May 25, 2026:

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Lamech said to his wives, ‘Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.’” (Genesis 4.23-24)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

it is just an interesting note how Lamech sought to invoke the protection of God over his life as he knew God had put on Cain’s life. It is reasonable to believe that they all knew of Cain’s life and life sentence. It was a part of their own history as descendants of Cain. However, the conditions, understanding and beliefs of what happened appear to not be as clear. We do not hear of how Lamech mortally wounded a young man whom he said, “wounded me.” We do not hear remorse or any conversation between God and Lamech. The fear of God which was in the original protection contract sealed with a mark of God on Cain was not merely to be afraid that God bring serious consequences on the one who killed Cain. The ‘fear of God’ includes one’s attitude of respect toward God. Cain had remorse when confronted by God with what he had done. He felt the weight of the punishment being sent out into the world beyond the community of family never to return.

But what did Lamech feel toward God? Did he simply up the ante of punishment on any person who sought revenge or simply wanted to kill Lamech for wounding them? Did Lamech believe that such a curse would be understood and respected among people who did not “call upon the name of the Lord“? This story was the precursor to the birth of Seth who would carry on the line of Adam and Eve forward as those who did “call upon the name of the Lord.” They worshipped Him with thanksgiving offerings of blood sacrifices and first fruits. They honored the Sabbath day. They loved one another. These are the foundational principles of what would become the rule of righteousness and later be defined in “the Law.” The same is intimated that it was not practiced by the descendants of Cain. Perhaps if they repented and began to practice such principles that would be different for them. We understand that today in the practice of Christianity. Jesus, the true Lamb of God, is our atonement. His gift of salvation and the mark of God on us with His blood is empowered when we confess our sins and profess Him as Lord of our lives and Lord of all. We are in the bloodline of faith, hope and love. Let the “fear of the Lord” be our beginning of wisdom.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.