Why Are You Angry?

Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his farm. Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.  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.”  Cain had words with his brother. They were out in the field; Cain came at Abel his brother and killed him.  God said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “How should I know? Am I his babysitter?”  God said, “What have you done! The voice of your brother’s blood is calling to me from the ground. From now on you’ll get nothing but curses from this ground; you’ll be driven from this ground that has opened its arms to receive the blood of your murdered brother. You’ll farm this ground, but it will no longer give you its best. You’ll be a homeless wanderer on Earth.” Genesis 4:3-12 (The Message)

So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering;  but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”  Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground.  Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” Genesis 4:3-12 (NASB)

This was the first recorded occurrence of anger. These two translations give us a little insight into God’s interaction with Cain and Abel. Cain must have wanted to please God…he gave an offering. But it wasn’t good enough…not as good as Abel’s. God wants the first and the best. Cain just gave on offering of his grain…not the first fruits—and God like a sweet aroma. He wants the best we have to give. Cain lost his temper. When we don’t meet the expectations of those who are important to us—we sometimes loose control—but that’s not what God wants. Replay this one. Cain didn’t please God this time and he chose not to be jealous of his brother Abel who had given a pleasing sacrifice. The next time Cain was careful to choose the first fruits of his crops and made it a fragrant aroma on the altar in a sacrifice to God. Making God happy pleased everyone and they lived happily ever after. Right!?! That’s not how it was to be. Make your sacrifice to God…My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalms 51:17 NIV    

RSVP: How will you respond today to Jesus? If you don’t respect your brother or sister and their gifts to the Lord, then you may end up being sent away from God, like Cain. Choose to honor God in all you do, think and say. 

Prayer~ Lord Jesus, I give you my heart…cleanse it and make it pure before our Father God, that it would be a sacrifice acceptable unto the Lord.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.