Last time, we looked at how Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s commandment for giving more credence to Satan’s lies over His truth – leading to the ‘original sin’ that led to their infestation and to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden (see Part 4). Now we will examine some of the detrimental aspects of that sin as it was passed down to our progenitors’ first two offspring:
- The first homicide, anger, and sin:
Chapter 4 of Genesis first introduces us to the parties involved in this atrocity:
Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Abel also brought a gift – the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock.
The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. Gn. 4:1 – 5. NLT
What do we see? First, Eve recognized that Jehovah was instrumental in the creation of Cain. She’s excited, looking for her firstborn to be the prophetic manifestation of a messiah who would deliver her people from sin by killing the devil.[1]
That Cain and Abel both brought sacrificial offerings to God, also demonstrates a belief in a monotheistic God and shows their faith in sacrifice and prayer, as being proper components of worship.
So, why is Cain angry? The Scripture does not reveal how he knew that Abel’s offering was accepted, and his was not. However, what we can discern is that Abel brought the ‘best portions of his firstborn lambs.’
We can infer, then, that Cain did not prioritize bringing the ‘best’ of his crops. Thus, Cain’s intent for his fulfilling his sacrificial obligation was off base – that perhaps he did not present the finest of his ‘first fruits’.
Cain is angry, but God is not. He appeals to Cain:
“Why are you so angry?” The LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.
But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Emphasis mine.) Gn. 4:6, 7. NLT
Jehovah does not love Abel more that Cain. He doesn’t play favorites.[2]
God never asks us to do something that we cannot do. Sin first tempts us. Jehovah is telling us here that we can overcome that temptation. (This, by the way, is the very first mention of the word sin in the Bible – more on that coming up). Does Cain take the higher road? Let’s see:
Cain talked with Abel his brother [about what God had said]. And then they were [alone, working] in the field, Cain attacked Abel his brother and killed him. Gn. 4:8 AMP
The Bible does not tell us what Cain said to Abel. Instead of just correcting his own error, Cain failed miserably. Why? He gave into sin – just like all of humanity. He let the temptation in his jealousy ramp up his emotions, inviting its cousins as well: anger, and then rage.
Just as with Adam and Eve, God loves Cain despite what he’s done. Similarly, He also gives Cain an opportunity to confess and repent:
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother?” And he [lied and] said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Gn. 4:9 AMP
Well, that’s a flat out lie. He could have confessed. There were no admonitions proscribed against murder, and up to now, there were none. However, Cain wouldn’t lie unless innately he knew it was wrong. It means he possessed an inborn knowledge of morality.[3] Yet, Cain turned a deaf ear – no confession or repentance. Jehovah responds:
“What have you done? The voice of your brother’s [innocent] blood is crying out to Me from the ground [for justice].
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s [shed] blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it shall not longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast].” Gn. 4:9 – 12. AMP
God’s response indeed reveals that Cain is his brother’s keeper, a task he has neglected and shunned. (Note that the Hebrew says ‘your brother’s bloods’– inferring a further aspect of Cain’s crime, that of denying the earth of God’s intended descendants from Abel).
Why does God not kill Cain outright? If you think about it, it is only premeditated murder that is punished by death. We can’t deduce Cain’s motivation from the Scripture. It appears to be more of an on-the-spot emotional response.
Nevertheless, Cain responds with abject fear:
My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold you have driven me out this day from the face of the land; and from Your face (presence) I will be hidden, and I will be a fugitive and an [aimless] vagabond on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
And the LORD said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, a sevenfold vengeance [that is, punishment seven times worse” shall be taken on him [by Me].” And the LORD set a [protective] mark (sign) on Cain, so that no one who found (met) him would kill him. Gn. 4:13 – 15. AMP
Cain was now attempting to confess his transgression and admit his guilt. In yet another demonstration of God’s mercy and lovingkindness, our gracious God puts a protective sign over Cain, obvious to all others, that it is from Jehovah Himself. He loves all humankind despite their sins, but they must clean up that mess with Him, through confession and repentance.
Before we close this chapter in history, we must examine two things that were introduced in God’s Word for the first time in the biblical historical timeline. The first is anger.
Anger is a natural human response – part of the emotional array that we inherit from our Heavenly Template. Yes, God gets angry too, but His righteous anger is triggered only by injustice; and that’s the only way that He accepts angry behavior from His children:
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Ps. 30:5 NLT
…for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Joel 2:13 NLT
But He, the source of compassion and lovingkindness, forgave their wickedness and did not destroy them; Many times He restrained His anger and did not stir up all His wrath. Ps. 78:38 AMP
If we follow our Father in His heavenly example, we see that our anger is to be slow-growing, short-lived and filled with compassion and forgiveness.
Yet, as we have seen, since the fall of Adam and Eve, we have an ungodly component in our soul and flesh that desires to follow the worldly examples. Worldly anger, like its close cousins: pride, jealousy, and envy, are all forms of fear:
Envy is the fear of being ‘less than’, believing others to be better than you.
Jealousy is like envy, both being born out of a lust for something someone else has, while holding them in disdain for their apparent good fortune.
Exercising pride is where you lift yourself above another, effectively oppressing them.
Anger is the motherlode of all fears – the fear of life itself.
Anger is an unsuccessful strategy of oppression, a defense mechanism against the pain that the angry one is feeling from their life experience – all because they refuse to grab ahold of life by the rudder and take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. In addition, they are not inviting God to help them in the parts of their lives that they cannot control.
It is an emotional offensive play, that is, in reality, a defensive tactic to intimidate someone whom they feel is trying to invalidate their own beliefs. These opinions are always rooted in some interpretation (meaning) that they’ve attached to some event in their past.
Anger is a form of ‘closing down’, by ‘striking out’. It creates barriers to communication and relationship. Worse, it’s addictive and feeds upon itself.
The roots of unrighteous anger include:
1) Not liking something, i.e., your preferences are manifesting.
2) Wanting life to be different than it is but being paralyzed by a fear of change.
3) Seeing others as ‘the enemy’ for not sharing your preferences.
4) Defending yourself against potential rejection, afraid the past will repeat itself.
5) Fearing being ‘found out’ for some past mistake or having your false persona being exposed.
6) Feeling that someone is trying to control you – especially if you see yourself as a ‘victim’.
There is nothing good about unrighteous anger:
Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm. Ps. 37:8 NLT
For anger kills a fool, and jealousy slays the gullible. Job 5:2 CSB
Our tirades drive everyone away, even those we want to hold close – leaving us with more shame and guilt, and ultimately, loneliness. Worse, it does nothing to relieve our pain.
The danger that indulging in anger brings is elevation to violence – that you direct towards others and yourself. How can you expect to embrace any form of happiness?
Anger makes you think that you are powerful, but it eviscerates your health – leading to anxiety, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer.
Instead, we must put on the mindset of God:
And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. Eph. 4:26, 27. NLT
A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. Pr. 15:1 NLT
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Eph. 4:31 NLT
Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger, and it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment]. Pr. 19:11 AMP
The long and short of it is, that if we want to uproot anger from our lives, we must practice living in the opposite way, i.e., living a life of peace:
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal. 5:22, 23. AMP
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rm. 12:18 CSB
Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Cor. 13:11 NLT
Ultimately, we can choose anger and die, or choose peace and live:
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Mt. 5:9 NLT
[1] Gn. 3:15
[2] Rm. 2:11
[3] Jer. 31:33