“Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5).
UNCHECKED
Yahweh gives Cain some excellent advice, especially knowing that there’s a serpent crawling around looking for prey. God entreats Cain to be strong, coupled with instruction for him to master the feelings of anger that he is struggling with: “Because sin is crouching at your door and desires to have you.” a stark warning. The Lord attempted to check Cain’s anger; but Cain needed to respond himself.
Unchecked anger doesn’t end well, It didn’t end well for Cain (or Abel).
We see this with the Edom too. “Because his anger raged continually and his fury flamed unchecked, I will send fire on Teman” (Amos 1:11–12). Teman was an area east of the river Jordan, it was associated with the land of Edom.
The serious problem that Edom had was allowing their anger to rage unchecked. Most of us, at times, have felt anger rise up within us, but those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit will also know that we have our spirit checked at such times. “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Eph 4:26).
The Holy Spirit will alert us that our feelings are asserting themselves and we need to allow the Spirit of God to give us restraint. The New Living Bible translate Ephesians 4:6 as “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”
The sorry state of Cain and the people of Edom was that their anger had no restraint. It was like a wild horse with no bridle. We are taught to bridle our tongue at the appropriate times, but some people have no such restraint: “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov 12:18).
Yes, we have probably all seen sharp reckless words fly around, words that pierce like a dagger. How many friendships have been marred by reckless words? How many families have been fractured by words that were said?
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity” (Prov 21:23). We must give thanks for the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He checks us when we are about to fly off the handle.
I remember my dad telling me that when he was a young Christian, all was well at first, but then someone in church said something that riled my dad, and as he was walking home after the service, he was accompanied by an older wiser Christian who knew what had been said in the church. My dad was feeling the heat of anger within him, then the older Christian said, “Stay sweet”. And that was all that was needed, immediately the anger left my dad and the peace of Christ returned. He learned an important lesson that day, that has stayed with him.
Pity the poor people of Teman in Edom who had cast off all restraint. “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction” (Prov 29:18).
Of course, the Holy Spirit will speak to people who are in the gall of bitterness, but if they refuse to listen and continually grieve the Spirit of God, then there comes a time when they are left to their own devices. And that’s a sad and dangerous place to be. Let’s praise God that we are not left unchecked.