November 21, 2009
Cain brought some food. Abel brought the best parts of his flock. God wants our best. Instead of confessing and repenting, Cain became angry. God clearly told Cain what he needed to do. He also told him what the consequences would be if he refused to obey.
Genesis 4:7 - IF—you do things well, THEN—I will accept you. God gave Cain every opportunity to do what was right, but Cain refused. He made his choice and received the consequences God promised.
Genesis 4:7 - Sin wants you (NCV); Sin is crouching at your door (NIV); Sin lieth at the door (KJV). Wow! Do you really want to make choices that allows sin to be crouching at your door?
God's questions:
Genesis 4:6 - Why are you angry?
Genesis 4:9 - Where is your brother?
Genesis 4:10 - What have you done?
The first "change your heart" in the Bible. The very thing we think will bring us freedom is what ends up imprisoning us. i.e. Adam—work the ground; Cain—ground won't grow crops. There are consequences to the choices we make. God wants us to choose to change. If we do not then "sin is crouching by your door" and the door is opened. Cain suffered the consequences. He became a restless wanderer and was separated from God's presence.
God asks—not because He doesn't know.
God asks—because He wants us to admit.
Psalm 51:17 - The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.
Addendum: 8/28/13 ~ I love how God asks questions. I love it because I recognize it. His questions are always short and to the point. "Why are those still in here?" "Why are you still holding on to those?" (See The New Beginning: Out With the Old written on July 30, 2012.) God doesn't ask because He doesn't know the answer. He knows the answer. What He wants is for us to admit the truth to ourselves and to Him. When we finally admit the truth, we can begin to deal with the truth, confess what we need to confess, and make the changes HE wants in our lives.
Next Entry: Genesis 6:1 – 8:22
Cain brought some food. Abel brought the best parts of his flock. God wants our best. Instead of confessing and repenting, Cain became angry. God clearly told Cain what he needed to do. He also told him what the consequences would be if he refused to obey.
Genesis 4:7 - IF—you do things well, THEN—I will accept you. God gave Cain every opportunity to do what was right, but Cain refused. He made his choice and received the consequences God promised.
Genesis 4:7 - Sin wants you (NCV); Sin is crouching at your door (NIV); Sin lieth at the door (KJV). Wow! Do you really want to make choices that allows sin to be crouching at your door?
God's questions:
Genesis 4:6 - Why are you angry?
Genesis 4:9 - Where is your brother?
Genesis 4:10 - What have you done?
The first "change your heart" in the Bible. The very thing we think will bring us freedom is what ends up imprisoning us. i.e. Adam—work the ground; Cain—ground won't grow crops. There are consequences to the choices we make. God wants us to choose to change. If we do not then "sin is crouching by your door" and the door is opened. Cain suffered the consequences. He became a restless wanderer and was separated from God's presence.
God asks—not because He doesn't know.
God asks—because He wants us to admit.
Psalm 51:17 - The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit.
Addendum: 8/28/13 ~ I love how God asks questions. I love it because I recognize it. His questions are always short and to the point. "Why are those still in here?" "Why are you still holding on to those?" (See The New Beginning: Out With the Old written on July 30, 2012.) God doesn't ask because He doesn't know the answer. He knows the answer. What He wants is for us to admit the truth to ourselves and to Him. When we finally admit the truth, we can begin to deal with the truth, confess what we need to confess, and make the changes HE wants in our lives.
"Here is a good rule of thumb: Those who keep secrets from God keep their distance from God. Those who are honest with God draw near to God...Secrets erect a fence while confession builds a bridge." From In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado.
Next Entry: Genesis 6:1 – 8:22
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