Genesis 4:1-15
"'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
(EPHESIANS 4:26-27)
One way we can live as light in a world of darkness is in our conflict resolution. Take a look at Cain in the Bible and how he handled things. He was jealous of his brother Abel for no other reason than Abel's devotion to God. Cain's jealousy turned to rage against his brother, and he killed him. I can identify with Cain. Before Christ saved me, I handled most of my conflicts with violence, either from my lips or my hands. My Cain-like responses to conflict resolution landed me a life-sentence in prison.
But Paul writes to us of a better way. Though we will have anger in our life, our response to it ought not to be sinful. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31 to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." In place of those things, we must "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (v. 32). The life-sentence we all bear has been lifted by the One who is slow to anger with us, compassionate and gracious, abounding in steadfast love.
INSIGHT
SEEK TO IMITATE CHRIST, WHO CERTAINLY WAS ANGRY AT TIMES. YET HE NEVER SINNED.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 31-32
Psalm 41
Luke 5
Genesis 4:1-15
New International Version (NIV)
Cain and Abel
4 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so[e]; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
Footnotes:
a. Genesis 4:1 Or The man
b. Genesis 4:1 Cain sounds like the Hebrew for brought forth or acquired.
c. Genesis 4:1 Or have acquired
d. Genesis 4:8 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text does not have “Let’s go out to the field.”
e. Genesis 4:15 Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Hebrew Very well
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