Today’s Scripture Threshing for Saturday, March 30, 2019
Today’s Text: Genesis 4:1-10
Key Verse: Genesis 4:7 (ESV): “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Today’s key verse encapsulates great morals and spiritual truths that are so deep. First, it reveals that the sacrifice of Cain was rejected because it was the sacrifice of an evil-doer. Evil was found in his heart. We must always bear in mind that all things are laid bare before the Lord with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:13). Whether it’s a sin of the past, or present, or even the one hatching in our intention.
The key to understanding and interpreting the text before us is in looking at what happens after Cain’s offertory rejection; not in verses 4 and 5. Because there’s no allusion to the nature of Cain’s offering. If they were important, the Bible would have laid those before us. The issue is, there’s being a wrong-doing, mostly like a hidden anger, birthed possibly by envy, lurking somewhere, and lingering in his heart. 'If thou doest well’ is a construction revealing continuum. Even after his rejection, it’s still there. For “sin lieth at the door” is another continuous phrase.
God watches every heart. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells how “the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart are fully devoted to Him.” He sees all the sons of men (Psalms 33:13) — even before a word is on our tongue, He knows all about it (Psalms 139:4) When Israel was playing double standard before God, He punished them because no man can hide in secret places where He cannot see him. "Do I not fill the heavens and earth?" The Lord declares. (Jeremiah 23:24).
The Hebrew word translated 'lieth' is employed to describe the crouching of sin as of a wild animal. A picture of sin, hiding like a crouching tiger always ready to spring a fatal attack on its prey. This metaphor does not just reveal Cain’s tigerish, murderous desire, but ours also. It’s a revelation of how our own sinful passions and all desires are contrary to us — how they lurk like beasts ready to destroy. But our chief admonition today is that we must subdue and control it.
Sin’s seductive snares are all around us today. They’re waiting at our door, ready to meet us on the streets, beckoning as we drive, waiting at our jobs, and to bay out condemnation as you go forth. But all praise and thanks to God who has made a way for us to be made free from the compelling laws of sin and death through Christ: so that we can rule over, conquer and neutralize sin’s crouch. We now know the one who can deliver us from the misery of life that is dominated by sin. He is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Quote for the Day: “When George lives in the jungle, he watches out for the trees; if you live in today’s Cain’s generation, you must watch out for sin’s crouch.” (Simon Olatunji)
Prayer: Dear Lord, I need your strength to defeat this sin. I am thankful that your power is made perfect in my weakness. I don’t boast in my sin, but boast in you who works in my weakness to make me more like you. I know that I have the strength, through you, to overcome sin in my life. Give me wisdom and perspective in the moment I am tempted to sin — in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
With all my Love and Prayer,
Simon Wale Olatunji, PhD
The Darling Bishop (DaBishop),
2321 S Belt Line Rd., Suite 144,
Grand Prairie TX 75051 USA
Email: reachingout@hopeforallnations.org
BBMme: E3F988D2
[Today’s Scripture Threshing is a devotional guide of The House of Prayer Evangel Church USA. Feel free to use it in your family altar and personal quiet times; and to contact us for further enquiry, help and partnership.]
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