Dear Readers in Christ, "Draw near to GOD, and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).

Saturday 18 May 2013

May 18 - THE CURSE OF SIN

“Now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 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” (Gen 4:11,12).

God did not curse the person of Cain, but pronounced him ‘cursed from the earth’ so that the earth may not yield its crops when he tills the ground. Material prosperity in the hands of a sinner will be very dangerous. So God restricts it in His mercy. Riches in the hands of a drunkard could ruin his own health and the welfare of others.

The earth has a ‘strength’; it gives man the strength of prosperity, health, etc. ‘Strength’ also meant ‘power’ in the original. While sin deprives you of the power of health and riches (though sinners sometimes have riches, they cannot really enjoy them due to fear, ill-health, etc.), saints can claim all these blessings for the kingdom of God and for the glory of God. Hallelujah!

“A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.” Now that Cain had become a murderer, liar and rebel against God, he needed scope for repentance. If he was settled peacefully in a place he would live without giving a thought to heaven. But now, since his life is unsettled, he has to look to the place where he can be finally settled and peaceful, that is, heaven. ‘Fugitive and vagabond’ in the original is, ‘wanderer and bemoaner’. The more we sin and harden our hearts, the more suffering and punishment we will have, and the more difficult it will be to turn to God.

– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion

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