Blood BrothersSample

The Power of Accountability

Here’s what we have learned so far about Cain’s anger:

-Anger is a powerful God-given emotion, but it needs to be managed in a godly way.

-Sinful anger produces sinful actions; but righteous anger produces righteous actions.

-The wrong heart led him to the wrong motives.

-The wrong motives led him to the wrong actions.

From Day 3, we left off after Cain murdered his brother and foolishly mouthed off to God. Let’s continue the story:

The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.

God served justice in this moment. God is too pure to let any evil deeds go unpunished, and Cain was given a just punishment for his actions. God holds us all accountable when we’re in the wrong. Sometimes that punishment is seen immediately (like with Cain in the story), but sometimes it won’t be until years later. What if your anger now will one day lead to a crumbling marriage; all because you weren’t held accountable for your anger from the beginning? You can try sweeping it under the rug and let it fester in your heart, or you can identify the problem and address it. God warned Cain when He said “sin is crouching at your door”; is sin crouching at your door? Maybe God is using this study to warn you right now. Don’t let your anger sit and fester. If you’re letting your anger build, it’s time to give that over to God, and have a fresh start in the right direction.

We’ll always face consequences for our actions, but there’s more to it. Let’s look at what happens next:

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. - Genesis 4:10-16

Cain wrongfully took his brother’s life, and he suffered deep consequences for it; but there’s a huge takeaway from this! We’ll always face consequences for our actions; but we’ll NEVER face them alone!

God will never leave you, nor forsake you. Your anger may seem to have a tight hold, but God is holding you. Recognize God’s presence and give it all over to Him today!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for holding me, even when my anger has a hold on me. I pray that I can trust you with all things, not just the problems of today or the worries of tomorrow. Set my feet on paths of righteousness and deliver me from the evil in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.