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The first brothers each presented an offering to the Lord. We don't know why Abel's offering from his flock was accepted while Cain's produce from his farming wasn't. Perhaps Cain's offering wasn't up to God's standards or his attitude may have been improper. We're not told. But Scripture is clear about the opportunities and dangers in how Cain reacted to this rejection.

Genesis 4:2b-10

1. What two emotions of Cain's are described in verse 5?
   
   
2. Why do you think God challenged Cain about his angry funk?
   
   
3. What was the encouraging element of God's message (v. 7) to Cain?
   
   
4. What was the warning part of God's message?
   
   
5. How may anger provide an entry port for sin to attack?
   
   
6. What does it take to subdue sins associated with anger or grudge holding?
   
   
7. What internal resource do we have that wasn't available in the same way to Cain and Abel?
   
   

Ask God to empower you with resolve and self-control to react correctly to provocations and to subdue sinful anger.

Genesis 4:2b-10

2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

6 "Why are you so angry?" the Lord asked Cain. "Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."

8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, "Let's go out into the fields." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, "Where is your brother? Where is Abel?"

"I don't know," Cain responded. "Am I my brother's guardian?"

10 But the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground!

Adapted from Adapted from Relationships: A Mess Worth Making (New Growth Press, 2006) by permission. All rights reserved by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp and/or New Growth Press.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

If I'm ever to gain mastery over my temper, Lord, it will take your strength. I ask for that now.

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