Read: Genesis 4

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Perhaps our parents have told us stories of their childhood days. I am sure Adam and Eve told their sons stories of the days in the Garden of Eden, of the day they ate of the forbidden fruit, and of God driving them out of the garden.

The account of Adam and Eve disobeying God and then experiencing separation from that close relationship is a sad story. Today we see in our Bible reading that sin continues and another sad story materializes on the pages of history.   

By implication we see that sacrifices had been introduced as soon as man sinned. Abel obeyed God and because of his faith he brought a blood sacrifice. Cain also wanted to bring a sacrifice of his work and offered up vegetables and grain. The scripture says that God was pleased with Abel’s sacrifice but was not pleased with Cain’s.

Jealousy and anger erupted and God’s Spirit spoke to Cain’s conscience. “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted?” But Cain refused the voice of God.

As Cain and Abel met in the fields one day, Cain’s bitterness caused him to kill Abel. God again approached Cain with a question? “Where is Abel your brother?” Cain continued his walk away from God with this answer. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The songwriter penned these words…Sin will take you farther than you want to go. Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay. Sin will cost you far more than you want to pay.

I am sure Cain never thought he would succumb to killing his own brother. Let’s be careful to walk in faith and obedience lest we also be tempted to walk away from God.

~Harold R Troyer