Genesis 4:17-24 Boring Genealogies? Part One

And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. And Irad was born to Enoch. And Irad fathered Mehujael. And Mehujael fathered Methusael. And Methusael fathered Lamech. And Lamech took two wives to himself. The name of the first one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah. And Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents, and with cattle. And his brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those playing the harp and the organ. And Zillah also bore Tubalcain, the hammerer of every engraving tool of bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. And Lamech said to his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, wives of Lamech, listen to my speech. For I have killed a man because of my wound, and a young man because of my hurt. For Cain is avenged seven times, and Lamech seventy-seven times.

How many times have you come to a genealogy and got glossy-eyed from boredom? This one isn't bad. How about when you got into the book of Numbers? I used to think, "What a snoozer." However, ever since a great bible teacher, by the name of Chuck Missler, taught me how to allow the Holy Spirit to guide me through the scriptures, it's been a different story. It the case of genealogies, we need to find out what is the root meaning of every name and lo and behold, a supernatural message to those who are willing to diligently search out G-d. The first message says exactly that. Let's look at the names and their meanings of the first genealogy, the genealogy of Cain.

Cain
quickly, mourn as a woman. get over your sorrow quickly.
Enoch
initiate, discipline, train, teach
Irad
fugitive, sequester, something that is hidden, hidden things
Mehujael
those smitten of G-d, in love with G-d, sold out to G-d
Methusael
man who is of G-d
Lamech
despairing
Adah
ornament, adorn
Zillah
shade, covering, defense
Jabal
stream, to bring with pomp, rejoice
Jubal
stream, to bring with pomp, rejoice
Tubalcain
offspring of Cain
Naamah
pleasant

Putting it all together, we get the following message:

Get over your sorrow quickly and teach the hidden things of those who are in love with and belong to G-d. That is, the despairing shall have a covering or mark that should be displayed with great joy. Rejoice descendants of Cain, be at peace.

Wow. Here, we are told not to wallow in our sin, but to reveal to others that we have a covering, which was supplied to us by the blood of Yeshua. We are not only to reveal but to eagerly share G-ds salvation plan (his covering for us) with others.

In Proverbs 25:2, it is written:

[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

In Revelation 1:6, we are told:

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

These two verses tell us that we are kings and G-d has hidden things for our pleasure. We have a responsibility and honour to seek them out and share them.

If this isn't enough to blow you away, check out tomorrows entry because it continues with Adam to Noah genealogy and another message.

We have an amazing G-d or is it just coincidence? :-)

Shalom

Genesis 4:12-16 Where Did The People Come From?

When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment [is] greater than I can bear.

Cain, the first murderer, is also the first man to be ousted completely out of the presence of the Lord. Think about it. Even Adam and Eve, who were kicked out of the garden, still were in the presence of the Lord. Cain knew what was about to happen and for the first time in his existence, he didn't know what the future had in store for him. The one thing he did know for sure was that the other people would do him harm. Why?

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that findeth me shall slay me.

What people? Why would these people do him harm? How did Cain know that without a doubt these people would slay him? The answer? Because these people, who were created on the sixth day, also enjoyed living in a sinless environment and in the presence of G-d. They also would have enjoyed life everlasting if it weren't for Cains parents. However, they are now living under a death curse because of Cains mother and father. I'd be afraid for my life too.

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

It's amazing that G-d would still protect Cain after what he's done...but he does. This begs the question, why? I would understand if the Messianic line, through which we are saved and bored Yeshua, but it doesn't. The Messianic line goes through Seth.

I believe the answer is that G-d wanted to keep Satan and he cohorts guessing as to how his plan of salvation was going to pan out. This was one of those times that G-d was winking at those of us who are given the gift of knowledge of his Word. More on this as we travel through G-ds Word.

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Nod means wandering. All wanderers, including you and me, are descendents of Cain. The good news is that G-d is calling us back via the descendents of Seth which produce the human Messianic line and the path of our salvation. Praise G-d for the Messiah and his perfect sacrifice for our sins which will finally put an end to our wandering.

Genesis 4:11 Creation Cries Out

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

I have always said that there was more to this story than meets the eye. The word translated here as “opened” is the Hebrew word “paw-tsaw'” which means to rend, to tear as a sign of anger, grief, or despair. We often over look creation and the ramifications to it because of our sin. We won’t know for sure until we go home, but I wouldn’t be surprised if all of creation is alive and cognitive of what’s going on. I’m reminded of the following two verses.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:22-23

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Luke 19:39-40

There is much more to G-ds creation. I wouldn’t be surprise to see all of creation bowing before G-d while we praise him.

However, here we don’t have creation worshiping but crying out in agony and pain for the first recorded and violent murder in the history of mankind.

Genesis 4:8-10 Part Two: The Avenger of Blood and The Cities of Refuge.

Last time, I ended with a pretty bold statement, that your salvation depends on knowing the difference between manslaughter and premeditated murder and how the law looks at it. Lets first look at what the bible says about the punishment of those who kill another.

