Genesis 4 17-26

These verses seem to explain how men began to organise themselves outside Eden. Different people playing different playing their different parts in the fabric of society. Sadly in the midst of it all sin is winding its roots around the lives of these people...violence and revenge are becoming more and more common place. Lamech says 'I have killed a man for wounding me'. It is surely this attitude of limitless revenge that sets the context for the teaching Moses delivers in some of the forthcoming chapters.

Moses' call for "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is a plea for the restoration of justice and is a stepping stone to the deep inner life of forgiveness, mercy and grace that Jesus would teach. Teaching that would flow out of his own life as he cried over his enemies, 'father forgive them' as they unjustly tortured and crucified him.

In the midst of the pervading evil men cannot deny their innate awareness of their creator God. They are acutely aware of their desperate situation and they begin calling on the name of the Lord. (I feel verse 26b has more to it than I am able to see - if anyone has any revelation regarding this please leave your comments)