Can you explain Genesis 4:15? What is the mark of Cain?
Listen: 155.2
I encourage you to read the entire chapter to get an understanding of the events. It concerns Cain and Abel bringing sacrifices to the Lord. Verse 3 tells us that, “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” Verse 4 tells us that “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.” Although Cain worked hard to grow and gather his sacrifice, it was from the earth that had been cursed by sin. Abel’s sacrifice was a slain animal, a symbol of the One who would come one day to give His own life as a sacrifice for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord accepted Abel’s sacrifice, but rejected Cain’s. This angered Cain to the point that he killed his brother, Abel.
Now let’s read Genesis 4:8-15, “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 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. 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.”
Cain showed no remorse for the evil deed of killing his brother. Even his response to the Lord displayed contempt and sarcasm: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” It’s amazing how sin can harden the heart. First, Cain was angry with the Lord for refusing his sacrifice. Then, in a jealous rage, he killed his brother. When confronted about his sin, Cain continued in his anger. Man’s heart in so evil. We read later in Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Because of his sin of murder, the Lord drove Cain out from his home to be a fugitive and a vagabond. Genesis 4:2tells us that, “…Cain was a tiller of the ground.” Cain had been a farmer before, now the ground would not produce food for him. Although Cain showed no remorse for his sin, he certainly thought the consequences for his action was unfair. He was afraid that as he went from his own city, that someone would kill him. He certainly did not want to be slain, even though he had slain his brother. We read in Genesis 4:15that, “…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.” What was that mark? Although many have speculated about what this mark might be, the truth is we just don’t know what it was and there is no profit in trying to guess what this mark was. We know that the mark was on Cain, not so much to protect him, but to hinder anyone else from this terrible sin of murder.
Why did the Lord not tell us what this mark was? Deuteronomy 29:29tells us, “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” There are so many precious truths in the Word of God that the Lord has revealed to us. There are some things that He has chosen not to reveal to us. He did not tell us what this mark is, and there is no way of finding it out. Let us be careful to spend our time enjoying the things the Lord does reveal unto us in His Word. (155.2)