Skip to main content

leaving GOD

Genesis 4:16
"And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."

The FIRST murder was shocking! Cain did NOT want to follow GOD'S plan and did NOT like seeing his brother succeed by GOD'S plan. In today's verse we get an idea of Cain's fate. Moving Cain “east of Eden” suggests that he was removed further from the garden than Adam and Eve were. Cain left God’s presence, and he lived the rest of his life alienated from God. His fate was to live the life of an outsider. As a "fugitive and a vagabond."

The word "Nod," in Hebrew, means “wanderer, exile, or fugitive.” Some Bible scholars believe that Nod is not an actual place; rather, it's symbolic for Cain not having a place to call home. It was Cain's choice to live outside the presence of God. This is the way it is for all of us when we choose to SIN. We are separating ourselves from GOD. We will lose all sense of belonging and identification with the community of Christians. We might journey so far away that we try to build a godless community, but it will always be missing GOD and incomplete, even unfulfilling. And, whether it's Cain or one of us; GOD remains ever hopeful like the father in the prodigal son parable, waiting and watching for the SINNER to repent and return home.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

to be taller

Matthew 6:27 "27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus has questions... Beginning our study this week with "Why Do You Worry?" Questions have always been a cornerstone of education, used to assess students’ knowledge, promote comprehension, and stimulate critical thinking. Well-crafted questions lead to new insights, generate discussion, and promote the comprehensive exploration of the subject. It makes sense that GOD would use questions VERY effectively. In yesterday's verses, Jesus asked "Are you not MUCH BETTER than birds?" His questions do not end there. In today's verse we read another one, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This is a sentence our culture needs to learn. No anxiety, no thinking, no wanting will alter our bodily height, or any other condition of our life that is fixed by God’s laws. We often wish things were different than they are, but our "wo...
Post a Comment
Read more

in roads

Acts 2:7&8 "7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" The Holy Ghost is the only way this happens. They were very surprised to be hundreds and, some cases, thousands of miles from "home" and hearing their language spoken! It was astonishing! Appreciate that these devout Jewish people whose families had been carried away from Israel generations before. Taken in captivity by armies that invaded and conquered Israel. (A little like Joseph was taken captive to Egypt. All by God's plan to save the Israelites during a time of famine.) Over the years, these Jewish "captives" would adopt the language and some of the customs of their captors. However, they remained Jewish. By the time of the events recorded in the book of Acts, they made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover and the Feast of Weeks. They just happe...
Post a Comment
Read more

God is forever strong!

Isaiah 40:29&30 "29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:" GOD wants you and me to look upward, and consider all the evidences of the power and wisdom of GOD! Compared to GOD we are merely grasshoppers. We can find ourselves jealous of GOD. His infinite power, and wisdom, and goodness! We might ask "Does GOD even notice my prayers, my tears, my sufferings?" When we are ungrateful and complaining we are ignorant. Grasshoppers like you and me cannot understand GOD. He rules the world and knows better about all our affairs than we do ourselves. We do no good by second guessing the ways of our infinitely wise God! AND! Check out today's verses; "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength." This transcendent GOD of ours helps us! God gives power and strength. We can trust in GOD and lo...
Post a Comment
Read more