Justified

Things were different in the beginning.  Or were they?

Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch. To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech. Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock. His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. Lamech said to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord. - Genesis 4:17-26

When Cain was banished for killing his brother, God sought to appease his fears by telling him if anyone killed him, he would be avenged seven times.  This was to end the violence that Cain brought into the world.

But now, generations later, Lamech uses the promise of vengeance to reason his justification for violence.

This is what we do, isn't it?

We justify our actions using God's words.  If God is willing to avenge the death of Cain who slayed his brother, Lamech should avenged even more for what he did, killing a man, presumed to be Tubal-Cain.

From the beginning of time, man has chosen violence against his fellow man, even against his brothers.

Is this what God intended?

Was the design flawed?  Surely it all began with the decision in the garden to do our own thing, go our own way, ignore God's command.

Is it punishment or a natural consequence of our disobedience?

What is interesting to me in this sequence of events is that God did not put Cain to death for killing his brother.  Instead, he sent him away and chose to protect him, or at least give him a shield to defend himself against those who would seek vengeance.

If one harms Cain, they will face the same sevenfold.

Leave it to his descendants to turn that into a weapon against others.

Maybe once we unleash violence against another, there is no way to put that genie back in the bottle.  

More to come...