Genesis 4:3-7 (NLT)
3At harvesttime Cain brought to the LORD a gift of his farm produce, 4while Abel brought several choice lambs from the best of his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his offering, 5but he did not accept Cain and his offering. This made Cain very angry and dejected. 6"Why are you so angry?" the LORD asked him. "Why do you look so dejected? 7You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it."

Cain, the oldest brother, and Able brought forward offerings to God. Able had given careful consideration to what he was giving God and selected the best. God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. God could see the anger in Cain. God asked him why he felt the way he did and instructed him to respond correctly the next time and he would be accepted. God warned Cain sin was waiting to overtake him and he needed to subdue it. This is the first time sin was directly mentioned in the bible.

We know the result of God’s warning to Cain. Cain did not listen to God and became jealous of Able and killed him. Sin did exactly what God said it would do and Cain was given fair warning. The irony of it all is the consequence Cain received. God told him; no longer will the ground yield abundant crops for you, no matter how hard you work. What Cain was so prideful of was taken away from him in just a short matter of time. We have to be careful that we are not so prideful that we don’t listen to God. When God warns us of sin in our lives we need to take heed. We need to stop and listen. When God gives advice we should follow His word. God is looking out for our best interest, but for some reason we just don’t always want to listen to what he has to say. Pray that you will be more open to listening to God. Ask that His words fill your heart. Pray for His instruction and guidance in your life that you may know Him and His ways.