Cain’s Anger

Cain was angry.  He was angry at God. You see, his brother, Abel, had found favor with God because of his sacrifice and he hadn’t.  

In Genesis 4, it says that Cain brought his sacrifice of fruit from the ground to God in the process of time.  Other interpretations say “in the course of time.”  The Hebrew says “at the end of time.”  So it wasn’t acceptable because it wasn’t his firstfruit.  Some theologians say because it wasn’t a blood sacrifice, it wasn’t acceptable.  Either way, we have to assume Cain knew what to bring and when to bring it.   But he disobeyed.  

Not only was his offering unacceptable, but his younger brother’s sacrifice was acceptable.  And it made him angry.  God confronted his anger.  He told him if he’d just obey, he’d have no need to be angry.  He also told him he should rule over his anger before it ruled over him. 

Cain took his anger out on Abel.  He killed him.  It was the first murder of mankind.  But with whom was Cain really angry?  Abel?  God?  Himself?

I don’t know about you, but when I read this story again this morning, this was my warning: identify your anger.  You may think you’re angry with someone who’s found favor.  Or you may be angry with God because he hasn’t favored you. But the real root of the problem may be that you’ve disobeyed God—and you didn’t get away with it.