RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2021-06-10	To Cain: Sin Lies At The Door (Ge.4:7)
		Gen 4:6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? Gen 4:7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." Gen 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Cain was angry because God accepted his brother Abel's offering and not his (Ge.4:3-5). There are a couple reasons why God accepted Abel's and not Cain's offering. Some emphasize that Abel offered a blood sacrifice, but Cain did not. Still others observe that Abel's offering his BEST and FIRST of his crop. This was not true of Cain's offering. One thing is for sure, Cain's attitude being unwilling to obey God's instruction affected his offering before the Lord. Both Abel and Cain understood what God expected of them. Cain knew he had given an unacceptable sacrifice because God later told him, “Will you not be accepted?” if you did right (v.7). Cain knew the right thing to do but did not do it. Yet, God graciously gave Cain another opportunity to make things right. That is when He gave the warning. If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it (v.7). The description of sin is interesting. The Hebrew word “lies” has the imagery of a predator lurking for his prey. The picture of sin here is like a predatory animal waiting to pounce on Cain. God asked Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?” (v.6). You might remember Adam in the Garden of Eden when God asked him a probing question (Ge.3:9, “Where are you?”). The Lord was not scolding them. Instead, He wanted them to admit their sin so that they would repent. Likewise, God lovingly presented Cain with a choice. He could surrender his anger, repent of his wrong attitude, and get his heart right with God, or he could let sin get the better of him. Cain allowed the wickedness of anger lying at his door spring upon him. Sin then became his master which led to an even greater evil. Cain went on to slay his own brother, committing the first murder in history. God let people know what He expects of them. He told Adam and Eve (Ge.2:16-17), Cain and Abel (Ge.4), Israel (Du.10:12-13), and believers today (Jn.14:15, 21) what He expects. For us we are called to follow Christ and His example of humble obedience (Jn.14:31; Ph.2:7-8). As God gave Adam and Eve, Cain, and Israel many chances to repent, He extends His offer of forgiveness and cleansing. But if we ignore Him, the Lord puts us on notice that sin is waiting for just the right moment to dominate us. 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1Pe 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. God’s warning to Cain that “sin lies at the door” ought to be a vivid reminder to us that sin is like a wild animal waiting for its next victim. Jas 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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