THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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The English teacher was testing the farmer. "Which is correct? Is the hen "setting" or "sitting?"
The farmer said, "That doesn't really matter. What matters is if she's "laying," or "LYING!"
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Gen 4:10-16
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.
KJV
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Here again, God acts in mercy as He gives just punishment. Cain would no longer have the privilege of being a "farmer." From now on, he would be a "fugitive" and a "vagabond."
Sin, though it may be forgiven of God, requires punishment on earth. There are CONSEQUENCES involved in ALL our sin.
However, God - in mercy - provided protection for Cain.
Lots of critics have asked the question (in derision), "Where did Cain get his wife?"
God is the "Giver of Life." Maybe He MADE Cain a wife!
But that truth is not divulged to us in the Bible. We do not KNOW where Cain's wife came from. That doesn't detract from the truth of God's Word. This Bible has never been proven wrong. And by just casting doubt on something, one doesn't prove it wrong!
"The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever.." ((Deut. 29:29))
We should concentrate on the TRUTHS of the Bible and not try to cast doubt on it.
Cain said it right when he said, "My punishment is MORE than I can BEAR!" The punishment for sin is so great that God came in the Person of Jesus Christ to bear ALL our sins to the cross!! He took our consequences FOR us!
FEAR is one consequence of sin. Fear of being "found out." Fear of being punished. Fear of suffering. Cain's fear was that if anyone found out, they would be quite willing to KILL him because he had killed his own brother.
Even though we may suffer the consequences of sin on earth, we (as Christians) have the joy of knowing that ALL our sins are forgiven in and by Christ!
Today, be sure you spend time confessing your sin before God, and begging His forgiveness. Then, live in the joy of knowing that God has forgiven, and one day you'll live in a place where there is NO SIN!!
Love ya,
Bruce