’Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not.’ The LORD dwells in Zion!” (Joel 3:21).
A STRONG APPEAL
We can be sure that an appeal to the Lord of heaven and earth is a strong appeal.
The Lord explained to Abraham that, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. if not, i will know” (Gen 18:20–21).
Yahweh had been a part of Abraham’s life for close to 30 years, they knew each other well. The Lord lets Abraham know he wants to see how the people of Sodom will treat his two friends: will they welcome them or mistreat them? Sodom and Gomorrah, were two of the five cities of the plain, which were not far from the King’s Highway and travellers would stop at the cities looking for accommodation, it was probably these travellers and their families that had been robbed, abused, and even murdered that had appealed to God in prayer, which is why the Lord mentioned the “outcry” that had reached him.
“When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate” (Exod 22:27).
If we sincerely cry out to God for some injustice that we have seen or been the subject of, the Lord will give us a fair hearing. Which is not what we always get in earthly courts.
Jesus said, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7–8).
Cain chose, with malice aforethought to pretend friendliness to his brother Abel and leads him to a spot where Cain thinks no one will see, it’s there that he kills his brother. Later Yahweh comes along and asks if Cain knows where his brother is. Then we get to hear Cain’s curt and discourteous reply. He seems to be using a colloquial expression of indignation that he’s heard said; for the Lord said to Cain,
“Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
We have similar expressions in the modern world. Then something happened. We don’t know how much Cain knew of Yahweh’s abilities, maybe if he’d have known a little more of the Lord’s power he would have at least feigned respect, albeit more through fear than love. little did Cain seem to know that Yahweh can hear cries from beyond this material world, Abel, though taken from this scene of time, was able to appeal. Yahweh, as if startled, exclaims to Cain, “listen!” (Gen 4:10). Can Cain hear it too?
I think we can safely say that Cain could not hear it, but the Lord certainly could. Justice and holiness are a part of God’s nature, without it we cannot see the Lord: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).
Cain had made no effort; in fact the opposite was true and now he would not see the Lord. Corruption is not a part of God’s kingdom and Cain, like his parents, has not been able to follow God’s command. Abel’s blood was crying out to God. The “life” is in the blood (lev 17:11). This blood was crying out for justice!
John in the book of Revelation saw the souls who had suffered at men’s hands crying out for justice: “They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer” (Rev 6:10–11). We may have to wait a little longer but be sure that justice will come.
God takes seriously the cry of those who call out to him.