God is Good (3)!

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)- Ephesians 2:4-5

In the previous devotional, we stated that the reason Jonah didn’t want to preach to the people of Nineveh was because he knew that God in His goodness would show them mercy once they turned to Him (Jonah 4:2). Today, we would look at the story of Cain to see the goodness of God.

When I was younger, every time I heard the story of Cain, the emphasis was always on the fact that because he killed his brother, God pronounced a curse on him (Genesis 4:11-12). But we will miss an important lesson on the nature of God—that He is Good, if we only focus on that. Let us see God’s goodness to Cain:

Genesis 4:13-14

And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth: and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

How did God respond? Did He say, “Yes, you deserve it”? Let’s see!

Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Hallelujah! That’s our God. He is good. He is rich in mercy. He is patient and kind. If we will turn to Him, He will in no wise cast us away. Cain a murderer? And God said that anyone who kills him vengeance would be taken on such an individual sevenfold. Well, for nobody to be subject to the vengeance, the text goes on to say, “…And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.” 

Still, the goodness doesn’t end there! Read on!

Genesis 4:16-17

And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

One of the meanings of the word ‘vagabond’ is wanderer. But the text we just read said he dwelt in the land of Nod. Not only that, he built a city. As if that was not enough, he got married and she bore him a son. Glory to God! That’s our God. He is good and His mercies endures forever. Also, something you may not have noticed is that God was still having a conversation with a murderer!

Friend, you may be in a place where you feel like you are too far from God. But I have good news today that if you will return, God’s arms are wide open to receive you. They have always been! He is actually waiting for your response. Respond today and see that God is good and His mercy endures forever. 

SAY THIS: Father I thank You because You are good and Your mercies endures forever. And I thank You because I respond positively always to Your goodness to me.

You are blessed. God loves you. Yes you!!!