THE LAND OF NOD

Rebekah Clanton

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Woodland Church

(Genesis 4:16) “So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden”

The Land of Nod is a dreamy land that we imagine ourselves traveling to as we are falling off to sleep.  The phrase was formed a little play on words which links sleeping, that is ‘nodding off’, with the place called Nod which is referred to in the Bible.

The biblical Nod was a place of anguished exile rather than a peaceful sleep.  It is mentioned right at the beginning of the Bible and is located ‘East of Eden’ and it is where Cain dwelt after being cast out by God after Cain’s murder of his brother Abel.  The name Nod was chosen with purpose.  ‘Nod is the Hebrew root of the verb ‘to wander.’ The implication is that Cain, being in disgrace was sent to wander aimlessly. But the word also has the connotation of slowly losing awareness of one’s surroundings.  To be lulled into a state of unawareness.

Jonathon Swift was the first person to make the little linguistic joke in “A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious conversation, 1738”.  The good Dean character refers to several punning names for going to sleep.

• “I’m sure ’tis time for honest folks to be a-bed.
•  Indeed my Eyes draw Straw.
•  I’m going to the land of NOD
•  I‘m for Bedfordshire”

(Gary Martin, The Phrase Finder)

1.  Be Alert

(Proverbs 6:9-11) “When will you get up from your sleep?  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”

(1 Chronicles 12:32) “And of the children of Issachar, who were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do.”

2. Be Active

(1 Timothy 4:14) “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you….be diligent in these matters, give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them because if you do you will save yourself and your hearers.”

3. Be Confident in God’ promise

(Hebrews 10:25, The Message) “So let’s do it – full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out.  Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.  Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”

The last book in the Bible, The Revelation opens with letters to the church world.  It basically says, “Perk Up, Clean Up, and Listen Up, everything is about to change!”  As believers, God calls us to be fully aware of our relationship with him, to gather in worship as to encourage one another, to be using the gifts he has given us to reach the world, and to be confident that he will fulfill all of his promises.  That includes the promise that he will come again.