The Bible tells us that Cain and Abel were not the only descendants of Adam and Eve. Genesis 5:4 says that later Adam begot more sons and daughters. But Cain and Abel stand out from the other descendants because they represent the two manners of life. Cain Being Sent Away from God’s Presence After Cain murdered Abel, God came to him and asked, “Where is Abel your brother? ” Cain responded, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper? ” (Gen. 4:9). Cain, who had tried to do everything according to his understanding of God’s commandment, became so cruel and so evil.
Then God said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand” (Gen. 4:10-11). Even the earth itself had sympathy for Abel. God judged Cain by strengthening the curse on the ground and driving Cain away from His presence. Cain’s Wandering in the Land of Nod After God put a mark on Cain and sent him away, Cain began his life of wandering. And Cain went forth from the presence of Jehovah and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden” (Gen. 4:16). The name “Nod” means “wandering. ” The Learning on the Line of Knowledge is Fast and Productive The line of Cain continued with his descendants. Cain begot Enoch, whose name means “learning. ” Learning the spiritual things on the line of life is very difficult, while learning the non-spiritual things on the line of knowledge is much easier. Cain’s line is very productive, and everything on Cain’s line moves quickly. We see this also with the name of Enoch’s son, Irad.
The name “Irad” means “rapid” or “fast. ” Mehujael: “God is Combating” The next person on this line is Irad’s son Mehujael. Mehujael’s name means “God is combating. ” The name “Mehujael” indicates that God was struggling with the human beings on this line. God wanted to remind them not to go so fast. Methushael: “Man of God” Out of God’s combating in the line of Cain, another son was born. Mehujael had a son named Methushael. The meaning of Methushael is “man of God. ” For some reason, out of God’s combating, a man of God was born.
Lamech: “Powerful” and “Overthrowing” If we continue down the line of Cain’s descendants we eventually come to Lamech. “Lamech” means “powerful” and “overthrowing. ” Lamech represents the outcome of Cain’s line. He was a wild and evil man. Lamech murdered a man and then boasted to his wives. Good Becoming Evil on the Line of Knowledge Cain’s original desire to keep God’s commandment was good. We need to see that good and evil are not necessarily opposites. Anything good from the line of knowledge can end up becoming evil.
Many things which begin right can end up very wrong. This is why in church history the ones who have persecuted the Lord’s people the most are the religious ones. Religious people try to keep God’s commandments, yet without life. The Sons of Lamech Producing Human Culture and Society In Genesis chapter four the line of Cain ends with Lamech and his three sons. Human civilization in its entirety developed from Lamech’s descendants. Lamech’s first son was Jabal, which means “moving. ” Jabal was “the father of those who dwell in tents and raise cattle” (Gen. :20). Jabal’s life was for making a living. Lamech’s second son was Jubal, which means “playing. ” Jubal was “the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe” (v. 21). He was a musician and his life was for entertainment. Lamech’s third son was Tubalcain. His name seems to mean “coppersmith. ” Tubalcain was “the forger of every cutting instrument of bronze and iron” (v. 22). He designed weapons for self-defense. These are the three sons of Lamech. The line of Cain resulted in Lamech, and from Lamech came human civilization.
With Lamech’s sons we see the three things which dominate the human race. Jabal signifies making a living, Jubal signifies making our lives enjoyable, and Tubalcain signifies defending ourselves and attacking others. This is what makes up the existence of the world. Satan’s Control of Human Society through the Line of Cain We must see that human culture and society are completely ruined by Satan. No human being can escape. Either we are for making a living, or we are for enjoyment and entertainment, or we are for attacking and defending.
Whatever we do in our human life Satan “corners” us into one of these three things. A Return to the Line of Life Even though Satan has control over the human race, and even though his kingdom seems so prevailing, at the same time God is still doing something hidden on the line of life. At the end of chapter four of Genesis, after recording all the descendants of Cain, the Bible returns to the line of life. “And Adam knew his wife again; and she gave birth to a son and called his name Seth” (Gen. 4:25). The next chapter of Genesis is a new beginning on the line of life.
