The Failure Of Adam’s Line vs. The Hope Of The Messiah
BRD REFLECTION 2026
Genesis 4 and Psalm 72: 8-14 (NIV)
(Bob Mok from Discipleship & Nurture)
READ:
Genesis 4 and Psalm 72: 8-14 (NIV)
The following verses stood out to me:
The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:6, 7)
For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. (Psalm 72:12-14)
OBSERVE:
Genesis 4 shows how Cain’s jealousy festers to anger and then to premeditated murder. In Genesis 3:6-7, God warns Cain of his intense anger and it being a footstool for catastrophic sin. “You must muster your anger.” (v. 7). But Cain fails to control his anger and murders his own brother and treats his spilled blood with contempt.
Psalm 72:8-11 shows that the King (the Lord) will redeem the lives of those under oppression and violence; the King regards the blood of the needy as precious, as something of immense value to be protected and avenged. Charles Spurgeon comments: “The lives of the poor and needy are often considered to be of little value. The Messiah, the Greater King, will regard their lives as precious.”
APPLY:
I must guard my heart with the breastplate of righteousness and not fall into the trap of sin – jealousy, greed, contempt, anger, etc. The consequences of falling into sin are many: separation from God, brings spiritual death, damaged relationships, produces guilt, shame and inner turmoil and spiritual slavery.
DO:
Forgive, show kindness, generosity, compassion and understanding of those who are poor and needy, just like what our King will do.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, forgive me for the times when I have harboured greed, jealousy, anger and hate either willfully or subliminally. Help me, Holy Spirit, to guard my heart from sin and fill it with the love of Jesus. Let my daily walk with the world mirror Jesus’ footsteps. Let my speech and actions be worthy of the Lord’s sacrifice for me on the Cross. Amen.
