writing through the bible - writing 3, book 1

​The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. Brothers ideally support one another and, while at times may be at odds, will still come to the aid of their brother when needed. However, the story goes much differently between Cain and Abel.
 
In Genesis chapter 4, we read about these brothers and the labors they were involved in. Cain was a tiller of the ground, a gardener, or perhaps a farmer. Abel was a keeper of sheep. The Bible tells us when it came time to bring an offering to God that each brought from their respective areas of labor. While Abel’s offering is respected Cain’s is not, it appears later in the text that the offering that was brought by Cain was not done well, and that it was not per God’s commands. This helps us understand the question posed to Cain in verse 7 “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?”
 
After Cain brings his offering, it is revealed to him that God did not respect his offering, that is He was not pleased by it. The attitude of Cain changed. A heart that perhaps once was tender quickly becomes hard, callused, and unresponsive to the warnings and pleadings of God. This is apparent by the reaction to God’s admonition and warning to Cain in verses 6 and 7 “And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
 
Cain is warned of sin being only a few feet away, just at the door. Cain is told he can rule over it, that is, he can overcome the anger he was feeling and choose not to sin! He could choose instead to “do well” (verse 7). However, that is not how the account unfolds.
 
We read instead of Cain rising in anger and killing his brother in the fields. Cain did not rule over sin, instead, sin rose over Cain and swallowed him whole. Sin pushed anger further into his hardened heart. Sin placed the desire to slay his brother in his mind and heart. Cain, who probably in the eyes of Abel no longer resembled his brother, chose to slay his brother. Before Cain killed his brother, he had to first kill the man he once was, the man who once was a servant of God. One might say there were two killings that day, first of the obedient Cain and then of the innocent brother.
 
Sin truly lies at the door for us all. No doubt its desire is for us. However, we, unlike Cain, can choose to rule over sin. To see it for what it truly is and to choose instead to cling to God. To choose repentance over sin, to choose obedience over rebellion.
 
Let us think on the account of Cain and Abel and remember that we can overcome sin, if we choose to do so. 
​- Russ