One Thing Leads to Another

It shouldn't have happened, but it did. It could have been avoided - handled differently.

Rebellion... anger... jealously... which led to murder.

It looks like something that reads right from today's newspaper headlines, but it isn't. It is the true story of Adam and Eve's two sons, Cain and Abel, ripped right from the headlines of Genesis chapter 4 in the Bible.

Where did it go wrong? Abel brought an offering to God, the firstborn of his flock. Cain, the oldest son, brought an offering of fruit of the ground.

God accepted Abel's offering, but not Cain's. Why? Think back to when Adam and Eve first sinned. What did God cover them with? Skins from an animal - an animal that had to die first - blood was shed to "cover" sin. The first sacrifice was made by God himself.

The Bible confirms Abel's sacrifice as one of faith when we read in Hebrews 11:4, "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks."

With that in mind let's take a look at what happened with Cain.

First Cain rebelled. He brought an offering that he knew was not going to be acceptable to God. He could have traded some fruit for something from Abel's flock, but he didn't. He came to God on his own terms, not God's. That is not acceptable.

Second, Cain reacted in anger. In fact, the Bible says Cain wasn't just angry, he was VERY angry and his countenance fell, meaning it didn't blow over. Cain dwelled on his anger, savored it, let it boil and boil until it was boiling over. It affected his everyday attitude towards God and his brother, his very own flesh and blood.

But God intervened right away. Remember, God is a God of action, not reaction. Let's take a look at what God says to Cain in chapter 4 verses 6 & 7.

"Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door; And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."

Wow, those are some power-packed words from God. God asks Cain why he is angry. Is it because God didn't know? Of course God knows. He knows everything. But he wanted Cain to recognize his sin and admit it. Cain had an opportunity to be sorry and make it right.

God told Cain how he could resolve the problem. See, God never just leaves us hanging. He gave Cain a solution: Do well. And then God gave him a consequence. If you don't do well, sin is there and it will affect you, but you should rule over it. See he gave him another solution. Rule over that sin that is affecting you.

Amazing to think about that, isn't it? We can say the same things about ourselves. How often do we get angry about something and dwell on it. Pretty soon we are not thinking rationally. But God says we should do well and learn to rule over that sin that is affecting us. We need help. We need God's help, the help of believing friends and family and the help of those in a Bible believing and teaching church to help hold us accountable.

So what did Cain do? Ignore God. Cain talked with his brother Abel and sought revenge. The Bible says Cain literally talked "toward" his brother. That sounds like to me that Cain was just shooting off his mouth, not willing to talk reasonably and rationally. Cain was out of control and sin ruled in his life to the point of murder.

What happens when we let sin take control in our lives? Are we going to ignore God and go our own way? That is a recipe for disaster for sure. God always knows what's best for us and he wants to see us do well.

So what should we do? Turn to God, ask for forgiveness, and do well.

So here's today's Interactive Bible Series Question: What can I do differently when faced with feelings of anger? (added in on 10-24 so I can keep this series of posts consistent)

God's book tells us what not to do, but it also is filled to overflowing with what we should do. Psalm 19:7 says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." Let's not overlook that fact and soften our hearts to allow God do his perfect work in us.

Live the adventure,