God showed his displeasure after the first murder was committed, but He had mercy on Cain and did not require his life.
"And He (God) said, 'What have you (Cain) done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brothers blood from your hand'" (Gen. 4:10-11 NKJV).
The next murder was committed by a man named Lamech, who killed a man who had wounded him (Gen. 4:23-24).
Lamech used the mercy God showed Cain to justify and protect himself from this evil act. The men of the earth then became excessively violent and murderous.
Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.God set the law or principle of capital punishment into motion after the flood during Noah's lifetime.
(Gen. 6:5-6 NKJV)
Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man.This guideline was established to set a restraint and cause mankind to be held responsible for murder. It indicates how precious a human life is to God! As a result, God incorporated this principal into the Law of Moses (Ex. 21:12-14; Lev. 24:17).
Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.
(Gen. 9:5-6 NKJV)
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