Jump Start # 132

Genesis 4:6-7 “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Cain and Abel. The first children of Adam and Eve. Brothers. They both made an offering to God. Cain gave vegetables, he was a farmer. Abel offered a lamb, he was a shepherd. God accepted Abel’s and rejected Cain’s. The sacrifice of Abel involved blood. It was a complete offering. Once a lamb was killed and burned there is no more lamb. Picking fruits and vegetables doesn’t kill the plant. A tomato plant or an apple tree will bear much fruit in a season. Cain’s sacrifice wasn’t much of a sacrifice. But more than that, it wasn’t what God wanted. By faith, Hebrews tells us, Abel offered a better sacrifice. Faith is not a feeling, but trusting what God has said. We are told that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17). God must have instructed and told the boys what He wanted. God always does. He never leaves things to our imagination. For Cain that meant having to obtain a lamb. Offering what he already had was much more convenient. And so he did. God refused to accept it.

  Now Cain was mad. He seemed jealous as well. He should have been mad at himself and remorseful and offered God what He wanted. Our verse says his “countenance” was fallen. We don’t talk that way. Countenance is expression on his face. Our face on the outside shows what is going on in the inside. A smile says I’m happy. A frown says something isn’t right. Cain’s expression, countenance was fallen.

  God always asks leading questions. He asked Adam, “Where are you” after he and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were hiding from God. The Lord knew where they were. He wanted them to answer. Here, God knows why Cain is angry. He even says so, “if you do what is right your countenance will be lifted.” Cain was wrong. It was not God’s fault. Abel had done nothing wrong. So often when a person is eaten with guilt they will lash out at those who are doing right. Instead of changing self, they verbally beat up the innocent.

  Then in this ancient passage, God reveals what we all must learn and face. Sin is crouching at our door. Sin’s desire is for us. But we must conquer it. God knew what was racing through Cain’s heart. He was angry, jealous and not thinking straight. If he could have killed God he probably would have tried. He killed his innocent brother. Sin mastered him. God warned. He again did not listen to God. More problems. More guilt. The hole in which he has fallen deepens. We are left with the “why’s.” Why didn’t he just offer a lamb to start with? Why didn’t he listen to God? Why did he strike his brother? None of this makes sense.

  And now we start to understand and put the pieces together. Remember the prodigal son? Out in the far country, out of money, friends, ideas and hope. The passage says, “when he came to his senses…” Sin is senseless.

  Sin’s desire is for you. Years later, Peter would write, “your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Satan wants you. Sin is right around the corner. God’s words are short and to the point, you must master it. You do that by becoming strong in Christ. You do that by walking with God. You do that by filling your heart with the word of God.

  Cain messed up. It had nothing to do with birth order, chosen occupations or other weak excuses. He chose. He allowed sin to master him. He did not walk by faith. He crashed. He hurt others. We do the same when we act the same. Jude makes this statement regarding people in his day, “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain…”

  God’s words to Cain works. You must master it. You can. The sin is not greater than you are. You do have other options. God said so.

  One final thought to think about, what Cain and Abel were doing was worshipping God. They were offering sacrifices to God. Our Lord does not accept everything we offer Him. It must be according to what He has said. The way of Cain is doing your own thing, your own way. The results are a disaster. The way of Abel is obedience to what God has revealed and wants. Something to think about!

Roger