Sinful Anger Separates Us

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
– Genesis 4:6-7, NKJV –

Though Cain never admits being angry, the Lord sees it. The Lord names it. The Lord counsels Cain to address it. The reason for his anger is revealed in the previous verses. “The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:4b-5).

Abel brought his offering in faith. Cain did not. Abel brought his offering in a reverent manner. Cain did not. Rather than condemn or destroy Cain, the Lord simply refused his offering in order to teach the meaning of proper worship. In response Cain became very angry.

The Lord brought light to the situation and Cain recoiled. Anger does this to our relationship with God. It separates us from Him. It pushes us to the shadows, away from the light. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20, NKJV).

Despite the opportunity to confess and draw near to the Lord, Cain remains silent. Anger does this as well. It causes us to either lash out or turn inward. Either way, it widens the rift in our fellowship with God.

When we’re angry, the last thing we want to do is cry out to the Lord for help, but this is the very thing we need. Sinful anger crouches at our door like a lion ready to pounce. It desires us. It longs to rule over us, which is why the Lord tells us to rule over it.

And we rule over it by acknowledging it before God, asking for His mercy, and learning to love Him above our own glory and image. We rule over it by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation so that we receive a new heart with new desires and longings. We rule over it by feeding upon His Word, clinging to His promises, and letting go of the world. Otherwise, it will tempt us to avoid Jesus and drive a wedge into our relationship with the Lord.