Land of Nod (East of Eden); “nowd” (Hebrew), to wander, exile, flee or disappear.
Cain’s offering was rejected and his brother’s (Abel) was accepted before the Lord. Cain became “very wroth” and later slew his brother. And the Lord cursed Cain. It is said that Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and “dwelt” in the land of Nod.
How long Cain dwelt in the land of Nod before “knowing” his wife we do not know, but in Genesis 5:4 asserts that Adam had other sons and daughters besides the three sons whose names appear in the text. Given the longevity of people at that time, Cain could have married one of his own sisters or even a more distant relative.
Cain was afraid that some of the relatives of Abel would find him and kill him in revenge. Thus, it is logical to assume that the population of the world had already multiplied considerably since the expulsion of Adam and Even from the garden of Eden. Phrases like “And in the process of time,” “It shall come to pass,” “shall,” all denote future tense. Genesis does not answer certain questions directly, but rather indirectly. We do know, however, that Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the “mother of all living.” Genesis 3:20
What is important is that we do not want to choose the path Cain chose, but to “Trust in the Lord will all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12 :1-2
This world continues to become more corrupt by taking God out of everything: our schools, our government, and our society. The world doesn’t know what is real anymore. It has been deceived.
Recently, I read about a professor who knew bugs from creation down. I guess you could call him a “bugologist.” Anyhow, two biology students decided one day that they were going to play a trick on the professor and made up their own bug. In their biology class they took the head off of one bug and placed in on another, and changed out some other body parts as well. They then took it to the professor and asked him, “What sort of bug is this, professor?” He took one look at it and immediately said, “Why, that there is a humbug!” They could not fool him in the least. Why? Because he knew his bugs. He studied.
And that is one reason why the Word of God tells us to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
In the political arena today; in the religious arena today; there is a world full of “humbugs.” And only if we study the Word of God, will He show us the Truth. He will show us what is real. And we won’t be fooled by the humbugs and believe a lie.
“And they with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the love of the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” II Thessalonians 2: 10-12
We need to know what is acceptable; Cain chose his own way, and was rejected. We must know the truth; the truth will make us free. We do not want to be rejects or “castaways” (I Cor. 9:27) and cast into the lake of fire.
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24: 14-15
We want to be accepted, rather than rejected. We can know what is real. We can know the Truth, and the Truth will make us free.
In Jesus Name!
