OCTOBER 7, Genesis 4:3-5

Now Adam and Eve no longer lived in the Garden of Eden. There they had been perfect and happy. Though driven out of it, God still took care of them for they were God’s children. God blessed them with two boys: Cain and Abel. When people in the Old Testament brought sacrifices, they had to follow a set of rules given by God as the offerings had to be acceptable to God. God taught Adam, and Adam taught his two sons. Although the same thing was taught, the results were very different.

Cain disobeyed his father and God and brought offerings that were not acceptable to God. On top of the different offerings, there was also a difference in their hearts for Abel went to God in obedience and humility. In faith, Abel brought a lamb but Cain brought the fruit of the ground as his offering. God accepted Abel and his offering but rejected Cain and his offering. God rejected Cain and his offering because Cain did not follow God’s instructions. Cain did not offer a blood offering and did not offer by faith.

Instead of repenting of his sins, Cain was angry, terribly angry at God. But although Cain was angry against God, he knew he could not reach or harm God. So what he did was to reach out and harm the one whom God loved, and the one whom he was jealous of – Abel. So he killed his brother! What a terrible sin! He broke God’s commandment. When God asked him where Abel was, he told a bold hard lie to God – “I know not; am I my brother’s keeper?”

For his sin, Cain must be punished. God punished him – God cursed the ground, that it would hardly give food for him. Sinning has terrible consequences. We learn today that we must do things according to God’s way (like the sacrifices of Cain & Abel) and if we sin, God will punish.

Dear child, are you obedient? Do you follow what is in the bible – to be a kind and helpful child, to honour your parents and love your siblings and friends? Or are you like Cain, wanting to do things your way in your pride and sin?

Thought: May I never be like Cain!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind me never to be like Cain – for he was a proud, selfish and easily angered person. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.