Genesis 4, The Foretelling

By Thomas Thorne

McDowell County

 

In last month’s article, we began an examination of Genesis 4. We began reviewing verses 1-7 and noticed the rebellious nature of man unfolding in the person of Cain. We noticed two important lessons here: 1. To watch out for an overinflated ego, and 2. The importance of faith in our lives. These are two basic tenets of the teachings of Jesus. In today’s article, we will continue in Genesis 4 addressing God’s advice to Cain.

In verse 6, knowing Cain’s attitude, God asked him, “Why are you so angry, and why has your face fallen?” God continued in verse seven, “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” At this point, one might ask, “Why did God ask Cain why he was so angry when He already knew what Cain was thinking?” And then follow up with the statement that he would be accepted if he did well? Could it have been that God was offering Cain a chance to face up to his thoughts and not let evil dwell in his mind? Admission of sin is the first phase of repentance. In Acts 2, when asked by “devout men from every nation under heaven” how they should proceed, Peter told them to “Repent” (v.37). God was giving Cain the chance to repent and change his attitude and lifestyle.

Continuing in verse 7, God told Cain, “And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” The word “crouching” is a translation of the Hebrew ro-batze, which is used here in the figure of a crouching animal, just waiting for the opportunity to seize upon its victim. The same way evil forces wait to jump upon us at the moment we least expect them. The “desire” of sin was to disagree or to do the opposite of what was desired and expected of Cain, but he could have mastery over it. Here we see in Adam’s children the perpetual struggle between good and evil. Anyone filled with envy, bitterness, and strife is prey to being mastered by the evil one.

What is especially important here for Cain is what action he would take now that he knew his true attitude had been found out. The consequences of his reaction to God’s correction are more far-reaching than the initial sin itself. If Cain were to continue to pursue unrighteous anger and get caught up in the clutches of evil, it would result in sin’s mastery over him. If we pursue the anger and bitterness that Satan tries to throw at us, sin will rule over us as well. In Genesis 4:8 we see that Cain let this attitude have the mastery and he consequently rose and killed his brother. Yet Cain could recover from his sin if he chose the right actions. King David was caught up in adultery and had one of his most trusted servants, one of his “thirty mighty men,” Uriah the Hittite killed. Yet, David repented and went on to become the author of a large part of the book of Psalms, one of the most-read books in the Bible, and a person who the apostle Paul called a man after God’s “own heart” (Acts 13:22 KJV).

Did sin have to be Cain’s ruler? God instructed Cain in verse seven that though sin “desired” him, he could still “master” it. Sin has a pervasive power that seizes the occasion and tries to enslave its victims. The book of Romans tells us that without the help of Jesus “none are righteous” and we have “all turned aside” (Rom 3:10-11). Cain was urged to repent, lest he pay an awful price. He could not claim helplessness or ignorance, for he had divine counsel. Paul testified of the inner struggle against the power of sin in Romans 7. He concluded that by himself he could not do right. It was only the power of Jesus alone that could liberate him from the mastery of sin and death. Cain’s refusal to deal with sin allowed his anger to fester and ultimately resulted in the murder of Abel.

So here, in one of the “first families” stories, we see an extremely important lesson for us as individuals being graphically displayed. In simple terms: 1. Cain, with an overinflated ego and a less-than-satisfactory offering did not honor God. 2. He became angry and bitter towards his brother who chose to do the right thing. 3. He allowed this bitterness to gnaw away at him. 4. The archenemy of mankind and master deceiver saw what was happening and seized the moment as a crouching animal waiting for his victim. 5. Cain’s attitude became hardened and he wouldn’t change his heart. He went on to kill his brother Abel. Can we apply the warning given to us here in our lives? Can we apply the foretelling of the consequences that result when we let bitterness, hate, and evil thoughts smolder and eventually burn in our hearts and minds? Thanks be to God for the warning given to us at the start of His book of instruction.

Shalom and have a great month,

Tom Thorne

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Tom and Amy Thorne are coordinators of Avdai-El-Elyon – Servants of the Most High God fellowship in Marion, NC. Tom can be reached at [email protected].

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