Introduction. Mistakes are such a common part of our lives that many proverbs have been devised to excuse or explain failure. “I’m only human.” “Everyone makes mistakes.” “Nobody’s perfect.” “I did the best I could.” “At least I tried.” “I’ll do better next time.” “It’s not my fault.” Though some use these to justify failure, they have no purpose. They do not fix the mistake or remove the consequences. Yet it is important for Jesus’ disciples to carefully ponder these “excuses” to be certain they are not making similar excuses when sinning against God.
Cain should have seen God’s rejection of his sacrifice as a grave error. He should have felt remorse and shame that God was not pleased. Yet instead of remorse, he became sullen and angry. He refused to take responsibility. Maybe in his heart he felt: “I did my best”, or “at least I tried”, but for whatever reason he did not repent or show any sorrow for his actions. God warned him that sin is not static; if he did not repent and “do well”, the evil of his works would be compounded. It was because Cain refused to repent over these evil works that Abel lost his life, and Cain left the presence of God to live his life alone as he saw fit. (Gen. 4:1-16; 1Jn. 3:12)
This is the first of 580 times “sin” is used in the OT and is revealed in three distinct ways. First, it is related to when someone missed a target or a goal: “seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.” (Judg 20:16-17). Second, we see it when those entrusted with possessions lose or misuse them. As Jacob told Laban, “that which was torn by beasts... I bore the loss of it.” (Gen. 31:39) Third, it was used of one who lost their way or missed the path: “whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” (Pr. 19:2).
Cain should have seen God’s rejection of his sacrifice as a grave error. He should have felt remorse and shame that God was not pleased. Yet instead of remorse, he became sullen and angry. He refused to take responsibility. Maybe in his heart he felt: “I did my best”, or “at least I tried”, but for whatever reason he did not repent or show any sorrow for his actions. God warned him that sin is not static; if he did not repent and “do well”, the evil of his works would be compounded. It was because Cain refused to repent over these evil works that Abel lost his life, and Cain left the presence of God to live his life alone as he saw fit. (Gen. 4:1-16; 1Jn. 3:12)
This is the first of 580 times “sin” is used in the OT and is revealed in three distinct ways. First, it is related to when someone missed a target or a goal: “seven hundred select men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair’s breadth and not miss.” (Judg 20:16-17). Second, we see it when those entrusted with possessions lose or misuse them. As Jacob told Laban, “that which was torn by beasts... I bore the loss of it.” (Gen. 31:39) Third, it was used of one who lost their way or missed the path: “whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.” (Pr. 19:2).