Anger often renders viscous consequences to those who have not control of it but instead are subject to its control. Throughout the course of my life, I have acquired great portions of reason and instruction in the elements of anger. Very few, throughout this time, have ever addressed it with such clarity as has the Bible’s array of lessons. And while I was introduced to the Bible at an early age, my foundations were scattered elsewhere, and therefore, the great ushering unto the Holy Word’s wisdom was primarily left untouched until my current quest, which is strengthened be a dutiful wife and church as well as a carefully assembled environment that I continually tend to as a gardener to his garden, weeding it of foul elements and encouraging that which is good to rise up in its life of glory.
This morning, as I overheard the lesson, I aimed my eyes wanderously upon the wall, while my hands worked the computer on monotonous task. I listened intently. The crux of instruction at hand was our son’s home school session, of which I was inadvertently aware of. For a moment, I glanced over at the five-year-old, his eyes razor sharp with intent, fixated upon the heart of his instruction, as it transitioned from spelling, into elements of grammar, history, wisdom and the very Word of God, as exists in Genesis Chapter 4, whereby the story of two brothers unfold, Cain and Abel.
As I listened, my eyes again wandered, unfocused and agape into the vastness of disassociation to the heart of my very quest, which held fast at the orated word eminating from Bible through the vessel of my wife’s lips. And as the chapter in history called to a close, my eyes began to take reigns once again of my surroundings with increasing focus, and there upon the wall, side by side, were two sisters, who themeselves are engaged in a highly similar circumstance of life as referenced in today’s lesson.
Well, if you are aware of whom I may be speaken, then behold this on behalf of those youth, and if not, your life will still be the better for reading God’s Word. And as a man, I understand full well the righteousness of a righteous anger but likewise understand through life experience its detrimental impact upon men, families, companies and even nations of the world.
Genesis 4 (King James Version)
1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8And 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. 9And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, 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. 15And 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.
