October 20th, 2025
The story of Cain and Abel from Genesis 4 provides a powerful illustration of how unchecked anger can lead to devastating consequences. After God looked favorably on Abel's offering but not on Cain's, we're told that "Cain was very angry and his face was downcast." God, in His wisdom, asks Cain two pivotal questions: "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?"
These questions weren't merely about Cain's emotional state or facial expression. They cut to the heart of the matter – Cain's disposition and character were being shaped by his anger. God warns him, "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."
This imagery of sin "crouching at the door" is particularly striking. When we become angry, we have a choice. We can either let the door close, making it more difficult to access that anger, or we can prop it open, giving ourselves unfettered access to the "room of anger." By keeping that door open, we allow anger to become our default disposition, influencing our words, actions, and relationships.
These questions weren't merely about Cain's emotional state or facial expression. They cut to the heart of the matter – Cain's disposition and character were being shaped by his anger. God warns him, "If you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it."
This imagery of sin "crouching at the door" is particularly striking. When we become angry, we have a choice. We can either let the door close, making it more difficult to access that anger, or we can prop it open, giving ourselves unfettered access to the "room of anger." By keeping that door open, we allow anger to become our default disposition, influencing our words, actions, and relationships.
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