"Sin is crouching at the door,” God warns Cain, "and its desire it for you (Genesis 4:7).” It was the advice which had and still has the potential to interrupt the momentum of evil. And the consequence multiplied right along with his generation until it reached "seventy-seven times seven (77 x 7) (Genesis 4:24)." Calculator or not, it all adds up to an even worse karma which still "counts” today! Let's ask the question: exactly what was the infamous "mark” of Cain?
- A lifelong predicament of isolation
- Others being mysteriously reluctant to engage him (or slay him)
- Existing only in the land of Nod (Nod means "wandering and confusion” in Hebrew)
- Mysteriously not getting back what you put into life fully (Genesis 4:12)
So the mystery is really not that big, huh? The mark God placed on Cain was the mark of insanity.
Consider for a moment: who messes with an insane, isolated, homeless
person? King David once faked insanity to escape to the other side of his
kingdom secretly and safely (I Samuel 21:13-14). And it worked perfectly because Cain’s generation
was "killed-off” as an abomination to normal men. That "mark" was the origin of delusions, hallucinations, and exaggerated levels of the intelligence
quotient (IQ).
Let’s solve this riddle to our psychological diversity and it’s consequences. Realize that God did not say to Cain, "you’re gonna feel (fictionally) like life’s not fair.” Instead Genesis 4:12 makes it literal saying, "The ground you work will no longer yield its strength to you [specifically to him and his descendants (Genesis 4:12)].” Accordingly, few are able to relate this "east of Eden” predicament because, by all means, they’ve never been there!
So what does this "not-my-brother’s-keeper”
disconnect between us look like today? And could it actually be a secret
instrument for strife itself? Of course it is; just look around. There’s a
geographical (Nod vs Not) and/or psychological patriotism from the normal majority. Here's the equation:
PRIDE = IGNORANCE = NEGLECT = DISPARITY = WANDERER / VAGABOND PROPHECY
Who would’ve thought that those who are "Able (Abel)” would be taking an inadvertent revenge on Cain?
So same bible scene, just different characters: nowadays, the "unable (un Abel)” mental disorders are the ones being lured into a secluded field, by public opinion, to be slayed by misunderstanding. Undiagnosed ADD endures academic persecution; Autism’s social allergy is rebuked by denial, and Schizophrenia is mocked by the uneducated majority. Cain was absolutely right when he said, "My punishment is too great to bear (Genesis 4:13).” Sadly some of his descendants today refuse to.
Jesus once said forgive people who plead with you "seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22).” Was it 490 times total, or was it more symbolic? Jesus (the Lamb of God, like Abel’s used to sacrifice) was actually re-inviting Cain’s bloodline (seventy times seven) into his "brother’s” company since these are people who truly, psychiatrically cannot help it: Down Syndrome, Schizophrenia, Tourette’s, and Autism.
As God allowed Jesus’ blessed reversal to those
who are "wounded in spirit (Matthew 5:3)”, the bigger miracle will be when
mankind finally does. When will we be our brother’s keeper?
EXTRA CREDIT: Jesus’ numerical reply to Peter (forgive seventy times seven) was basically encouraging the same type of automatic forgiveness to any normal functioning person who blatantly asks their Christian victim for it. Provided they’re truly repenting without tactics, forgivers are obligated to demonstrate the same perception of an offender who just cannot help it.
God Bless