Imagine the look on Cain’s face when he realised that his offering had been rejected and Abel’s had been accepted. What do you think he was feeling? Embarrassed? Probably. Angry? The Bible says he was (Genesis 4:5). Jealous? Definitely! His actions later on show us that. His younger brother’s offering had been accepted and his hadn’t.
Have you ever been jealous of your siblings? I know I have! it’s not a good feeling and it doesn’t make you feel happy at all. And it can make you do some pretty awful things. Cain ended up murdering his brother due to his jealousy. Now, I’m not saying that you’re going to murder your siblings. But jealousy would of course affect your relationship with them. The Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and that includes siblings, or anyone that you may be jealous of.
Jealousy shows that we are still being controlled by our own desires, which is not what our characteristics should be like. If we are supposed to have something, we will have it, if the Lord wills. But it’s according to His will, and being jealous shows that we are not trusting His will for us. So instead of looking at what we desire, look at what has been provided for us.