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he the man”

Genesis 9:6

Here we have G-d decreeing that murderers were to forfeit their own lives: However, and more definitively, in Exodus 21:12-14,22-23; Leviticus 24:17; Numbers 35:16-21, the law requires the death penalty in cases of premeditated murder. In either case, a close relative could avenge his death whether it was manslaughter or premeditated murder. It was his right. As a matter of fact, the victim's nearest relative was expected to avenge his death. The nearest relative is called the Go'el ha dam", the Avenger of Blood.

His duties included avenging the death of the near relative and redeeming the property or the person of a relative that had fallen into debt. We’ll go further into detail about the Go’el when we get to the book of Ruth. However, in the case of unintentional homicide, which we call manslaughter, the Cities of Refuge were set up. Six Cities of Refuge were provided for those who killed without any forethought or on accident. They could live there without fear, without any retaliation, until the reigning High Priest died, provided that they could prove their case of manslaughter to the judges or elders who sat at the gate (Num. 35: 9-34; Deut. 19: 1-13 and Joshua 20). After the High Priest died, he was free of all punishment.

Before we go any further, I need to remind everyone of John 5:39 and Matthew 5:17.

” Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

” Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ”

When Adam and Eve disobeyed G-d, they introduced a death curse for all their descendants. The death curse of sin required the blood sacrifice of an innocent for the redemption of Adam and Eve and all their descendants, including you and me. That innocent sacrifice was Yeshua, who died on the altar of G-d. However, Yeshua was a human being and the Son of G-d requiring the next of kin to avenge his death. Our sins made us responsible for the murder of Yeshua on the cross. Therefore, G-d has every right to be the Avenger of Blood and avenge his death upon us.

The beautiful thing is what Yeshua said upon that altar.

” Then said Jesus, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Luke 12:34

We didn’t know that our sins were responsible for Yeshuas death. Therefore, that made his murder, manslaughter, and qualified us for refuge within the City of Refuge. We are due to be avenged for his death unless we take refuge in Yeshua, our City of Refuge. How long? Until the High Priest dies. Yeshua is our High Priest and he died upon the cross making us free from retribution. Praise G-d!! Yeshua is the Word, the Word is Yeshua.

You see. It is important to understand the difference between manslaughter and premeditated murder because the difference saves your mortal soul. Also, understanding the Word of G-d requires knowing how it models the Son of G-d, Yeshua. The more you read and realized this is true, the more you realized that Yeshua is who he said he was. The Messiah and Savior of all mankind.

Genesis 4:8-10 Part One. The First Murder???

And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it happened when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is your brother Abel? And he said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper? And He said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to Me from the ground.

Two interesting concepts are found within these verses. One, the concept of murder and two, there's more than meets the eye than our myopic view of G-ds creation.

There are a lot of teachers that teach that this was the first murder. There are an equal amount that teach that Adam and Eve entering into the curse was the first murder. My question...which one is it? Are they both murder? Before I answer that, let me ask another question.

Situation #1. You inadvertently poison person number one. It takes person number one ten years to die. However, by poisoning person number one, you inadvertently cause person number ones offspring to die prematurely. Are you guilty of murder?

Situation #2. You deliberately shoot person number two and person number two dies instantly. Are you guilty of murder?

This is important. We need to know how G-d looks at these two type of situations. Believe it or not, your salvation depends on it. Were they both murder? In G-ds eyes, no. In situation number one, it is involuntary manslaughter. You didn't know the full ramifications of your actions. However, in situation number two, it is premeditated murder.

Was this the first murder? Yes. What difference does it make? Well...that requires a look into the law concerning the cities of refuge and the avenger of blood which will be in the next blog entry. Again...Believe it or not, your salavation depends on it.

Genesis 4:1-7 The Good Offering

"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bore his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."


As we read this section, we wonder why Abels offering was better than Cains. First of all, in the text we find that both gave the fruits of his work. However, Abel gave the firstborn while it appears that Cain gave what was leftover. This is backed up with G-ds comment of:

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?"

The Hebrew word yatab translated here as "doest well" is better translated as "do as expected".

If Cain would have done what was expected, then his offering would have been accepted. However, Cain gave his tithe. Who cares if it wasn't the first of what he had? Because G-d expects to be first and foremost in our lives. Anything else shows that you have put something else ahead of G-d. This story is all about idol worship.

If you put anything ahead of G-d then you are an idol worshipper.

You are of the lineage of Cain.

G-d wants you to be of the lineage of Abel, one who gives to G-d as an initial thought not a second thought. Who are you?

So what does G-d mean by, "...and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

It means that if you are of the lineage of Cain, sin will reign over you.

However, if you are of the lineage of Abel, then you will rule over sin.

Thank You For Your Prayers

I apoligize for not posting for the last few weeks. My wife has been in the hospital with double fungal pneumonia. Sounds gross. However, my wife is home but still on oxygen. I praise G-d for her improvement and all your prayers. G-d Bless you all in the name of the most high. I ask for your continued prayer.

Shalom,
Keith