The Path To Murder

"The Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry.....You must rule over it." (Genesis 4:6,7)

The story of Cain and Able is one of the most saddest of all in Scripture. Two brothers, the sons of Adam and Eve, one a farmer and the other, a shepherd. Tragically ending in murder. What leads a man down the path to murder? Each one, brought an offering to the Lord. Cain presented his "fruit of the ground" and his brother brought "the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions." According to Hebrews 11:4, "Able offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain." See also Genesis 4:3-5. God rejected Cain's offering and Cain "was very angry" because of it.

WARNING: DANGER!!

Anger in itself is not a sin and sometimes it is justifiable (see Matt. 5:22). Scripture gives strong warnings against anger that's out of control. David, the psalmist said, "Cease (refrain) from anger and forsake (out of control) wrath....it only causes harm" (Ps. 37:8) A man controlled by rage of anger "acts foolishly" and a man without "self-control" has opened himself up to great harm. (Prov. 14:17, 29; 25:28) The Apostle Paul, gives a strong command, "Be angry, but do not sinned...put it away!" (Eph. 4:26,31; Ps. 4:4) Another New Testament preacher urges us "to be slow to anger", it doesn't produce anything good. (James 1:19, 20) King Solomon describes a man who is slow in losing his temper is better than a soldier and a man who practices self control is better than an invader of a city and a man with good sense controls his anger. (Prov. 16:32; 19:11)

ANGER...MURDER!!

God saw Cain's angry face (Gen. 4:5,6) and warned him that "sin lies (crouching) at the door," waiting to take control and that he needed to"rule" (over) his anger. (Gen. 4: 7) The story of Cain and Able ends badly. God's warning of danger goes unheeded and in a heated argument, Cain kill his brother. What lead Cain down "The Path of Murder?" Was it disappointment, envy , jealously or hatred? All four, no doubt played a great part, but mixed with an uncontrollable rage of anger - Lead Cain to murder. All of us are "tempted" when we are "drawn away" by own sinful "desires and enticed" and when our "desires" fully bloom, it "gives birth to sin" and "death -Do not be deceived!" (James 1:14-16)

Why Did Adam Sin?

"Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12)

Have you ever wondered why Adam sinned? Why would a man who came from dirt, lived in paradise and was given a beautiful wife and had a perfect life, willfully sin, being fully aware of the consequences (I Tim.2:14)? There are those who believe He was seduced by Eve. You know, the apple thing and all. Scripture tells us that Adam was a type of Christ (Rom. 5:14). With that thought in mind we see the fall of man in a very different light, why Adam sinned. In Ephesians 5:25, husbands are urged to love their wives, "as Christ loved the church (His bride) and gave (sacrificed) Himself up for her..." When questioned by God, Adam points out the reason for his disobedience, because of "the woman you gave to be with me" (Gen. 3:12). No doubt a lame excuse, but very true. Think for a moment, Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit. Adam, who had been alone, since he was created, was going to be all alone again. Scripture states "sin brings forth death" (James 1:15). No doubt the words of God rang in his mind, don't "eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil....you shall surely die" (Gen. 2: 16-17). Through death comes separation. Adam because of his love for Eve, sacrificed his own life to be with her, took and ate of the fruit. God so loved the world (mankind), that He sent His only Son, Jesus, born in the likeness of sinful flesh, sacrificed His life to restore what was lost through Adam's sin (John 3:16; Phil. 2:7-8; Rom. 5:12-21). The fall of man is truly a love story.