Genesis 4

What a tragic tail of two brothers caught in a bitter sibling rivalry. This story breaks my heart each time I read it because the act of violence was so senseless. We really do not know why God liked Abel's offering better than his brother Cain's. Some suggest it is because Cain worked the ground which was cursed, while Abel was a shepherd. God always seems to gravitate toward shepherds in the Bible as Abraham, Moses, David all started off their career as shepherds. Another suggestion is that for some reason in scripture God prefers the younger son, even though society preferred the older son. It happened with Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob, Joseph and his brothers, etc. Some have argued that it was a difference in attitude for which the offerings were given. I think this is the most likely as God tells Cain, "Why are you angry? If you do right will you not be accepted?" Then God uses an imagery of sin that sticks with me: it is crouching at your door! The book of James uses a similar image describing sin as "but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." I think that really goes well with this passage. It was Cain's bitter jealousy of his brother that led to his violent act. Sin kept hanging around until it ultimately led to the death of his brother. Let us all keep watch over our own sinful desires, and not let sin hang around us.