Bible text: Genesis 4:1-15
The story of Cain and Abel is one Bible story that we have heard at least once and it offers profound lessons for us today. It serves as a reminder of the dangers of envy, the importance of faith, and the consequences of sin. As we go into this two-part series, we will uncover valuable insights that can transform our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with God.
Lack of faith brings rejection
The scripture tells us in Hebrews 11:6 that we cannot please God without faith. Cain’s sacrifice probably required more effort, seeing as tilling the ground is harder than raising sheep. However, because he did not offer his sacrifice in faith, it was rejected. Whatever we do unto God must be mixed with faith otherwise it is counted as nothing, irrespective of how elaborate it is.
Many people are fond of saying “God sees my heart”. This a true statement but not everyone who says it understands its weight. This statement implies that God can tell whether your devotion, offering, and the like are merely an observance of routine or borne out of sincerity. It is possible that Cain viewed the sacrifice as a routine as opposed to Abel who had a genuine and sincere heart. In Jeremiah 17:10 the bible says: “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” The fruit of a faithless sacrifice is rejection and the fruit of a faith-filled sacrifice is acceptance.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Hebrews 11: 4 KJV
Envy corrupts
Sometimes, we feel bad that another person is chosen over us. The hypocrisy in this is that we may not mind if the tables were turned. Cain felt bad that God had rejected his sacrifice and chosen his brother’s. His response to God’s verdict is human but the problem is that he let it linger. He allowed the thoughts of envy to consume him to the point where he killed his own brother.
There is a reason why the bible tells us to put out all forms of envy or strife from amongst us and it is because these things corrupt your mind so quickly and lead you into deeper sins (1 Pet. 2:1). Joseph’s brothers and Saul are other examples of people who allowed envy linger and corrupt them.
Your response to someone being favored over you is to rejoice with them. The scripture tells us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing (Rom. 12:15). Furthermore, when you allow the love of God to rule your heart, you will love that person, seeking only the best for them (1Jn. 4:7; 1Pet. 4:8). Asking God to reveal areas where you went wrong could also be of help. That should have been Cain’s response to God’s verdict but unfortunately, he chose otherwise.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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.”
Genesis 4: 6-7 NIV
Cain was unable to overcome sin
God told Cain in the latter parts of Genesis 4:7 that sin was hanging around him but he must overcome it. Whether Cain struggled with it for a while or immediately conceded, all we know is that he was unable to overcome sin. This shows us just how powerful sin is. The blood of animals could not atone for sin and the Apostle said that the things he desires to do, he does not (Rom. 7:15). Sin is that powerful.
This is why Jesus had to do for our sins, offering the perfect atonement. We know for sure now that we have victory over sin, since the day Jesus died on that cross. But we can only remain victorious for as long as we hold on to our victory. Cain did not have a choice over sin because he did not have the God-nature. We have dominion over sin because Jesus paved the way. (Rom. 6:14; 2 Cor. 5:17)
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV
Cain had no intercessor
Jesus told Peter that the devil had demanded to have him but He had prayed for him (Lk. 22:31-32). Jesus prayed for Peter and he is praying for us too (Rom. 8:34). Maybe if Cain had someone praying for him, he would not have lost the battle against sin so easily.
As long as we remain in these earthly bodies, we will continue to wage war against the flesh and sin, although from a position of victory. However, the battle is much easier when we have people who can pray with and for us. This has nothing to do with how spiritual a person is because the apostles asked the church to pray for them and even Jesus wanted his disciples (friends) to pray with Him (1 Thess. 5:25; Matt. 26:40-45). As you build your circle of friends, surround yourself with people who can intercede on your behalf.
We do ourselves good when we embrace God’s love and chastisement, and surround ourselves with a prayerful community. May we learn from Cain’s mistakes and choose to walk in faith and love, rejecting the destructive paths of envy and sin, and living a life that honors God. Amen.
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