Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain... (Jude 1:11) |
How much of our world is going "the Way of Cain?" Ever wonder why it seems so easy for some people to kill other people; or commit some unimaginable deed, without seemingly an ounce of shame? As Jude and John tell us, one reason might be because a number of people in our modern world follow the "ways of Cain." A lot of Biblical passages gives us the hints towards identifying the modern-day parallel of these ancient antediluvian "ways" - those ultimately coming from Cain and Babylon. Let's now take a look at some of these ancient influences that, once again, are popping up in our modern-day society. The Bible can get fairly specific about some of the characteristics that people use, regarding those who adopt this "way:" Woe to them! for they have gone in the way of Cain... These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds without water, carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars… murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage… there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the spirit. - Jude 1:11-19 (KJV) As we see, those who adopt these "ways" as their ways of life are great partakers of charity: they take a hand out without any real sense of shame or hesitation. Like clouds without water, they seem to have a lot to say; puffing themselves up by claiming to be on some "higher moral ground;" yet often provide little moral substance to back it up! Like dying trees, their branches do not generate much fruit. If they temporarily accomplish something positive, it usually gets overshadowed by so many more of the negative elements of their daily life. Because they often do things in a shameful way, their inner guilt and insecurity often, can manifest itself into outer acts of indecency, anger, or unpredictable behavior. They may often may murmur, complain, and pursue ideals they and they alone think are right. Often, they will mock others. For the most part, the people who follow these "ways" are fairly self-centered - pursuing whatever, in the end, makes them feel good. These people also enjoy the quest to separate themselves from the rest of society, pursuing their own, individual lusts. They often speak great, boasting words to those around them. Many will admire them because of their outward actions; at least in the short run. But, it will not last long, however; because there is no substance to their words. Does this sound like a lot of people we might know, today? Yes, the "Way of Cain" is out there! Those who adopted the attitudes and ways of life that went on in the days of Noah are back - many do not feel the need to ever blame themselves for their own failures; nor accept responsibility for their own actions. It's almost always someone else's fault, or society as a whole. They often try to get away from any inner guilt and responsibility by formulating themselves as the "victim" of each circumstance. Another interesting article on Cain states the following: Cain said to God, "Am I (expected to be) my brother’s keeper? (Genesis 4:9). You (God) are the keeper of all creatures, yet You call me to account for him…" Accordingly, Cain’s question is in fact a defiant assertion: "I slew Abel – it was You who created in me the impulse to evil. But You are the keeper of all things- yet You let me slay him. It is You who slew him. Had You accepted my offering and You did his, I would not have been jealous of him… I never in my life knew or saw anyone slain. How was I to know that if I struck Able with a stone, he would die?" Cain went on, "Is my sin so great that it cannot be borne? (Genesis 4:13)… The whole world, all of it, You bear, yet my sin You cannot bear?"… (the verse) "Cain went out from the presence of the Lord" (Genesis 4:16) signifies that Cain left (the consciousness of) the Lord’s presence by tossing off the words ("My sin is greater than can be forgiven”), as if by mouthing them he could blunt the Almighty’s awareness of his sin… Cain... went out thinking that he had deceived (literally, stolen the mind of) the Holy One. (Bialik and Ravnitzky, 1992, p. 24 (and notes))[1] How unbelievably irreverent and cocky Cain was to the Creator of the Universe! Cain thought he was something special, obviously. After he tried to "outsmart" God in his war of words, he tried to mock the whole "status quo” of following these ways of God![2] Through Cain's pride, he actually thought he outsmarted his own Creator, and his benefactor! How pompous. God was not going to allow it to go on forever, however. He had to put Cain in his place. One interesting interpretation of God's wrath on Cain, and how He confronted Cain, head on: Why doth they brother’s blood cry from under the alter against thee? Behold, is not his blood upon they flesh, a mark which shall not be eradicated until the end of time? Thou wicked Cain, thou art Perdition and thy deeds shall follow thee for from thee shall flow murder and bloodshed, wars and contentions, until the earth shall hide her face from the wickedness and pollution of mankind. Depart from before my face, for thine existence is a pollution to the sanctity of this spot. Nevertheless, no man shall slay thee, for thou shalt live to see the full measure flowing from thine iniquity, until the final destruction of the darkness of this world. - Book of the Generations of Adam 5:8 Contention is defined as a "verbal strife, dispute, argument, controversy, or a statement or point that one argues for as true or valid." Perdition is "complete and irreparable loss, ruin, or loss of the soul," as well "the cause of ruin or destruction" (Webster's). As we can figure: many descendants of Cain - in seed and spirit - had no problem polluting mankind. They had no problem with violence and murder. They loved to complain and be in controversy. And, he surely had many after him that could have accustomed themselves to the same "ways" of living. Yet, the blood of Abel was on his hands - and the stigma of what he did, and what he promoted; all of which would be passed onto people since him, to the end of time. …the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. - John 16:8 (KJV) Interesting. But, considering who Cain's father most probably was - not surprising. …know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? - James 4:4 (KJV) But, there are downsides to living according to these ways of the world, however. Cain's descendants, or anyone who wanted to adopt these "Ways of Cain," might feel some short-term benefit from following them; but these thoughts and deeds will often be accompanied by some negative side- effects, as well - many might begin to feel uncertain about themselves; feel angry or wrathful to many of those around them; or even act in unpredictable ways: They have two heads (figuratively), wherefore they can never arrive at a decision; they are always at loggerheads with themselves. It may happen that they are pious (or moral) now, only to be inclined to do evil the next moment. (Ginzberg, 1909, p. 114) As we recall, in Cain, Seed of the Serpent, Cain was probably a direct, literal descendant of the Devil; via the Serpent. With that in mind, the following verses of the Bible make much more sense: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was mainifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his (God’s) seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous. - I John 3:8-12 (KJV) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince and the power of the air (i.e. Satan), the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. - Eph. 2:2-3 (KJV) Not only may those with the seed of Cain (and, ultimately, the Serpent) have these tendencies, but anyone who whole-heartedly makes the conscious decision to reject God, and want to adopt these "ways!" As a result, many of those in the past did what they wanted, and followed, often unsavory, "ways" - without the rationality and consciousness that would usually "put on the brakes" on others who may know of God, and want to follow Him: ...but he who sins, and who thus blushes and is overwhelmed with shame, is near akin to him (God)… for those persons who pride themselves on their errors as if they had not done wrong, are afflicted with a disease which is difficult to cure… - Works of Philo Judaeus Questions and Answers on Genesis 1(65) As we'll guess, in Politically Correct Babylon, this "disease" could extend even further into our societies - through political correctness, and the like. Sometimes, these intrusions of the "Ways of Cain" on our world might be easy to spot. In other cases, they may be a little more difficult. Either way, the true colors of these nefarious "Ways of Cain" will eventually begin to show themselves through, and be exposed, over the passing of time. As the Bible states: ...by their fruits ye shall know them. - Mat. 7:20 (KJV) It just takes an eye for God, and faith in Him - that he will provide us with a discerning mind. Footnotes: [1] Jayim Nahman Bialik and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky, The Book of Legends (Sefer Ha- Aggadah): Legends of the Talmud and Midrash, 104 (and notes) (New York: Shocken Books, 1992), 24. [2] ibid. Copyright 2010, Brett T. All Rights Reserved |