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"God is a just Judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day." Psalm 7:11

Text: Genesis 4:1-26

UNDERSTANDING THE NARRATIVE GENRE

The genre of Genesis took the form of narratives. Stories were carefully selected and included in the Scriptures. The narratives were special theological vehicles. Whereas New Testament writers like the Apostle Paul concentrated on the exposition of theological doctrines, narratives were chosen to communicate deep spiritual truths as well. The narrative approach, when fully comprehended and appreciated, is found to be just as effective as the straightforward expository approach. Let us consider the following thoughts concerning the use of narratives.

1. Real-Life Examples

The author chose real life examples to work with! To Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, the characters that were featured in his narratives were historical and real. Real life people carry an impact that explanations find hard to match! Real life examples convey lessons of faith and life in its own unique way!

2. Great spiritual truths preserved and taught

A number of spiritual truths were specially preserved and communicated in the stories recorded in the Book of Genesis.

a) Attributes of God Revealed

How God responded to each and every situation revealed the attributes of God. In the story of Cain and Abel, God must be appreciated as a Just Judge.

b) Characteristics of the Fallen Human Nature Revealed

The sin principle had obviously passed from Adam to his son Cain! The inherited sin nature is seen in its worst possible light! Few crimes could be as heinous as a brother killing a brother!

c) God’s Relationship with Man

One of the most obvious truths that stand out is that God hates sin. He knows that sin has such corrupting powers, it could devastate the life of the individual or that of a family! Sin has to be exposed and then dealt with summarily! But even then, few have learned well the lessons God intended for us to master!

THE JUST JUDGMENT PASSED ON CAIN

God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden for their sin of disobedience. God also had to deal with Cain’s sin problem forthrightly – for that too is part of the character of God!

God gave Cain every chance to explain himself! However, instead of admitting his sin and his guilt, he tried to cover up his tracks! He pretended to be “innocent”. Only when the fear of God pricked his heart, did he confess that he has murdered his own flesh and blood. Cain was sentenced to be “a fugitive and a vagabond”! His sentence was more than fair, for God could have passed the death sentence on him!