Too Great a punishment?
Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear (Gen 4:13 ) In fact, despite the atrocious sins Cain had committed – cold blooded murder of his innocent brother, getting angry with God, lying to God, questioning God, etc. – the Lord did not punish him as He ought to have. But Cain, instead of saying, “My sin is greater than I can bear,” says, “My punishment is too great to bear.” This was an affront to the matchless love God had shown to him. It was not God Who drove him away, but his own sins. But he accuses God of driving him out “from the face of the earth” (vs 14). There are many sinners who speak the language of Cain even today. From Cain and from his offering Yahweh withheld the sign of acceptance which He granted to Abel. The reason for this difference of treatment is in Cain's lack of right attitude toward Yahweh. Instead of humbling himself Cain displays signs of strong indignation at Yahweh's refusal to favor hi...