THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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Looking at the passage of Scripture for this morning's devotion, I'm reminded of a statement I overheard a family friend make to my dad about a local politician. This was back in the early fiftie's and I was just a boy. The statement struck me and I had to turn away to laugh.
"That man is so two-faced, he could sing a duet!"
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Gen 4:6-9
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
KJV
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The Hebrew word for "wroth" is charah (pronounced kaw-raw'). That word means to glow or burn with anger, jealousy or zeal. Cain's attitude was quite changed! He was both glowing with anger, and his "countenance" was "fallen." He was scowling AND "mealy-mouthed" about himself: living in a state of dissatisfaction.
In verse 7, anger is pictured as a crouching beast ready to devour if self-will allowed it. God admonished Cain to take drastic measures and rule OVER this anger rather than allow it to rule HIM!
Do you, my friend have a problem with anger? It is SIN! It leads to self-debasement, and a growling/scowling attitude toward life. And if allowed to continue, anger will lead to harsh statements against others, and even MURDER! Anger is only one letter from danger!
In verse 8, Cain obviously refused the admonishment from God. He languished in his anger, and soon killed his brother!
The "blood" of Abel called out to God for vengeance! God could HEAR the blood! But in perfect mercy and grace, God pursued Cain, not in vengeance, but seeking a confession. Just as He had come to Adam and Eve in the garden, God came to Cain wanting to bring the sinner to repentance.
Oh, my soul! Hear the awful results of allowing anger to rule over your spirit today: "Am I my brother's keeper?"
If one does not take spiritual control over anger, it will lead to estrangement from the "brotherhood" of man, and even to the refusal of God's sovereignty!!
God still hears the "blood" of those destroyed by the rumor mill and the gossip train today!
But God is loving and merciful. He seeks personal confession from the sinner, and genuine repentance from the sin.
1 Cor 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Sin always crouches at the door of our hearts, bringing temptation and seeking to rule over us.
But God will never allow a temptation to come without power to refuse!
Let us depend upon God and pray for His immediate aid in ALL our conversation and communication!
Love ya,
Bruce