So Cain has left God’s presence and gone off to the land of wanderings, “away from the presence of the Lord”
(Genesis 4:16-22).
And now he fathers a son: Enoch.
This son, born to the unrepentant murderer, is reared “away from the presence of the Lord.” In time he learns what happened and no doubt becomes convinced that in this place he, too, is “hidden from God’s face.” He eats what the ground begrudgingly produces for Cain. He wanders from place to place with his father, for though his name is Enoch, he is more aptly “Son of Wanderer.”
And why? For it was not Enoch who failed to bring an acceptable offering. It was not he who seethed in anger and clenched his teeth in rebellion when entreated by God. He did not murder Abel and bring on himself the curse from the ground, nor refuse repentance when confronted by God.
Truly, Cain’s consequences encumbered Enoch!
Is this partly what the Lord meant when He said, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me” (Exodus 20:5)?
It is a sobering thing to parent and grandparent. To do so without the fear of the Lord can bring disastrous consequences upon our brood.
O Lord, help us in our parenting and grandparenting. We tremble at our potential to influence negatively. How we long to have a positive impact on those you’ve entrusted to us.
Blessings,
