I HAVE SLAIN A MAN – Genesis 4:23
Genesis 4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
Bible scholars have had much difficulty deciphering the meaning of this passage. Some believe that Lamech killed a man who had first wounded him and thus he killed in self-defense. Other believe that Lamech was reassuring his wives that there was no one strong enough to seek revenge in killing him because he was so strong that he was able to kill this young man even though he was already injured. However, regardless of the interpretation of the exact meaning of Lamech’s boast, what we do know for sure is that Lamech is the second man who is recorded in scripture of taking the life of another.
We know that Cain took the life of his brother Abel, but we do not know the name of the person who was killed by Lamech. God has a purpose for putting this story in the Bible and as a child of the King, it is our duty to search the scriptures to learn the lessons that God has for us. God did not put this story in the Bible to entertain us; it is here for a purpose.
Lamech is the example of a man who could not control the desires of his heart. Lamech desired two women so he ended up marrying both of them. Now Lamech had a problem with a certain young man and rather than refrain his emotions, he allowed his anger to build to the point that he took the life of another.
You may not think that you would ever marry two women, but have you committed adultery in your heart? You may not think that you would ever kill another person, but have you ever been angry with your brother? Christ taught us that there is a higher standard than just the 10 Commandments – God is looking at your heart. As such, you are just as much of a law breaker as Lamech was the day he took the life of the young man.
Lamech could not control the desires of his heart and as such, he allowed lust to build to the point that he took what he wanted regardless of the consequences to others. If you are not careful, you too can allow your emotions to get the better of you until you covet something to the point that you do that which is right in your own eyes.
God desires that you learn to exercise self-control in your life. This means that you learn to lay aside the desires of your heart in order to pursue the desires of HIS heart. As you learn to seek those things that are pleasing in HIS eyes, you find that you have the strength to overcome the temptations of this world.
If you do not take the time to add temperance to your life, you will find yourself acting more and more like Lamech. Rather than saying no to the things of this world, instead you will be so absorbed in your own life that you will take what you want regardless of how it will affect others. Your relationship with God will not matter because the only thing that will matter to you is that you are satisfied with the things of this world.
Just because you want it, it does not mean that it is God’s best for your life. Instead, you need to learn to hear the still small voice of God so that you can learn to desire to pursue those things that are a part of the perfect will of God for your life. You must learn to say no to the things of this world so that you can say yes to the things of God.