Lessons From History Series

“Woe to [the godless infiltrators]! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.” [1]

Long years past, the Roman historian Tacitus wrote, “The principle office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.” [2] The words penned by this ancient historian align well with the words of the Apostle in his first letter to the Church of God in Corinth, as he wrote of historical events recorded in the Word. “[These events] took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did… These things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” [1 CORINTHIANS 10:6, 11].

History holds an incredible fascination for us. It seems that everyone, after graduating from school, becomes fascinated with history. You may have heard it said, “He who ignores history is doomed to repeat it.” I suggest that we are very much concerned about the occurrences of the past for several reasons. First, people are morbidly curious by nature. We are curious about the failures and judgments of others who have gone before us. Second, a few astute individuals desire to avoid the pitfalls of the past and they study history to avoid errors of the past.

And the Bible is a Book of history. The old adage says, “All history is His story,” and that is readily verified by honest students of history. This is the reason why the Word is such an excellent source of historical data. From the first eyewitness account of the Creation of all things until the closing words of the exiled prophet on the Isle of Patmos, the Book is trustworthy and has repeatedly proved its value to the historian. May I suggest that even more valuable than its worth to the historian are the admonitions and warnings to various individuals who are willing to heed what is written.

People have a choice to either live their lives without giving thought to God Who holds their times in His hands, or they can heed the warnings He gives and pay attention to the examples provided in the Word. In the former instance, those who ignore God will at last face His wrath, whereas in the latter case they will flee to the safety that accompanies salvation in His Son.

Throughout his letter, Jude warns against three great sins: irreverence; sensuality; and lawlessness. Earlier in the letter, he provided readers three easily recognised examples of the consequence of such sins. Now he appeals to three incidents which exemplify the attitudes lying behind these sins that make them so odious to the LORD God. Jude presents these cases of those who received divine judgment to warn Christians from sinning against the Living God. These are the three individuals Jude holds up as warnings: Cain, a warning against cynicism and unbelief; Balaam, a warning against being mastered by greed; and Korah, a warning against the attitude of rebellion. Let’s learn from these historical incidents so that we may give heed to Jude’s warnings.

CAIN – THE CYNIC – “Woe to [the ecclesiastical termites]! For they have walked in the way of Cain” [JUDE 11a]. The diligent student of Scripture is provided a lesson and a warning through study of the life of Cain. Jude begins his exposure of the evil people who were destroying the churches. Destructive people are still destroying the work of the Risen Saviour; They work under cover and out of sight. For that reason, it is essential that they be exposed by bringing them into the light. This is done by revealing their character so that all can recognise them before they are able to carry out their destructive work. These ungodly people, who are still among us, have “walked in the way of Cain.”

Who was Cain? And what warning does his life provide? The story of Cain is related concisely in an early chapter in Genesis. There, we read, “Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, ‘I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.’ And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.’