Three Questions for Cain
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
4/11 Reading Portions: Leviticus 15; Psalm 18; Proverbs 29; 2 Thessalonians 3
Genesis 4:6-7
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, and you must rule over it.”
FALLEN
Our faith, as fallen human beings, as descendants of fallen Adam, is fickle, even if we are recipients of God’s grace through Jesus Messiah. As considered in yesterday’s devotional thought, Cain’s offering was not accepted by YHVH God because it was not offered by faith (Heb 11:4). We should keep in mind that the context of these questions posed to Cain by the LORD are in the context of worship—Cain and Abel brought offerings before God (Gen 4:3-5). Its New Testament application presents the importance of gathering as believers in corporate worship (Heb 10:24-25). Moreover, because of the questions posed to Cain, inviting unbelievers to church is not only appropriate, but it also has biblical support, merit, and power; so that the unbeliever, through the preached Word, and by the witness of the worshiping redeemed, those unredeemed souls may hear questions posed to them, like those posed to Cain. Now for those questions.
The first question:
Why are you angry?
Sin is anything that does not proceed from faith in Christ (Rom 14:23). When we are unfaithful in what we do, instead of peace, there is violence in our souls. Instead of joy, there is anger. Instead of comfort, there is turmoil and anxiety. Anger is only heavenly and appropriate when there is no corruption attached to it (Eph 4:26), as exemplified in the Lord Jesus Christ (Isa 53:9; 2 Pet 2:22). When we worship, and everything we do is worship before God (1 Cor 10:31), are we angry without a cause (Prov 15:1)?
The second question:
Why has your face fallen?
Or, “Why has your presence fallen?” Or less literally and more interpretive, “Why have you turned away from Me?” Because of his anger, Cain turned away from God. We should recognize the effects of sin, which cause us to turn from God. This is why godly sorrow and repentance are intrinsically attached to and cannot be separated from biblical faith (2 Cor 7:10).
The third question:
If you do well, will you not be accepted?
What is well for us, and what is acceptable? Jesus, through the apostle, tells us what is acceptable:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
This is what Cain missed when he presented his offering before the LORD. It was not the fruit of the ground that YHVH God receives, but the faith that whatever we do must be because the Messiah has fulfilled all that we cannot do in sinless perfection and holiness—which is anything and everything. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Is it well with your soul?