Survival Instinct

“If you do well, shall you not be accepted?  And if you do not well, sin lies at the door.  And to you shall be its desire, and yet you may rule over it.”  Genesis 4:7

Do Well – Nahum Sarna has the appropriate comment about this text.  He says that “it bristles with difficulties.”  That just might be an understatement.  What seems so easily understood on the surface masks all kinds of problems with the original Hebrew.  The problems begin with the first clause, but if we are going to understand something very important about this first use of the Hebrew word for sin (hatat), we will just have to sort our way through all this.

The opening phrase of the verse is halo eem-teitiv s’et.  Literally, this question reads, “Is there not if you do well lifting up?”  The key word here is s’et.  This noun means elevating or giving honor or dignity.  It is used to describe a high office, the place of the first born or God’s majesty.  But notice that it is not used to speak about forgiveness.  God is not telling Cain that if he does what is right, he will be forgiven (accepted).  That would imply righteousness on the basis of merit, and even here, in a verse that appears to suggest merit for good works, the verb carefully avoids this conclusion.  

What God is saying is about Cain’s state of mind, not about God’s relationship to Cain.  Cain is crestfallen.  He is humiliated.  He is angry.  God offers him some practical emotional therapy.  “Do what you were expected to do and your countenance will be lifted up.”  In other words, correct behavior will alter your mood.  It is not Cain’s initial action that creates the vulnerability to sin.  It doesn’t matter at this point why Cain brought his offering.  God focuses on the reaction that Cain displays when his offering is rejected.  God tells Cain that the emotional train he is riding will take him to sinful behavior.  God’s advice is about emotional control, not about confession and repentance. 

When we realize that this is a conversation in the counselor’s office, we see that God is not endorsing any covenant other than grace.  God is teaching Cain how to handle the reaction to life when it is not under Cain’s control  That pretty much describes our lives too.  Things don’t always work out the way we planned.  We encounter rejection, failure and set-backs.  Just like Cain, we may find ourselves in an emotional slump.  The key to righteous behavior is not denying the feelings.  It is not putting on a stoic face or grinning and bearing it.  It is most definitely not putting on a mask of false optimism.  God’s solution to emotional vulnerability is doing the right thing.  The answer is action.  In the final analysis, God is saying that it doesn’t really matter how you feel.  It matters what you do.  That doesn’t mean that your feelings don’t count.  Of course they count.  They are like mile markers on the highway.  They tell you which direction you are going and how fast you’re getting there.  But they are only indicators.  They help you by adding information you need in order to make a decision. 

“What’s the matter, Cain?  Don’t you realize that if you take action and do what you know is right, your whole demeanor will change.  That change will protect you from falling further into sin’s clutches because you will master your feelings.”  Did you notice that God doesn’t even mention what He wants Cain to do.  Cain already knows what to do.  The question is simply, “Will he do it?”  Most of us discover that the confrontation with sin is never really about ignorance.  We usually stumble over something that we already know we should do, but we just don’t want to do it.  God’s advice to Cain rings true with us too.  Take the right action.  Do it now.  No matter how small the act is, it will be enough to get moving in the right direction.

Topical Index:  Cain, Genesis 4:7, emotions, action, the right thing, s’et

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Thomas Drake

This is a wonderful observation of the situation relating to Cain’s behavior, very enlightening, praise God.

Michael

Very interesting interpretation of the Cain story.

Do the Right Thing makes me think of Spike Lee.

Spike Lee makes me think of Do the Right Thing.

Drew

Yes Skip … state of mind is definitely in play here as you aptly point out. I think there is another aspect as well that is just as important. You point out that correct behavior alters the emotional state … yes indeed but more so than this even …. correct behavior, external to emotion, keeps temptation away.

One practical example for me (and many other believers of course) is the observance of Shabbat. Not only is it beneficial observing the correct 7th day mo’ed (appointed time) but just think about it for a moment. Over time (and not easily achieved by any means … more like warfare ha-ha) the problematic times of Friday Night and Saturday are rendered impotent. In the past I, like much of the busy world, was “living for the weekend”. The time to frolic, let my hair down, let it go, etc.

I must be quite honest and admit that my typical weekend behavior was not very acceptable to YHVH and probably represented the times of my most loathing behavior. But now Shabbat for me is a blessing beyond description. And on top of the glory of the mo’ed this “behavior change” has removed a very large problem that was in my life. Oh it has cost me dearly in terms of “this world” but that is not the point here!

The point is that there is very much to be said for just “doing it”. Oh there are times when my emotional state just is not “in the game” so to speak but the actions are more important than the feelings. Doing the correct things does change the mind set but it also helps me cut-off what is offensive to me. As the Master said “if thy hand offends thee cut it off”. I believe that the right behavior is a means of cutting off offending parts of us; those parts of us that are mostly desires that do not help us at all.

Like Michael says … “do the right thing” 🙂

carl roberts

Abraham obeyed G-d and his faith was counted for righteousness. Mary’s advise to the servants? “Whatever He says to you- do it.” What is the right thing for us to do?? What is our response to the words of YWYH? The just shall live by faith -and our faith is a right response to what G-d says. And what is the second half of “shema”? Not only to hear, but to obey. “Do this” -and you will live.” “If (since) you love me, keep my commandments..”

Drew

Right on Carl,

Obedience is the key. I know people don’t like to hear it but …. John: 14:23 Yeshua answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words (obey): and my Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.

Notice how the obedience comes before the indwelling of Ruach HaKodesh! Belief does not equal transformation …. behavior change is transformation and as you point out … faith is seen in obedience. It is all connected …

How sad for most that Sh’ma Yisrael means absolutely nada! 🙁

Jay Culotta

Skip, once again you open a can of worms. (Just kidding.)

This is very enlightening because I always wondered how Cain could have known his offering would not be accepted.

If I understand what you wrote correctly, it did not matter beforehand, once God explained it to him, it was his reaction that caused his sin. Then of course, he compounded it by murdering his brother. But I’m sure you will have more to say on that incident in another post.

I truly appreciate your work because it is opening up God’s Word in ways that I never dreamed of. If I am going to live with Him for eternity, I want to know as much about Jesus as He will possibly let me and He seems to be blessing me daily with new revelation!

Thank you Lord Jesus!