Reading

• Gen. 4:1-5:32

Devotional

Yesterday we read how Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD’s command and sin came into the world. GOD punished them, saying:

To the woman [GOD] said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” 
(Gen. 3:16-19)

There were numerous terrible consequences as a result of this decision. There were immediate physical consequences. For example, the ground was cursed and toil became a part of work. Pain became a part of child birth.

There were also consequences that didn’t happen right away. Death became a part of life. The most important consequence, however, was the fact that Adam and Eve were separated from GOD spiritually.

Throughout our life we will regularly make choices. We make choices every day. GOD says our choices are important to Him. He loves us very much and is all-wise, which means that He always knows what is best for us, so He guides us to the right choices through His word, prayer, and interactions with other godly people.

In time, Adam and Eve had two sons. Their names were Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. One day, both of them offered a sacrifice to GOD. Cain offered some crops and Abel offered from the firstborn of his flock. GOD was pleased with Abel’s offering, but not with Cain’s. When Cain saw this, the Bible says his face was downcast.

GOD spoke to Cain and asked him why he was so angry. He pointed out that if Cain did what was right, he too would be accepted. Then He warned Cain that sin was lying at his door but Cain should rule over it. Unfortunately, Cain allowed hatred for his brother to creep into his heart. One day, he lured Abel out to the field and he attacked Abel and killed him. GOD punished Cain and made him a nomad (wanderer) on the earth.

Now, the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin have taken a new twist. They lost one of their sons to murder and the other son to a curse from GOD as a result of that murder. This would be the first of innumerable violence between humans, and sin would continue to spread over the earth like the plague that it is.