Crouching at the Door

Posted by Dion Todd May 29th, 2024 1,326 Views 28 Comments

Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? If you do well, won't it be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it." Cain said to Abel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." While they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and killed him. Genesis 4:6–7 WEB.

Cain became very angry because the Lord had no regard for the offering he brought from his field but received Abel's offering. Cain felt disrespected. Scripture does not explain why the Lord accepted Cain's offering but not Abel's, but it was probably linked to their attitude and the quality they chose to offer the Lord.

After Cain became upset, the Lord told Cain that sin was crouching at his door and desired to have him, but he must rule over it. Apparently, Cain did not manage to rule over the evil in his life. For right after this, he murdered his brother Abel while they were out in the field. What was hidden inside of Cain's heart eventually came to pass. These two scriptures give us insight into the condition of Cain's heart:

"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!" (Proverbs 21:27 WEB).

"For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another— unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's righteous." (1 John 3:11–12 WEB).

Sin still crouches at the door of our heart today, and it only needs a slight crack, and it will be inside, sitting on the couch. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:26, "In your anger do not sin" and then "do not give the devil a foothold" right after it. When you let your anger get out of control, you let sin in the door and give it a foothold, just as Cain did.

Keep your anger in check, and do not let it become your master. Instead, you must master it. Once sin is running loose in the house, it is hard to get back out. Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You help me control my emotions and make me stable. Please don't let me get swept up in fear or anger. Help me to master the sin in my life and to live out all You have for me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network