“Cain and Abel”

“Digging Deeper” is an opportunity for you to continue the study of God’s Word throughout the week.

MONDAY
“Cain and Abel”

1 John 3:12
We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.

THOUGHT: Morality flows from the character of God.

Have you ever wondered if you are doing the right things in life? Sometimes it is clear what things are right and wrong and other times it can be more difficult to discover. In this passage, Cain’s deeds are identified as “evil” and Abel’s deeds are identified as “righteous”. When we look back in Genesis, we see that both Cain and Abel brought offerings but the Lord accepted Abel’s and not Cain’s. Why did God not accept Cain’s offering? Whatever the cause of God’s rejection of Cain’s offering, the narrative itself focuses our attention on Cain’s response. Cain’s response shows that he was not a man who wanted to please God.

First, Cain worked for the wrong reasons. God said that if he did well, he would be accepted. Cain did what he thought was right but not what God thought was right. Morality always flows from the character of God. Second, Cain responded with the wrong actions. Instead of trying to make right what he had done wrong, he became angry and murdered his brother. Last, Cain questioned the results of his action. He let his anger and jealousy of his brother bring disaster. Instead of working to better himself, he acted out against someone close to him… his own brother.

THOUGHT: Morality flows from the character of God