Seventy Times Seven

 The book of Genesis records for us Cain's terrible choices, and the tragic consequences for him as well as his descendants. It seems that the guilt of his sin was not what caused him grief, but his being cursed from the ground that he tilled. Rather than a godly sorrow over the murder of his brother Abel, he instead feared for his life. (See Gen 4:8-15)

God, in His mercy, appointed a sign for Cain so that no one would kill him in vengeance. If that were to happen, the guilty party would be avenged sevenfold by the LORD. Sadly, Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, settled down, had a son, and built a city. We do not read that Cain, or his descendants worshipped the LORD, we only read of their earthly pursuits.

Eventually we get to Lamech (Gen 4:19-24). One day he kills a man who apparently attacked him. He tells his two wives that if Cain is avenged sevenfold, then he is to be avenged seventyfold. It is easy to see the idea of holding grudges, revenge, and retribution being formed here. This is something that has plagued mankind ever since. It is easy to hold a grudge, but hard to let go and forgive.

Jesus taught the opposite. Once while He was teaching on restoration of broken relationships, Peter asked Him how often he was expected to forgive a brother. Seven times? (See Matt 18:21-22)

Jesus gave a reply that undoubtedly shocked Peter. Perhaps He was referring to Cain, and Lamech. Jesus tells him not to stop forgiving at seven times, but to forgive up to seventy times seven. Instead of holding that grudge, just waiting for the eight time you are offended so that you can finally get even, Jesus tells us to live in a continual state of forgiving. 

We all are offended by others, and often forgiveness is the last thing we desire to do. The idea of revenge is so ingrained in the world around us, and even as Christians we can easily get caught up in anger. However, let us be like Jesus, who Himself forgave those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). Don't limit your forgiveness to one or two offences, but then draw a line in the sand, but freely forgive as the Lord has forgiven you (Col 3:13).

Mastering Sin

 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Gen 4:7NASB)

This quote is taken from the Account of Cain and Abel found in Genesis 4. Abel brings a sacrifice of the first of his flocks to the Lord. Cain also bring a sacrifice of the fruit of the ground. God was pleased with Abel's offering but did not regard the offering of Cain. 

Cain was angry, and thus this warning from God. Sin was crouching at the door, desiring to control Cain. He must master it. Sadly, Cain gave in to his anger and killed Abel his brother. How different things could have been if only he had listened to God and controlled his temper.

Likewise, we also must heed this warning. Sin also seeks to dominate our lives and we also must not let it master us, but instead master it. We read this in Romans, Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin (Rom 6:6-7). Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace (Rom 6:12-14). Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Rom 6:16-18).

It is through our surrender to Christ that we find freedom to overcome sin and live in victory. In John 8:34-36 Jesus states that the one who commits sin is the slave of sin, but the one whom the Son sets free is free indeed.