Dave spoke this morning from Gen 4:1-16, a chapter which describes the relationship between Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s sons. Cain, the older, means ‘brought forth’, and it is possible that Adam and Eve expected him to be the one who would break sin’s curse. Abel’s name means ‘vapour’, perhaps indicating a sense of failure or ‘nothingness’, but the fact remained that Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted by God whereas Abel’s was. We don’t entirely know why this was the case, but it does seem that God tests people. He does not always act as we expect and our reactions matter enormously.
Cain did not respond to God’s reproof or analyse his anger. He continued in a path which led to disastrous consequences: the murder of his brother and Cain’s banishment. God gave him the opportunity to repent and turn back to Him, but we see how atttitudes harden and actions mushroom as a result.
How we deal with disappointment, frustration and anger is very important. We need to bring such emotions to God and allow Him to deal with these things so that we do not end up in ever-worsening situations. It’s not easy to face the challenge of motives and emotions, but we have to understand the consequences of unresolved anger and allow God to shape us so that we are not led further into sin.
