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Response
Genesis 4:6–7 presents a thought-provoking passage from the Bible: “Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”
Understanding the significance of God’s warning to Cain, “Sin is crouching at your door,” requires considering the broader context of the narrative. Cain felt resentment because God favored his brother Abel’s offering over his own (Genesis 4:3-5). Interpretations of why God rejected Cain’s offering vary among Bible scholars. Some suggest it was due to Abel offering a blood sacrifice while Cain did not. Others argue that Cain’s offering was inferior because it was not the finest or the first of his produce.
The Bible does not explicitly clarify the reason. However, it is evident that Cain’s attitude, intentions, or disobedience to God’s command played a role in his offering’s rejection. Although the specifics are undisclosed, both Cain and Abel understood God’s expectations. Cain realized his sacrifice was unacceptable because God later told him, “You will be accepted if you do what is right” «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. », (Genesis 4:7, NLT).
Cain knew the correct course of action but chose otherwise. Nevertheless, God mercifully provided him with the chance to rectify his actions and issued a caution, “But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master” «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.” , (Genesis 4:7, NLT).
This depiction of sin is remarkable. The Hebrew term translated as “crouching” in Genesis 4:7 can signify lying down, as in resting, but also alludes to lying in wait like a predator lurking for its prey. The same verb is linked to an ancient Semitic term for demons that were believed to guard entrances or doorways to buildings. Therefore, the text portrays sin as a demonic presence or a predatory animal waiting to pounce on Cain.
God questioned Cain—“Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?”—for the same reason He interrogated Adam and Eve in the garden «And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? », (Genesis 3:9,11) «And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? », (Genesis 3:9,11). The Lord wasn’t scolding them. Instead, He wanted them to acknowledge their sin so that they would repent.
Then God lovingly presented Cain with a choice: He could surrender his anger, repent of his wrong attitude, and align his heart with God, or he could allow sin to overpower him. As we know, Cain failed to heed God’s gracious words of caution. He allowed the wickedness of anger crouching at his door to spring on him, become his master, and rule over him, which led to an even greater crime. Cain proceeded to slay his own brother, committing the first murder in history.
Since the creation of humankind, God has made known His expectations of them. In the Garden of Eden, God instructed Adam and Eve on how to obey His commands (Genesis 2:16-17) just as He made His will clear to Cain. Later, He called the children of Israel to love and obey Him: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, live in a way that pleases Him, love Him, and serve Him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13;NLT). Today, God continues to speak to His children through His Word, calling them to obey His commands (John 14:15,21, 23-24) and follow Christ’s example of humble obedience (John 14:31;Philippians 2:7-8).
Just as the Lord gave Cain the chance to repent and get right with Him, God extends His kind and gracious offer of forgiveness and cleansing to us (2 Corinthians 7:11;John 1:9). But if we ignore Him, the Lord puts us on notice that sin is crouching at our door. It is waiting for just the right moment to dominate us. First Peter 5:8–9 forewarns, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith” (NLT). If we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil, just like the Lord urged Cain to do, we have the promise of victory over the devil: “He will flee from you” «Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. », (James 4:7).
God’s warning to Cain that “sin is crouching at your door” ought to be a vivid reminder.
It is clear to us that sin is comparable to a wild beast waiting for its next prey. If we fail to repent and follow the Lord diligently, it will attack us and take control of us, leading to more sin and eventual ruin and death: “Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” «Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. », (James 1:15). In this regard, Cain serves as a model for all of us.
