LET MY WORDS BE FEW

 Week 9: Genesis 4:1-8

Day 3: Why Are You Angry?

READ: Genesis 4:1-16, noting the significance of anger and sin, resulting in death and separation

EXPLORE:

Oh! Happy day! when the first woman, Eve, conceived her first child and gave birth to a son named Cain. What joy to also give birth to his brother Abel!  We don’t learn much about their early years except that Cain was a farmer, a tiller of the ground, bringing forth fruit of the ground.  Abel, on the other hand was a keeper of flocks.  As God would have us to know, we learn that there came a day, in the course of time, that these men would bring forth offerings and present them to the LORD.  As we learned in week 5, day 2, of our WTL study, the LORD Yahweh is God’s personal name and reveals the desire of God to have a close relationship with his children; in this case, Cain and Abel.  

We soon see that these two brothers presented their offerings to the LORD.  Abel’s gift was the first of his flock with its fat portion and the LORD was pleased.  But as for Cain’s offering, the first fruit of the ground, the LORD did not approve.  In this exchange, the LORD observed that Cain was very angry over the LORD’s disregard of his fruit offering.  

I love the ministry of Breakthrough Prayer and often use this biblical example of how the LORD asked Cain a self-discovery question, in order to help him see the danger ahead of him.  Unconfessed sin will often lead to terrible consequences. Knowing this, the LORD graciously asked 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.”  What is the principle here? That if we do not discover the root of why we are angry and master it, we will cultivate it, to the point of our anger becoming sin.  The result of Cain’s unresolved anger and intense jealousy, was murderous rage, resulting in death and separation, not only from the one he despised most, but also from the ones he loved the most.  

The LORD, being a personal God, wanted to have a conversation with Cain about his anger.  He wanted to talk with him about it and help him see the error of his ways.  When the LORD didn’t regard Cain’s offering, He had a very good reason. In fact, the LORD is always just and right in His decisions, no matter how we might feel about it.  It would have been beneficial for Cain to inquire of the LORD, repent and make his offering acceptable, as Abel did.  But Cain’s intense anger and refusal to come to the LORD with his pain, blinded him to doing the right and honorable thing towards God and his brother.  

APPLY:  Do you have any unresolved unforgiveness, jealousy, or anger towards another person? How long has this festered and how much longer will it continue? Do you sense any hesitancy or resistance to having a conversation with the LORD about what happened to you?  What do you believe would happen if you talked this over with God in prayer?  Sometimes, hurts are valid and the only cure for truth-based pain is to allow the LORD to carry it.  However, unresolved anger is never the way to a cure.  As you surrender your anger and unforgiveness, to the only One who truly knows the entire story, you will be free. He is the Just Judge of the Universe and judges wisely on your behalf.   If you need help letting go of your hurts, reach out to our Breakthrough Prayer Ministry.  We truly do want to go on this journey of freedom, with you.