Genesis 4-5

Adam and Eve have disobeyed, allowing the seeds of sin to settle in the shambles of the fallen world. Adam and Eve then had their sons, Cain and Abel. Two brothers; one led to apathetic worship and the other to wholehearted worship. In Hebrews we read that, “by faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts” (Hebrews 11:4).  A rifted family caused by a jealousy that lead to the first murder. But it did not have to. “The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7). 

Cain sulked about his rejected offering to God. Instead of seeking to understand, repenting and approaching the presence of a Holy God, he let his anger, jealousy and bitterness embrace the crouching sin. How often do we, like Cain, let our feelings lead us to open the door to crouching sin waiting for us? Too often. Our worldview is small. Our knowledge is limited. Our understanding is too insignificant to lead us to be obedient in ruling over our sin. We instead embrace, chase after, and seek our sin out for the fleeting moments of pleasure, comfort, and control. 

Praise God we live on the other side of the resurrection. God knew that all people would be like Cain; a people too easily enticed by our crouching sin, pouncing on our ever present weakness. But God being One of mercy, grace and the most wonderful love for us lost people, sent Jesus. Jesus who never gave into the temptation of sin, came to die for us taking our sin to the grave and leaving it there as He rose in victory over it. 

What crouching sin do you need to repent of and then denounce in the name of Jesus? 

What areas in your life do you tend to lean into sulking, bitterness and anger instead of humility, trust, and surrender to the One True God?