Bible in a Year, Day 4: Cain, Abel and the Sin at Your Door

Today's reading

Today's reading is Genesis 4, the story of two brothers, two offerings and the first murder, and Pastor Jack Graham focuses on God's warning to Cain.

The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won’t it be lifted up? If you don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”

(Genesis 4:6-7, WEB)

Reflection

Cain and Abel both brought an offering to the Lord. Cain brought the fruit of the ground. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock, the very best he had. God looked with favor on Abel's gift but not on Cain's, and Pastor Jack Graham explains why: Abel came by faith. As he put it, "Cain came with an empty religion, just human effort."

What Cain did with that rejection matters. In Pastor Graham's words, "Instead of asking why, Cain let bitterness take a root." The resentment grew into rage, and the rage became the murder of his own brother.

Notice that God did not leave Cain alone with his anger. "God didn't walk away. He came close and said, why are you so angry?" God gave Cain a chance to repent, a time to turn back and make it right. Then came the warning that sin is crouching at the door, wanting to master him. Cain chose resistance instead.

This is where Pastor Graham turns to the gospel. Abel's blood cried out for justice, but the blood of Jesus cries out for both justice and mercy. "Abel's blood said punish the guilty, and Jesus' blood says forgive the broken." Hebrews 12 says Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, and his sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

So Pastor Graham asks a direct question. Will you walk in the way of Cain, clinging to pride and your own efforts, or will you, like Abel, come to God in sheer faith, trusting the sacrifice he has provided? That sacrifice is Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His blood speaks in judgment to those who reject it, and in mercy and grace to all who receive it.

Take it with you

• Is there a jealousy or resentment you are tempted to let take root? Bring it to God before it grows.
• Are you relying on your own effort to be accepted, or coming to God in faith?
• God draws close to angry people with a question and a way back. What might he be asking you today?

Prayer

Lord, you see the places in me where pride, jealousy and bitterness want to take hold. Help me to hear your warning and to turn back while you are still near. I do not want to come to you with empty effort. I come in faith, trusting the sacrifice you have provided in Jesus, the Lamb of God. Thank you that his blood speaks mercy over my life. Master my heart, and keep sin from ruling me. Amen.