Cody Courter - The Deep End

Scripture: Genesis 4: 2-8
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering of the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 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 master it.” Now Cain said to his brother, Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Observation:
Why was Cain angry and downcast (depressed)?
Cain was angry because God accepted Abel’s offering but not his. Cain was jealous of Abel’s offering to God.
Did Cain listen to God’s instructions? What did he end up doing?
Cain definitely did not listen to God’s instructions about doing right and resolving the situation.
If Cain had just done what was right in the first place he would have had no reason to get angry. Cain listened to his anger instead of God’s instructions and ended up killing his brother Abel.

Application:
Have you had times where your anger and God are telling you to do different things?
What does your anger tell you to do?
How does God desire you to deal with your anger?
Which one did you listen to and how did it turn out?
When we get angry we need to make sure to listen to God instead of listening to our anger.

Prayer:Recognize any weaknesses you have when it comes to anger. Let God work in you to begin to master your anger issues. Listen and follow God’s instructions when you get upset…he always knows best!