Even with a murderer, one’s heart can be moved with compassion … maybe. The scandal of God’s mercy matches the scandal of man’s sinfulness.
“Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.” (Genesis 4 v 11-16)
The consequence of Cain murdering his brother was worse than what his parents had experienced. Whatever he does with the ground will not produce anything for him. His brother’s blood fell to the ground, and the earth was hardened for Cain to farm it.
His response is remarkable and pitiful. He fears being murdered. He actually now recognises that God is watching him and within that is protection. Pity he didn’t think of that before he murdered his brother. He knows he deserves vengeance, and he begs for mercy.
Now this is where our humanity cannot cope. God showing mercy. I mean, we want it ourselves, but not for those who have committed such crimes against others. But this is mercy. Mercy isn’t fair. God puts a mark on Cain not to point him out as a sinner, but to protect him from what would be justice. Cain is given a chance to live.
For the second time, we see another exile. Like father, like son. This time, worse, the intimacy is even more detached than his father’s.
But his story reveals hope. We will see how he marries, builds again, and has descendants who, with various abilities, produce good things.
Mercy breeds hope, and aren’t we glad we know it for ourselves?
Missions Paul 