Jealousy, anger, hatred, and murder. From the beginning, people have had a fundamental mistrust and have harbored ill-will against others, and for a variety of reasons. Cain was jealous of God’s regard for Abel. He also knew that without the protection of God, there would be others who desired harm upon him as well. What is it about human nature that makes us so concerned with what everyone else is doing – how successful they are, how much money and stuff they have, who they are friends with or who they are related to? Why must we be so concerned about everyone else’s happiness? Is it not enough to concern ourselves with our own relationship with God, apart from what others are doing?

A question for you: if you could be anyone in the world, who would you be and why?

Did you think of someone famous? Someone rich? Someone humble? Someone powerful? Someone altruistic? Did you think of yourself? Just for today, be happy being you. Consider all the things you can do. Think of all the things that make you amazing. Don’t concern yourself with what others have or do or are. Enjoy being you. Enjoy being God’s beloved. You are awesome. Don’t forget it.

Genesis 4:1-16

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

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 is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.

Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.