Devotion - Wednesday, January 15

Genesis 4:1-16 contains the stories of Cain and Abel, of their birth, of jealousy between God's children, and of the murdering of one brother by another.  If it has been a while since you read these verses, I encourage you to do so.

In reflecting on these passages, I found myself wondering why, so early in the biblical story, we are forced to deal with jealousy and murder.  Not that there hasn't already been a great amount of failure on the part of the newly created ones.  Eve and Adam have eaten from the forbidden tree.  They have attempted to hide themselves from God.  They are cast out from the paradise God created for them and forced to scratch out an existence from the dirt of the fields.

The Biblical story acknowledges, from the very outset, that there are way too many opportunities for us to turn from the wonderful hopes God has for us; choosing instead to pit ourselves against God and against one another.  As a result, our lives become more difficult.  As a result, we go away from the presence of the Lord, and we dwell in isolated places. (Genesis 4:16)

You will have many choices to make this day.  You can decide whether to be angry at others for their actions; you can determine the response to the injuries inflicted upon you.  Will you follow the pattern set by Cain and Abel, or will you turn and seek admission to the Garden of Eden, where God is eager to help us.