Fearful and Wondering

Genesis 3:23-24 & 4:13-14, & 16

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had

  been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim    and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

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." So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

As I was reading this passage I had a few a few questions. Who was Cain afraid off? If the Lord has created Adam & Eve and Cain had just killed his brother Abel; who was left?

Often when we sin, we have a tendency to hide and fear can grip us.  We run from God because we know that God sees all; somewhere deep inside, where the law of God is written in the hearts of men, we know we have done wrong (Roman 2:15 & Hebrews 10:16).

When Adam & Eve sinned the separation began; death had entered in just as the Lord said it would (Genesis 2:16-17). The Lord removed them from the Garden. Sin has a way of putting distance between us and God.  Death continues to push until we are far from the Lord.

Now here comes Cain.  Once again, sin was crouching at the door and Cain did not know how to master it (Genesis 4:7). This time its murder. The Father speaks and Cain is further removed and sent to the land of Nod; a man left to wander, no longer part of the family, he was sent out from the presence of God.

So Cain what are you afraid?  I don't know that I can answer that question for Cain, but I do know that when sin has captured our hearts and we are left to wander and contemplate our condition, there is a loneliness that visits us. There is a fear of what will happen if all is disclosed? Will my family still love me? Will I still belong? Will God ever visit me again; will I be accepted? Often its not easy for us to admit we have wronged someone; that we have said the wrong thing, taken actions that have caused someone pain; ruined someones reputation, lied, cheated, stolen, every action & thought that opposes God.  Pride will bind us; shame wants to keep us, and we are left wandering and moving further apart from God and those that love us.

As Adam & Eve left the Garden, the Word says that the Lord made them garments of skin (Genesis

2:21). The shedding of blood for the remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22). The Lord did send them out; they may not have fully understood, but they had a map that covered them; it was a coat fashioned for them, a coat designed as blood spilled, a coat that would remind them of what the Lord had done for them. He covered them and then sent them out. Almost like a whisper, a reminder; the coat a shadowed for the things to come. I have covered you, I will cover you; you have done wrong, you have sinned, but I have paid the price for you disobedience.

How far can we drift? We can roam for a long time without peace. We can walk through life afraid.  It we allow it, the fear can keep us from a right relationship with God.  The enemy of our soul would love to keep us distance from the One that can give Life. Christ has come, sent by the Father. Christ has come and clothed himself in flesh.  He went to the cross, shed his blood and paid for our rebellion.  The message is simple.  

The price. The life of the Son of God for our forgiveness; a way back; forgiveness for all who turn to the Lord. Turn around, go in the opposite direction. No more running from God.  Draw near to God.  He wants us to come back home, back to fellowship with the Father. We must get up and go to the Father. He waits for our return. (Luke 15:20)