Genesis 4 — Thoughts

People often think that the God of the Old Testament is a “God of wrath,” while the God of the New Testament is a “God of mercy.” But the truth is — He’s both. In the Old Testament and the New, God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8).⁠

We see this in the story of Cain and Abel.

Cain was the world’s first murderer. He turned on his own brother, betraying his trust and taking his life. It was a horrific and unnatural thing for a person to do to another. And yet, from Abel’s murder to Ahmaud Arbery’s, it has never stopped happening.⁠

The recent news about African American Ahmaud Arbery being chased down and killed by a white father and son in Georgia helps us feel the significance of this too-familiar Bible story. In both cases, we want to see justice done.⁠

And so does God. Like Abel’s, Ahmaud’s blood calls out to God from the ground. And as a righteous and just Judge, He will demand an answer from Ahmaud’s murderers just as He demanded one from Cain.⁠

But at the same time, we know that God is merciful.⁠

We see it in the way God places a mark of protection on Cain, an act of compassion that was completely undeserved. Throughout the Old Testament, we’ll see other examples of God delaying justice in the name of mercy and forgiveness.⁠

And we must never forget that the ultimate display of God’s wrath isn’t in the Old Testament at all. It’s on the Cross. Jesus took on the full brunt of our just punishment when He died in our place — while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). But it was this ultimate act of God’s wrath that made possible the ultimate show of God’s mercy and love for us: our salvation.⁠

That includes Cain, though we aren’t told if he ever received it. That includes Ahmaud’s murderers, if they have the faith to accept it. And that includes you and me.⁠

In God’s eyes. None of us are any better than murderers (Matthew 5:21-22). But we all have access to God’s mercy and forgiveness because of the Cross. There, wrath and mercy met, and salvation was won for us — our just punishment on Jesus, His everlasting life on us.⁠

Have you received it?⁠

(Originally written May 12, 2020)