DCLM Daily Manna Monday 24 June 2024
TOPIC: Depravity at Work
TEXT: GENESIS 4:8-24
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
KEY VERSE
“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him”
(GENESIS 4:8).
DCLM Daily Manna 24 June 2024 MESSAGE
Stories abound of people harmed or murdered by their friends or relatives just because they were more successful. In Nigeria, a young man planned the kidnap of his elder brother because he claimed the latter was not interested in helping him. The young man told the kidnappers not to kill his brother. Unfortunately, his elder brother was killed while arguing with the kidnappers. The younger brother who planned the dirty business was later arrested and jailed. For their family, it became a double loss.
Today’s passage centres on the mischievous conduct of Cain. He killed his brother, Abel, because his offering was rejected while that of his brother was accepted. Like other vices, envy, jealousy and anger are products of the fallen human nature. Instead of seeking to amend his ways, Cain was angry with his brother for doing well before God. To show that the Almighty is not partial, He asked him, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” As a result of Cain’s detestable depravity, God placed a curse on him.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Sunday 23 June 2024 – In The Lord’s House
The twin sinful emotions of jealousy and envy constitute a serious moral disease that drives a person to develop passionate hatred for another who is better than him in a way. Jealousy and envy are dangerous emotions that inflict harm not only on the target but also on the aggressor. They separate friends, divide families and threaten fellowships. But, like the case of Cain, sinners will not go unpunished.
When we realise the presence of jealousy or envy in our lives, we should penitently turn to God for pardon and cleansing. He will forgive and grant us grace to overcome such sinful tendencies and be grateful for who we are and what we have.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Bring your envious heart to the foot of the cross for cleansing in Christ’s blood.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZRA 7-10
