The Builder (4:16-24)
God kept His Word and protected Cain as he wandered. One day he found a place that seemed right for him to settle down, and he decided to build a city. The earth wouldn’t yield its strength to Cain’s labor as a farmer, but Cain could labor and build on the earth and succeed. However, Cain never ceased to be a fugitive, for the name of the land where he settled means “wandering.” His citizenship wasn’t in heaven (Phil. 3:20-21 nkjv), nor did he have any hope to reach the heavenly city (Heb. 11:9-16). The only heaven Cain knew was his city on earth.
Was Cain a married man before he wandered from Eden, or did he find a wife during his travels? Did he tell her he had murdered his brother? We don’t know, but surely he had to explain the mark God had put on him. It was normal for Cain to seek a wife, for he not only wanted to build a city, but he also wanted to build a family. How else could his name be remembered but in his descendants? Cain didn’t know that his name and foul deeds would be written in the Word of God for everybody to read.
Cain’s wife bore him a son whom he named Enoch, which is related to the Hebrew word for “consecrated.” Cain named his city after his son, but we aren’t told to whom or to what the city was consecrated. Six generations of Cain’s descendants are named (Gen. 4:17-22), some of whom were famous.
Lamech was the first bigamist; he was also a boastful man and a killer. Why or how the young man wounded him, we don’t know; but why should a young man be killed because he caused a wound? Lamech’s mentioning of Cain’s protection (v. 24) indicates that Cain’s story was passed from generation to generation. It also suggests that Lamech thought that God’s protection extended to him as well. If God would avenge a murderer like Cain, then surely He would avenge Lamech for “protecting himself.” Note that Lamech wants God’s protection, but he doesn’t mention God’s name.
The people in the city of Enoch had varied occupations. Some followed Jabal and took care of livestock (v. 20). Others learned from Jabal’s brother Jubal and devoted themselves to making and playing musical instruments (v. 21). The followers of Tubal-Cain were metalworkers (v. 22), which suggests the manufacture of farm implements, building tools, and personal weapons. Cain lived in a society that was rich in culture as well as in industry and food production. In the city of Enoch, they had everything but God.
When you put Cain’s family tree next to that of Seth (chap. 5), you can’t help but notice the similarity in names. You have Enoch and Enosh (v. 6) and Enoch (v. 18), Mehujael and Mahalalel (v. 12), Methushael and Methuselah (v. 21), and Lamech and Lamech (v. 25). Cain’s Lamech has three sons (Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-Cain), and Noah has three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth).
What does this similarity in names mean? Perhaps it’s God’s way of telling us that the godless line of Cain (which is still with us) does its best to imitate the godly line of Seth. After all, Satan is the counterfeiter. He can imitate the names of the true believers, but he can’t produce the believers. There’s an Enoch in both genealogies, but Cain’s Enoch didn’t walk with God and one day disappear and go to heaven (v. 24)! “What’s in a name?” Nothing, if you don’t know and belong to the Lord!
But the tragedy is that these two lines–the ungodly line of Cain and the godly line of Seth–came together and merged (6:1-2). The wall of separation came down, and this eventually created the wicked society whose sins brought on the judgment of the flood. Lamech’s brand of violence spread (vv. 5, 11-12), and by the time of the flood, only eight people believed God’s warning and acted upon it by faith. The rest were destroyed.
Cain’s family tree ends with the family of Lamech (4:19-24), an arrogant murderer whose three sons manufactured things for this world. Seth’s line ends with Noah (“rest”) whose three sons gave the world a new beginning after the flood. The world of that day probably admired Cain’s achievements; God wiped them off the face of the earth.
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17 nkjv).
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
- What roles in life has God asked you to play?
- How can you be sure to follow God’s script and not write your own?
- What is the relationship between dysfunctional families and sin?
- What is the God-given role of work in our lives?
- If workers are not also worshipping, what might happen?
- What was the problem with Cain’s offering? What does this teach you about your own offerings?
- Cain felt jealous and bitter toward Abel, with disastrous results. What is the danger of carrying grudges?
- Why do people lie? Was lying effective for Cain? What would have been a better solution?
- How does a remorseful person differ from a repentant person?
- What can we learn from the fact that God put a protective sign on Cain to prevent others from avenging Abel’s death?