Sin is Crouching at the Door

A Reflection for Tuesday, February 24 by Sara Simonds 

Lectionary reading for 02/24/2026: Psalm 32; Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Selected passage for reflection: Genesis 4:1-16 

Read

Genesis 4:1-16 KJV

1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And 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: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If 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. 

8 And 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. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 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. 13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, 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. 15 And 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. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

Cain and Abel by Titian

Reflect

The story of Cain and Abel is one I have heard my whole life, and as a mother, it stands out in the raising of two children. As a child, I surely did not read or fully understand the words that are written in the Bible or the full weight of the sin that Cain committed- killing his own brother and then lying to God. As a mother, now when I read verse 10, “And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” I can feel the anguish in God’s voice, and I also wonder about the stories in the Bible where God speaks directly to individuals. 

How many times in our lives have we looked up to the heavens and said, “What now, God?” “Why me, God?” What would it be like to get a message directly from God? In the case of Cain, it would be a scary message, a feeling that you will be haunted the rest of your days because of the sin that you have committed, and what God is showing even when Cain brings his offering, is that this sin has been lying in wait for Cain, lying at his door waiting for him. It feels like sin is crouching at our door so many times in our lives, waiting for us. This story reminds us that there is evil in the world, and the overall story of Genesis reminds us that there always has been. 

How can we have a pure heart and not sin against God when we read about Adam and Eve and then Cain and Abel, and then on and on? The warning God gave to Cain was a chance to correct his attitude before committing the greater sin of murder, and the underlying message is that it is not always your actions that truly matter, but your thoughts and your purpose in those actions. The importance of our inner attitude feels at once freeing and alarming to me, and I am reflecting on it during these first 100 days of 2026. How do I truly make the time and space for God in my heart? How do I show that I am not too busy or too important to listen when God speaks? I do not expect a burning bush or a message directly from God as Cain received, but in this time in our world, I am hopeful that we can all recognize the need to slow down and listen for God where we can. 

Respond 

Take the time to listen to God in your daily life. Identify areas where you are rushed, and where sin is crouching or lying at your door, waiting for you, and pray for strength during those times to pray and listen to God. 

Rest 

Lord, during this season of Lent, help us make time to rest and reflect on the lessons around us every day. From Cain's original sin in Genesis to the sins we see in the world today, there are many ways we can learn, grow, and empathize with others. Help us to use this time to reflect and reset as we pray throughout Lent and remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Amen. 

About the Author 

Sara Simonds is a mother and wife in the Atlanta area, an active member of Shallowford Presbyterian Church. She is a recovering corporate working mom and is using this time to read the bible, reflect on the impact of religion in her life, and enjoy a slower pace as much as she can with two small children.