Genesis 4:10-17 KJV
(10) And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
(11) And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
(12) 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.
(13) And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
(14) 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.
(15) 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.
(16) And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
(17) And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Cain is cursed by God for eternity, yet he feels he needs God’s protection. He can not bear His punishment though he be worthy of it and if not more so. Yet God still chooses to bless Cain despite his crime of murder. He chooses to mark Cain so no one would harm him. He would not have to be a fugitive or a vagabond, or running from the punishment of man. God placed a seal on Cain despite his crime. A seal that would not be broken. Yet gave Cain power to build a city named after his son., for no one could harm him because of his sin. It is like getting a pardon from the President. No one by the legal law could destroy or kill Cain for his deed and then he was sent out of God’s sight. If someone murder or did harm to Cain then revenge would come to that person. It would not matter if what was done to Cain was justified by man, there would be consequences for their actions. Cain would be protected.

Cain protection only for the death of Abel, not for any other crime he might do. He would be free from God but not free from the law of Man. Not free from punishment from society if he broke more laws. His only recourse was to leave and go as instructed from God. Cain would not be the only human to be cast from God’s eye. God cast His own people away from him because of sin, but he gave them the ability to repent. There seems to be no repentance for Cain, though he accepts the punishment for his crime, but ask for mercy. God graciously gave him mercy despite his crime and punishment. Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden but not out of God’s sight. The crime of murder was alienation from God. Can murders be forgiven is a question that plagues society. Can we be forgiven for crucifying Christ because of each of our sins. If one backslides can one repent. God’s mercy is a gift.

Capital punishment is a law decided by man, but God’s pardon though cast out was free from society law. Cain lost his salvation but still found grace. God’s mercy on those that do not repent while they walk this earth is seldom understood. Some might ask why a drunk lives to repent, or lives to get rich and change because of his circumstance but never finds salvation. God allows the sinner to live and even the sinner to live that rejects his laws. Those that reject God can survive in our world, without the blessings of God, yet it does not mean they will not be torn down by God. For many societies rise to only have great leaders fall because they make themselves equal to God. Cain had enough sense to know to receive his punishment, but to request mercy. Cain believed in God. He did not believe he was in power. Satan tried to take God’s power, only to one day totally loose it, yet even Satan was given grace for a time, to run all over the earth.

Playing pieces in chess game, with devil who thinks he is God, people like Cain who know the reality of God, but reject God or people like Adam and Eve who were deceived but still honored God with thanksgiving and sacrifice. Yet all three have one thing in common at that was sin. Adam and Eve sin by deception by the serpent, devil deception because he thought he some how was equal to God and Cain who heard God say don’t do it and did it anyway. Both Cain and Adam were told by God not to do it, but consequences were still separation from God. Yet God blessings on Adam and Eve was a fur coat, and food from the work of his hands and Cain’s blessing only not be killed, but the labor of his hands would bring him great wealth and power, but a life without God.

God’s mercy with punishment can be with or without God in one’s life. God does not reject that man that repents and receives His Son for atonement for sin. Christ came to redeem us who were lost because of our sin. God cast us out, God the only one that could save us. He did by sending His Son full of grace and truth. Our sin no longer having to be our separation, but causes us to be protected like Cain, but forgiven for our sins, not by anything we could do ourselves, it is a free gift of God. Salvation is a free redemption only provide by God.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for redeeming us through your dear Son, not leaving us as outcast because of sin. In Jesus precious name, Amen.