Why did God tell Cain that if he didn’t do what is right, sin is crouching? If Cain had done what is not right, doesn’t it mean that he had sinned?
Answer:
Genesis 4:3-8 “In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Earlier in the chapter, Cain sinned when he did not offer an appropriate sacrifice. In this particular portion of the passage, God confronts Cain and reminds Cain that he still had a chance to repent and offer the right sacrifice. Instead of repenting, Cain fostered murderous thoughts against his brother, Abel. “Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it” is God’s warning that Cain had to rule over the sinful (possibly murderous) intent he had. As we read, Cain did not obey God and ended up sinning by murdering his brother.
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