Cain was upset. God did not regard his offering as He did Abel’s. Cain was offended. Angry. I’m sure we might be too if God was pleased in the offering of a brother or sister and not our own.
But it wasn’t just the offering. God saw into Cain’s heart and he said,
Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it. (Genesis 4:6-7)
God gave Cain a chance. He warned him, ‘Your heart is intent on evil. Sin is awaiting to ensnare you. What are you going to do about it?’ He warned him. Spoke clearly to him of what was ahead if the attitude in his heart remained unchecked. But did Cain listen? No.
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:8-12)
Cain ignored God’s warning. And, as God had said, sin found him. Ensnared him. It was costly.
Cain’s jealousy cost him his brother’s life, his family relationships, and his community. He would now be cursed. Set apart by his unholiness.
But still, God did not desert him.
Cain feared for his life, “I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me” (Gensis 4:14). Despite his sin, despite his unwillingness to obey the voice of God, the Lord still took care of Cain. He calmed his fears and said,
“Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:15-16)
The Lord provided. He redeemed Cain’s sin, just as he does ours. He calls us to submit to him and resist the devil. Apart from God we’re not so different than Cain,
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 3:3-6)
But, first, we must humble ourselves and listen.
