“The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.‘” (Genesis 4:6, 7)
We are still at the beginning of our story and setting the stage. It has been quite dramatic as the Almighty Creator called the world into existence and formed us in His image! Then, with loving care, He placed us in a garden, provided all we needed, including…a choice. Freedom to enter into a loving relationship with our heavenly Father.
But, instead of trusting in Him, we used the gift of this freedom to go our own way (Isaiah 53:6). We questioned the intentions of our compassionate Creator and our intimate communion was broken. A new character has entered our story. In today’s Scripture that antagonist is called “sin”…and the stage is set for the greatest story ever told. The story of the relentless pursuit of a God committed to rescuing His loved ones at all cost!
Throughout the Bible this struggle with “sin” is referred to as a war that we are battling. A constant temptation to question the intentions of our God. We now have an enemy that pulls us away from our intended fellowship with God and leaves us in a state of despair and hopelessness.
Of course, our hero…the God of all creation, has not left us but continues to intervene. In today’s passage the Lord speaks to the discouraged Cain with a word of warning and encouragement. “Look out, Cain, sin is at the door!” Again we are reminded that there is a choice to be made. God has not rejected us. After we opened the door to unbelief and went our own way, God did not give up. Although we broke His heart with our choice He did not leave us. He began His divine mission to bring us back into fellowship. In Cain’s part of this story we are made aware that our new enemy is close by…”crouching at the door”. Later, the Apostle Peter gives this description:
“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him…” (1 Peter 5:8, 9)
Jesus described the enemy as a thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). As we will see, most of the drama in our story comes from our struggle to resist or “rule over” such a destructive force. In fact, in today’s part of our story, Cain’s failure to win the day reminds us of our shortcomings when dealing with this lion at our “door”. How can we win this battle on our own? We, like Cain, find it hard not to follow this path of self-destruction. Who can save us? We cry with David in Psalm 121, “Where will our help come from?”
The answer…”My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2). Before we get too far down the road in our story we must not forget about the God who made us and loves us and wants to take care of us. He is still here. He is still pursuing us. He is standing ready to rescue those who will “choose” to return and follow Him.
Today, are you angry? Are you frustrated with the condition of our world today? When watching the latest tragedy on the news are you wondering what is going on? Are you tempted to blame the compassionate Creator? Look out! The enemy is “crouching at the door”. The pain and destruction you see is the evidence that sin exists…it is real. Turn to God in trust and faith.
It breaks His heart too. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).
This is your story.