A fugitive and a vagabond.

“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.”

Cain was extremely angry when his brother’s sacrifice was accepted and his wasn’t. After all, Cain was the most important son while Abel was just there to do the things that Cain didn’t want to do. However, God didn’t agree with Cain’s opinion of himself. This situation can be likened to the situation the Lord Jesus Christ discussed in Luke 18: 10-14; Cain was like the Pharisee while Abel was like the publican. Cain had come in his own pride and expected God to be impressed with his goodness. Abel came in humility and the Lord accepted the humble man. Cain was so proud that he couldn’t accept God’s verdict so he killed his brother and then lied about it. When God questioned him about his activity he tried to avoid the issue but God knew.

Then Cain was faced with the consequences that he had chosen the moment he put his plan into action. We are reminded again of Gal 6: 7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This is God’s unavoidable law which no man can change. He was the first murderer and he was cursed for this crime against his brother. He would never again be able to farm the land because the earth was cursed so he became a wanderer and fugitive. A vagabond is quite different to a nomad. A nomad had animals and moves around to feed them or he moves to find new food as his food runs out. A vagabond is someone who has no fixed address and had to do whatever he can to survive.

It is interesting to note that the first time a crime is committed God acts with special justice to warn all others who would sin in that way in the future. Achan was the first to disobey the Lord in the Promised Land and he was specially punished. Ananias and Sapphira were to first ones to sin in the church and they were punished as a warning. However, everyone else will receive the same eternal punishment, unless they confess their sin, repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you would like to find out more about God's grace at the beginning you might like to visit http://www.lulu.com/content/799024 and buy a copy of my book “The Scarlet Thread”.

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)