Human Reasoning

“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” [Genesis 4.6-7]

It is important to understand that Cain and God had a conversation about Cain's unacceptable practices before Cain murdered Abel.

Cain was mad at God and killed Abel.

How many times has this scenario played out in history since then? If a person cannot get their way with another person, they take something valuable away from them in spite.

Did Cain really think he could get by with murdering Abel? Obviously, at the moment, he did... But why?

I believe the apostle Paul revealed it clearly in his second letter to the Church at Corinth:

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. [2 Corinthians 10.3-5]

Like his parents,  Cain followed, what appears to be, bad advice. For whatever reason, Cain reasoned in his mind that if he killed Abel, he might 'gain some advantage' with God???

Instead of subduing and mastering his thoughts and evil desires, Cain gave in to them.

Human reasoning sometimes is just plain silly. Always has been - always will be.

Father, help me to purposefully avoid human reasoning when it comes to my relationship with You.