GOD TALKS TO SINNERS

GOD spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking? If you do well, won’t you be accepted?

And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to

master it.” Genesis 4:6, 7, The Message

Cain knew all the rules for sacrifice. His whole life, he had watched his dad, Adam, sacrificing burnt offerings on the altar. Now Cain and his brother Abel were grown up and making their own sacrifices. Abel had made a sacrifice of a lamb, but that was easy for him, Cain thought. Abel was a shepherd and had plenty of flocks to spare. Cain was a gardener, and he thought his offering of fruits and vegetables should be just as good.

Didn’t God like it that he knew how to grow good food?

Well, of course, God did. An offering of Cain’s best could have been accepted with delight if it had been given as a freewill offering along with the required lamb. But not instead. Cain did not get to make his own rules.

So now he was sulking. He was probably muttering to himself about how God loved Abel better, and Abel was a goody-goody. Imagine his shock when God spoke to him! “If you do what you know is right, you’ll be accepted,” He promised. Then He added a warning. “Sin is lying in wait for you.” Other Bibles say, “Crouching at your door.” In other words, watch out—the devil is out to get you.

Cain might have thought God would only speak to people who were doing everything right. Lots of people think that today. Or they think God doesn’t speak at all, to anyone, anymore. The story of Cain teaches us otherwise. God reached out to Cain when he was in a state of rebellion, without waiting for Cain to repent and reach out to Him. God had done the same for Adam and Eve, and He’s doing the same for other sinners today.

Put yourself in Cain’s place. Think about something you have done wrong or are angry about. Do you feel God is being unfair? Read the words God spoke to Cain and imagine Him saying them to you. What would you say back? What do you think God would say then?

Great Mender of broken relationships, please forgive me. Remind me that even when I am in rebellion, I am still Your chosen child, and I can still turn around and choose You again. Don’t give up on me—keep speaking! I’m listening . . .

#ndbiblefoundation