Haveyou ever been mad or upset with anyone? I am sure we can all say yes to thatquestion. What was the real reason we were mad? In Genesis chapter four we areintroduced to two young men Abel and Cain and in just a few verses we see thatCain is mad; why?
Genesis4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought ofthe fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Genesis4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock andof the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Genesis4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. AndCain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. We see Cain brings anoffering unto the Lord; fruit from the ground. I would say it was the best ofthe best and he brings it to the Lord as an offering. Now Abel we are toldbrings an offering also but his offering is from his flock. The Bible tells us thatthe Lord had no respect for Cain’s offering but had respect unto Abel’soffering and because the Lord didn’t have respect for Cain’s offering Cain getvery wroth (very angry; much exasperated). Why did Cain get so upset? The samereason you and I get upset. Let’s think for a moment about what Cain may havebeen thinking; as Cain goes and begins to gather the fruit for his offering Iam sure he picked the best of the best. I’m sure he was thinking that thisoffering is for the Lord and I want the very best for Him. Now when the Lordwasn’t pleased the Bible tells us that he got angry. The reason he was angry isbecause things didn’t go the way Cain though they should; or in other wordsthings didn’t go his way. Now the Lordasked Cain a question.
Genesis4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why isthy countenance fallen?
Whyare you so upset Cain’ and why is your countenance fallen? Then the Lord tellsCain:
Genesis4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thoudoest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be hisdesire, and thou shalt rule over him. Cain, if you do well, you’ll beaccepted also but if you decide not to then sin is waiting for you rightoutside your door. Cain has an opportunity to change his offering and have theLord accept it also. It’s your choice Cain you can do right or you can let youranger get the best of you.
Genesis4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass,when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, andslew him. We are told that Cain talked with his brother and then in thefield Cain kills his brother Abel. What I want you to see is that Cain let hisanger control him even to the point of killing his brother and it was allbecause he didn’t get his way. Now you and I hopefully wouldn’t kill anyone ifthings didn’t go our way; or would we?
Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of oldtime, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of thejudgment:
Matthew5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brotherwithout a cause shall be in danger of the judgment …. I get angry withsomeone because things don’t go my way and because of that I never haveanything to do with that person again then I have just given foothold to thedevil
Ephesians4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon yourwrath:
Ephesians4:27 Neither give place to the devil. When I get angry andI don’t forgive then I am giving the devil a place in my life. There will be alot of things that don’t go our way. Let’s don’t be a Cain for if we do then weare giving the enemy place in our lives. Have a great week and watch out forselfishness. May the Lord richly bless you is my prayer.
