Reflection Genesis: The Soil

Our reflections follow the Bible Month 2024 book of Genesis. In particular we're going to look at some of the places the stories take place and what we might learn from these.

The Soil

"Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. "
Genesis 4 v14

Cain's murder of his brother shows the growing distance between humanity and God, and Cain echoes the punishment given to his parents, describing it as being driven 'from the soil.' Verse 16 tells us he 'went away from the presence of the Lord.'

But despite the warning about 'restless wandering' (as the NIV calls it), a few verses later Cain is building a city. So what's going on?

For Cain, home was where God was. As a result of his murder he was 'hidden' from God's face. Our actions have consequences, including on the natural world. In our own time we see this with the effect of over-consumption on our planet's ecosystem. It's a reminder that we need to take care of our earthly home. And to remember that, however wonderful our current home is, our true home is in the presence of the Lord.