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Genesis 4:13-16, gives the account of God marking Cain so no one would kill him. This seems to let Cain off the hook for murdering his brother, Abel. What do you think?

I have heard that the misery of guilt and rejection of everyone was his punishment. I've also heard that the mark of Cain is not a mark of shame. It is not a mark to brand him in the eyes of others as a terrible murderer, to be shunned and treated as a snake. Instead, a mark of grace, by which God is saying, "This man is still my property. Hands off!" Demonstrating the heart of God is always ready to show mercy, giving him time to repent.

I don't claim to know the mind of God. However, the glimpse we see of Him through the scriptures do indicate that for a time, He offers many opportunities to repent. The latter explanation seems to be consistent.

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"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day." ~Abraham Lincoln

One of the themes I see in Genesis is the grace God showed to man while on this earth. It was a rare thing to see God punish sin to the degree it deserved, or even at all. The only places recorded in Genesis where God supernaturally dealt out capital punishment is in the flood (Genesis 6:5-8, Genesis 7:21), the destruction of the cities of the plain (Genesis 18:20, Genesis 19:24-25), and the deaths of Judah's sons Er and Onan (Genesis 38:2-10). More than that, God actually did good to sinful man. He provided the coverings for Adam and Eve. He saved Noah's wife, children and their wives. He promised to make of Abraham a great nation, and scattered throughout the book are promises of the Savior.

Only when Israel entered the wilderness and came under the Law was sin virtually always punished.

For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. - Romans 5:13

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Andrew Bernhardt
"Salvation costs me nothing. Discipleship costs me everything."
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The mark put on Cains forehead was a letter from the Lords name probably an X-St. Andrews cross

The act of God when he put mark on Cain after Cain killed his brother meant that God did not exact want the death penalty that Cain deserved but as a protection that no other man would harm him.

Deuteronomy 32:35 35 I will get revenge and pay them back at the time their foot slips; for the day of their disaster is near, and the impending judgment is rushing upon them!” Context (NET)

Romans 12:19 19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Context (NET)

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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7

When Cain killed Abel, there was no law of God and Cain may not have known what he was doing was wrong, so he sinned in ignorance and God is a God of second chances. Also, there weren't a lot of people then and the earth needed to be populated.

Romans 5:12-13 12 So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned – 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law. Context (NET)

In regard that there weren't a lot of people then and the earth needed to be populated it was not a problem even Cain were not present.

Matthew 3:9 9 and don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! Context (NET)

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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7