Our insecurities make us ill treat others

A very strange story takes place just after the fall of man in Gen 4:1-8. Cain and Abel are brothers uniquely gifted. Abel herds, Cain farms. They both go to offer a sacrifice to God. God accepts Abel's sacrifice and rejects Cain's. Cain invite Abel for a walk and KILLS HIM!

Gen 4:3-5, 8

3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[d] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

This story is quite bothering if you read the speed with which Abel is killed before we even hear about his life!and the person who kills him is his own brother! There were only 4 people in the world.

If we were to read through above scriptures again, it is clear Abel did not interfere with Cain's sacrifice or sabotage or make him look bad before God.

But Cain's reaction showed some things in his heart:

1. He believed Abel was the reason his sacrifice was not accepted
2. He subconsciously believed someone needed to pay for his 'rejected offerings' experience
3. He believed if his sacrifice was not accepted Abel's sacrifice should not have been accepted either
4. He believes Abel tried to outdo him in the offering
5. Because of the evil thoughts harboured in Cain's heart, he reacted. He acted on the lies he believed in his heart.

This story might feel far fetched but it is the reality of our lives everyday.

How often do I start believing a lie? So many times!

I am married and it is very easy for me to start wondering why my spouse is acting in a certain way. Slowly, I might notice that my actions and reactions are more led by the thoughts I now believe and think of my spouse. Insecurities suddenly become so strong and suspicion becomes my new hobby.

This is applicable in every sphere of our lives. We have believed lies concerning our friends, family members, colleagues, and we treat them as per the lies we believe.

We even believe in lies that cut across language and origin, cultures and ethnicity to the point that some actually kill those they believe to be different.

This is what God told Cain before Cain killed Abel:
Gen 4:6-7
6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 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.”

God warns Cain that sin is longing to have him! Cain was angry. God who sees the thoughts and intentions of the heart must have seen all the evil thoughts brewing in Cain against his brother.

2 Cor 10:5
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Today God is reminding us to quieten those thoughts in our minds that have started influencing us towards sin. We should take them captive and make them submit to Christ. We should speak to the thoughts in our minds and say No for God's glory. If we don't, our brains will create lies that will seem truths and corrupt us from within.

We can sin and be so casual about the sin instead of repenting
Gen 4:9
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Sin has encroached and has taken over such that Cain kills Abel and answers God casually when asked about his brother. I'm I his keeper?

What began as a rejected sacrifice became a murder case because of thoughts that were not put under Christ. An innocent man, Abel, died because a perception had been formed in his brother's mind concerning him and eventually he was killed.

Gen 4:10
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

The innocent person cries out to God even in a situation like death, for the injustice experienced.

God wants us all to rule over this sin of the mind that distorts our view of others. He says we must rule over the sin that seeks to have us, Gen 4:7 by bringing our thoughts under Christ, 2 Cor 10:5

Amen

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