And the Lord said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield you its strength; you shall be fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
Genesis 4:10-13a
God gives Cain an opportunity to confess his sin. When Cain plays dumb, God then asks him what he has done. His brother’s blood cries to him from the ground. God sees all the injustice in the world. He is not oblivious to it. God in his time will bring about justice. Here he brings swift justice to Cain. He is given hard labor and driven from human society. Rather than accepting the punishment, Cain complains about his punishment.
Sin brings necessary consequences. Often when we experience those consequences, we can be like Cain. We blame God or blame others for our sin. We refuse to take responsibility for what we have done or refuse to take responsibility for the sin we have nurtured in our hearts. However, the sooner we acknowledge our sin and own it, the quicker we experience God’s mercy and grace.
Where are you tempted to blame God for your poor choices or for sin you have harbored in your heart? Confess it to God today. Ask for his grace and mercy. Ask him to take from you any evil in your heart and replace it with his grace and love.