and bragged about it to his wives. “If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold,” suggesting that Lamech was more fierce than the Lord Himself.
The people of Cain increased in their wickedness. As Lamech illustrates, they not only sinned, they sinned openly and unabashedly. Even worse, they celebrated their sin as if it were noble. However, there was a small glimpse of light.
Adam and Eve bore another son after the murder in the field, and they “called his name Seth.” He married and had children of his own. His family was far different from Cain’s family, for “at that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.”
Cain and Abel represent two kinds of people in the world: those who go the way of the serpent and those who go the way of the Lord. Both sons were born outside of paradise and to Adam and Eve. Cain denied his own sin, believed himself to be good, and ignored God’s design for worship. Abel acknowledged his own sin, believed himself to be worthy of death, but accepted God’s design for salvation. Cain had faith in himself. Abel had faith in God. Two kinds of sons. Two kinds of people.
Reflections
- What stands out most about the two kinds of sons and people? Which kind of son are you? Which kind do you want to be?
- How does God relate to the two sons and the two kinds of people in the world today? What does this tell us about God?
- Considering these two kinds of sons, what do you need to do differently today? Do you have faith that God will save you from your sin?