Sin Is Crouching At The Door
BRD REFLECTIONS
Genesis 4 and Genesis 5; Psalm 5 (NIV)
(Alvin Tay, Chairperson, LCEC)
READ:
OBSERVE:
Warren W Wiersbe, in his book “Be Basic”, describes Genesis as a “family book”. And appropriately so because in Genesis we have records of the first marriage, the first family, genealogy, sibling rivalry, and so on.
Chapter 4 starts with Eve giving birth to Cain, and later Abel. And hence the birth of the first family is recorded in the Bible.
It also records the first sibling rivalry between Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer while Abel was a shepherd. Cain was very angry when God looked upon Abel’s offering more favourably than his own. This resulted in a warning from God: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (v7).
Cain did not heed the warning and went on to murder his brother. As punishment, God drove Cain from the land and made him a ‘restless wanderer on the earth’. He also lost his status as the eldest son, with Seth taking over his place (Genesis 5).
APPLY:
“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4). Abel was also described as righteous in Matthew 23:35.
God expects us to do what is right. As God put it to Cain: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain was angry and that caused him to sin – to murder Abel.
Perhaps this is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:21-22,“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgement.”
I used to be a very impatient person. And I would get upset or angry easily – when I didn’t get things going or done my way. It also had to do with my pride. And when I was angry, I would say the meanest things – words that I would regret saying when I had calmed down. Now older, and hopefully wiser, I think I have more patience and better self-control now. I have to thank God for working on my pride and impatience.
DO:
I will remind myself that sin is crouching at my door when I do not do what is right. It desires to have me, but I must rule over it. With God’s grace, I will continue to grow the fruit of the Spirit – especially in patience and self-control.
I will control my tongue when I have nothing pleasant to say, and especially when I am angry. I must not let my anger turn to rage.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, you know my weaknesses, my lack of patience and self-control. Thank you for correcting these two shortcomings of mine, and for humbling me over the years. Help me to continue growing the fruit of the Spirit, so that others may see your love, joy and peace in and through me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
