Lamech's Revenge and the Extent of Forgiveness

I love when I see little congruencies in Scripture. For me, it displays the manifold wisdom of God throughout the ages as he sovereignly wields all events in accordance with his gracious plan. But I have a deeper love for the instances when I find the reversal of a curse, like in a former post when I mentioned the mystery of marriage and the redeemed relationship between a man and his wife in Christ during an age burdened with the curse of Genesis 3:16 (see The Profound Mystery of Marriage). I would like to present another kind of reversal mentioned in the Scriptures.

Adam and Eve's sin spawned a new generation of children born in rebellion against God's righteous order. One particular example mentioned within the opening chapters of Genesis is the story of Lamech. Lamech's depravity was evidently much deeper than his contemporaries - he even boasts about killing a man for wounding him (Gen. 4:23). And then, he says that "if Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold" (Genesis 4:24). This number "seventy-sevenfold" is a picture of extravagant excess and completely disproportional than any possible response might warrant. He also boasts that while Cain is protected by God himself and revenge for him would be sevenfold, Lamech's vengeful passion would make him safer still.

Peter puts the question to Jesus of how often a brother might sin against him and Peter still forgive him. Peter thinks seven will suffice. But Jesus' response echoes back to the ages of Lamech's vengeful passion - he says, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22). Peter sought to keep count, but Jesus gives the extravagant number of excess, showing that mercy triumphs over revenge. Jesus then explains that the posture of forgiveness in his disciples' hearts reflected the forgiving nature of their heavenly Father. In his parable, he contrasts the attitude of the master and his servant, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?" (Matthew 18:32-33).

The response of forgiveness by the master to his servant was completely undeserving, and yet, this extravagant display plumbs the depths of the divine mercy in order to reverse the boast of Lamech. Jesus shows us that "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21). It is the establishment of a new world order. Maranatha.

SDG