I’m going to write about people in the bible that wrestled with stress, anger, and depression. The first person I’ve come across is Cain. I’ll just say this ahead of time, Cain will be someone that you DON’T want to emulate! We can learn from his mistakes though.
Who is Cain?
Cain is the first child of Adam and Eve. At this point in time, they only have two sons. Cain and Abel. When Cain was born, Eve said with God’s help she “acquired” a man. I read in the concordance that to Eve, he signified possession. Cain was born first and Abel at a later time. Cain was a farmer and Abel worked in livestock.
The Offerings
Cain was the first to bring offerings to God. Abel soon followed. The Lord liked what Abel had given as an offering. God didn’t like what Cain offered. The concordance says he “looked” favorably at the offerings from Abel and would not “look/gaze” at Cain’s offering. Cain became angry and his face showed sadness.
“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”
Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)
The Anger
These are my observations. Cain was first. The first born, first son and the first to bring offerings. Then this kid comes along and upstages him. God is Cain’s. When God shows favoritism to Abel, it burns in Cain. I get the idea that Eve doted on him and he is used to being the favorite.
God warned him, you know you aren’t doing right. It is to easy to fall into a trap of sin. You’re better than this and stronger.
The Murder
Cain let his anger consume him and he decided he needed to get rid of the competition. Some versions of the Bible say that he asked Abel to go out in the field with him, others say that they were both in the field. I can see him tricking his brother to go for a walk. The NIV says he “attacked” his brother and killed him. I don’t think he had a weapon. I think he just beat him or grabbed something nearby.
The Verdict
God asked Cain where Abel was. God already knew the answer, but Cain responded:
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:9 (NIV)
God employed what every smart parent uses when questioning their child. God already knew the answer to the question before he asked. He knew what happened to Cain. He just wanted to test Cain. God already knows that Abel is dead. God puts a curse on him. He tells Cain that he is cursed and will wander the Earth. Cain says thanks a lot, now someone will find me and kill me.
“But the Lord said to him, ‘Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.’ Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.”
Genesis 4:15-16 (NIV)
What is the “mark” that is put on Cain? No one knows.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-is-the-mark-of-cain.html
Cain moves away and has a wife and a son named Enoch.
Cain’s Line
This is really interesting. Cain had a son named Enoch. Enoch had a son named Methuselah. Methuselah had a son named Lamech. Lamech had a son named Noah. Noah was from the line of Cain.
God took a murderer that he had banished and blessed his family down the line. Enoch walked faithfully with God and God took him away. He didn’t die. Noah was trusting and faithful.
Where does that leave us? Don’t give in to the sin and anger. God warned Cain and he warns us. Remember he tells us “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
We have the ruler of the heavens and the Earth on our side. Don’t give in to the anger, but give it to Him.
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