Genesis 4

"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you furious?  And why are you downcast?  If you do right, won't you be accepted? ...'"

Genesis 4:6-7

How often do we ask for acceptance for the things we do wrong?  Cain was upset because God didn't appreciate his weak offering.  As a teacher, I hear the same kinds of complaints nearly every day, and give pretty much the same answer as above: if you do right, people won't get upset with you.

However, I know that my students aren't the only ones guilty of this.  I am guilty, and so are all of the other adults I know (at one time or another).  What does it take for us to open our eyes to our iniquities?  God gave a verbal reprimand in an attempt to teach Cain, but all that did was infuriate him even more - to the point of murder.  After that, He banished Cain - but the banishment couldn't have been too bad because he found himself a wife and built quite a family.

This whole chapter makes it obvious to me that God's forgiving nature didn't begin with the New Testament like so many people believe.  Even with the first sin (the eating of the forbidden fruit) and even with the first murder, God gives His people another chance to accept the consequences (which were described in the form of curses) for their actions, learn from their mistakes, and start over (this time, hopefully, doing right).

How many times has God had to curse me for my sins and give me a fresh start?  Too many...