What happens when our emotions are out of control?
If you’ve ever met someone who is controlled by their emotions, then you probably have a few answers to that question. Being emotionally controlled doesn’t end well. Today, we’ll see how the very first family learned this.
Last week, we saw that the Lord accepted Abel’s worship but not Cain’s. We pick up the story in Genesis 4:8-12.
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Genesis 4:8-12, New International Version
The Lord warned Cain to submit to the Lord and do what is right (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain didn’t listen. Cain’s jealousy of Abel ran its sad course.
Cain tricked his brother in such an innocent way. Abel apparently didn’t think this was an odd request since he seemed to offer no protest. While they were alone in the quiet of the field, Cain attacked and killed his brother…the first murder.
The first murder was over worship. It shouldn’t be odd that we are still fighting over acceptable worship today.
The Lord asked, “Where’s your brother?” I can hear the sarcasm in Cain’s answer, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Sin had, indeed, jumped all over Cain. 1 John 3:12, NIV says this of Cain as a warning to the people of God, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.”
Cain was angry because the Lord didn’t accept his offering and, as a result, killed his brother (whose offering was accepted). Instead of fixing the problem, he had learned from his parents’ example and just began fixing the blame!
Cain and his unrighteous offspring reminded Israel that its destiny was measured on the scales of ethical behavior. The fruit of their lives revealed if they belonged to the Lord or Satan.
Look at the Lord’s punishment. First, Cain was cursed. Second, the ground, which soaked up his righteous brother’s blood, would no longer produce food for him. Third, he will be a nomad.
Cain’s jealousy had reached its awful potential. The sin of his heart reached his hands. While Cain’s first sin was jealousy, we must learn from his example.
Sin will take us farther than we ever signed up to go. It’s a high-speed train with very few stops. And the Holy Spirit’s warning marks each stop where we can get off.
Learn from Cain. Avoid his sin. Don’t let sin take you where you never wanted to go.
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