In Genesis 4:9 when the Lord asked Cain of Abel his brother, Cain’s response that am I my brother’s keeper was so repulsive, abrasive and belligerent. Aside from his confrontational stands it was a bare face denial of an existence of duty of care which could not be denied as a fact anyway. A denial of a responsibility towards God is a sin. What were Cain’s sins, if any?
Sin of denial of evil
Cain sought to deny any breach because to him, he had not assumed any duty of care as a keeper of Abel. Cain’s response was evasive in order to hide his heinous crime and naked guilt. Cain thus sought to intentionally and abruptly end God’s conversation on the enquiry. In effect Cain did not find the need to ask for forgiveness but rather as unnecessary or misplaced. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Cain did exactly the opposite and became a curse. We are no different from Cain and need confession.
Sin of the tongue
In response to Cain’s revolting response to God, James 1:19 says be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Proverbs 14:17 also says a man of quick temper acts foolishly. Cain’s impatience led him to disrespect God in language and conduct. We must be careful of the way we speak particularly to elders and those who are in our lives. 1 Peter 3:10-11 says he that would love life and see good days let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. Do we address God with reverence and in humility or taunt him with accusations and blames? Our tongues tell much more about us than we can ever know. Are we repulsive when asked to account for our stewardship in any position? The story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira in Acts 5:1-5 is a great lesson for our edification.
Sin of pride
Cain thought he had succeeded and so was above everybody including God. How foolish do we sometimes become when we think we have made it so we talk anyhow to anybody. Cain was arrogant without humility. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11 says whoever exalts himself will be humbled. Cain thought he could belittle God’s intelligence or knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1:25 says for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. We cannot outsmart God. We must pray for God’s pity on our fallible intelligence, warped wisdom and contorted logic which have no iota of divine approval but by human orchestration. To succeed is to be humble with righteousness. We are pitiful with boasting. The story of the rich fool in Luke 12:16-21 is a lesson for our guide.
Sin of non-accountability
We shall all be judged based on our duty of care for one another, Matthew 7:23; 25:41; Luke 13:27. Cain sought to deny any accountability but Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Romans 14:12 says each of us shall give account of himself to God. 1 Peter 4:5 says we will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Be a responsible keeper else on the day of judgment men shall weep and gnash their teeth, Matthew 8:12; 13: 42, 50; 22:13; 24:51.
Sin of lies and deceit
Cain’s answer was full of lies and untruth in baseless anger. James 1:20 says for anger does not work the righteousness of God. Such is the character and defense of liars and evil men just as we are. We offend the Holy Spirit with lies and deceit hidden in anger. Jesus said in Matthew 5:37 let your answer simply be either yes or no and anything more than this comes from evil. Our lies, excuses, abrasive and evasive conduct originate from evil and thus make us equally evil with the devil.
John 4:24 says God is spirit, and those who worship he must worship him in spirit and truth. 2 Corinthians 13:8 says for we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. Confession is the only way out, 1 John 1:8-9. We call for God’s rejection of us when we engage in lies and deceit. We must draw our lesson from the story of Judas in Matthew 27:7-10.
Sin of contempt for God
We cannot intentionally and abruptly end a conversation with God or his enquiry as Cain did more so with anger. Matthew 12: 31 says every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. It is a deliberate and cynical denial of the truth. Jesus wants us to engage him in conversation daily, Luke 18:1. In our daily conversation with God, Psalms 55:22 say cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalms 50:15 say call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
Romans 10:13 says everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. God has opened the channel of communication with us indefinitely because of the blood of Jesus Christ. Cain lost the opportunity to dialogue with God. We must not miss this golden opportunity of a lifetime to repent and to ask Christ Jesus for forgiveness. We cut communication with Christ Jesus when we fail to pray or do the will of God. We consequently lose God’s relationship with us, his voice and love.
Must we ask for God’s pardon?
There is no way that we can claim to be infallible. We are only alive by grace. We are no different from what Cain did nor have we lived up to what Abel did. We are a baggage of unrepentant sins. A number of what we have done or said in error in the past cannot be undone or corrected or retrieved. There are many we have even either forgotten, or unaware of, or continue to hide or continue to do based on dead conscience or by human justification.
The laws of this world are different from the law of God. Only the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ can placate through his blood for us before the Father in heaven. It is still not too late for if you hear his voice do not harden your heart. Tomorrow may not be yours. Revelation 3:20 says behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Answer Jesus now, he is waiting patiently for you to open the door and to invite him into your heart, your home, your business, and your situation.
Prayer
Dear Lord God Almighty, we have known in humility that we are judged by what we say and do. We confess our sins and ask for pardon and grace to live right without contempt of your image. Locate us in your mercy and answer us by your Holy Spirit. Hear us because of Lord Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!!
