This would not be a puzzle at all if Cain appeared before the Lord empty-handed or if he did not appear at all. But the twist is that, over time, Cain also brought an offering to the Lord just like Abel. He believes in God, even recognizes man’s need to get closer to God. Cain was not an irreligious man but he did his duty.
Genesis 4: 2-5
Now, Abel tended flocks, and Cain tilled the land. 3 As time passed, Cain brought some fruits of the land as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering: portions of fat from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked favorably on Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not look favorably on Cain and his offering. Then Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
It is not weird? Both bring offerings to the Lord. But God does not look favorably on Cain’s offering. On the surface it seems as if the Lord is biased, unjust and inequitable in considering the offering of only one brother. But why? Is there a deeper meaning to this rejection? It’s time to dig into God’s Word, search for clues, and investigate this case thoroughly to uncover the truth about Cain and Abel’s character, motives, and actions.
1. SOMETHING VS. THE RIGHT THING
In Genesis 4:7 we come to a GOLDEN KEY to solve this case. Lord tells Cain in Genesis 4:7, If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you don’t do the right thing, sin is lurking at your door; it wants to have you, but you must rule it.”
The key word here is “RIGHT” in Hebrew YATAB (?????), it also carries the meanings “GOOD, WELL, NICE OR NICE”. It is evident from God’s question to Cain that he knew what the right offering was, but he did not offer the right offering. Instead Abel offers the just offering and his offering is accepted by the Lord.
ABEL PRESENTED “THE JUST OFFERING” TO THE LORD, AN OFFERING PLEASANT IN THE EYES OF GOD, ACCORDING TO THE REGULATION AND WILL OF GOD.
CAIN ALSO BROUGHT AN OFFERING BUT “IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT OFFERING” IT WAS PLEASANT IN THE EYES OF CAIN BUT ACCORDING TO THE NORM AND THE WILL OF GOD IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT OFFERING.
point to ponder
Do we pay attention to what the Lord requires of us?
Are we interested in knowing His side of the story, what is pleasing in God’s eyes?
Are we interested in seeking what is right according to God’s will (seeking the Kingdom of God and His justice)? Or are we content to do something for the Lord?
2. OBEDIENCE VS. DISOBEDIENCE
How did Cain and Abel know to offer the right sacrifice? It is evident that the Lord had already given them the CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS regarding the offerings. You remember that even in the case of their parents (Adam and Eve), God gave them specific instructions regarding the tree of the knowledge of Good and Good. Evil. But it was their own decision to make the right decision using their FREE WILL since the Lord had given them the authority to choose for themselves.
So what are your options?
ABEL CHOOSE TO OBEY AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY GOD
(WORD OF GOD) BUT CAIN CHOOSES TO DISOBEY AND NEGLECT THE INSTRUCTION GIVEN BY GOD (WORD OF GOD)
Point to Ponder
The same principle applies even today. According to recent research, more than 80% of regular churchgoers do not read or study the Bible. The Word of God clearly says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17. How do we continue to walk in faith if we don’t read and listen to the Word of God?
At this time there are numerous spiritual, socializing activities in the Church and that sometimes replace time and passion for the word of God. We cannot worship God without the truth in our hearts. “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in TRUTH.” John 4:23
What is my choice today, do I choose the Word of God?
Joshua 1:8
Always keep this Book of the Law on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
3. THE WAY OF GOD VS. THE WAY OF CAIN
Jude 1:11 says, “Woe to them! because they have gone THE WAY OF CAIN”
What is this “WAY OF CAIN?”
John 14:6 says, “I AM THE WAY, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me”
The scripture is very clear that there is only one way to approach God that is provided by God Himself, that is the blood of the lamb. There are spiritual laws that govern our approach to God. People cannot invent their own ways to approach God by violating spiritual laws. We cannot approach God by ourselves but by THE WAY provided by God.
ABEL OFFERS A SACRIFICE IN FAITH ADHERING TO THE PATH PROVIDED BY GOD HIMSELF. ABEL DOES NOT TRY TO INVENT A NEW WAY BUT HAS FAITH IN THE WAY GOD PROVIDED HIM.
Hebrews 11:4 says,
BY FAITH Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
by which he attained testimony that he was righteous.
Rather, CAIN TRIES TO APPROACH GOD ON HIS OWN TERMS AND NOT ON GOD’S TERMS. Cain prefers to approach God through a bloodless sacrifice, not the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ that is typified in Abel’s sacrifice. CAIN DISREGARDS THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY GOD ON HOW TO APPROACH HIM AND TRIES TO INVENT A NEW WAY TO APPROACH GOD THROUGH HIS OWN WORKS.
Proverbs 14:12 says:
“There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death.
point to ponder
The Bible is very clear that we cannot earn God’s favor by works, systems, merits, performance, good deeds, etc. but by faith in THE WAY provided by God through the blood sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We need to trust in the grace of God. But as we can see humanity is constantly inventing new paths through good deeds to avoid the only TRUE PATH.
4. SPIRITUALITY VS. RELIGIOSITY
The paradoxical nature of Cain’s character is that he was not an irreligious man, he is a man who performs religious rituals and duties BUT without trusting the word of God and without having faith in God’s provided Way. .
1 John 3:12 says:
We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother.
And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing bad,
and his brother had been doing the right thing.
John clearly says that Cain was of the evil one, Cain was a religious man who murdered his own brother. As we can see a religious man who neglects the WORD OF GOD is a dangerous man. Given the right opportunity, Cain shows his true colors. Though religious, Cain was an unspiritual man, ignorant of God’s Word and God’s provided WAY.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14,
“The natural man has not received the things that are of the Spirit of God;
they are madness to him, and he cannot understand them,
for they are to be spiritually discerned.”
Genesis 4:16 says:
So Cain departed from the presence of Jehovah
and he dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
The path Cain takes begins with ignoring God’s Word, then leads to an unrepentant heart for offering a wrong sacrifice to God, and ends in rebellion and then murder. Cain does not repent of his actions and walks away from the presence of God. The important spiritual truth involved in this is the spiritual separation that has taken place between him and the Lord. The danger is that he enters into a kind of life in which he has spiritually separated himself from the Lord.
point to ponder
Am I a believer who participates in religious activities regularly but disconnected from God? What are my priority rituals or a relationship?
According to Gallup polling results, many countries rank among the world’s religious countries, indicating that people are religious. But the world’s high level of religiosity disconnected from a deeper sense of spirituality and a relationship is associated with suicide, frustration, broken relationships, etc. It cries out for the Gospel and a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
5. THE LEGACY OF CAIN VS. THE LEGACY OF ABEL
From a human perspective, Cain gives birth to a remarkable civilization and some of humanity’s greatest inventions came through Cain’s line. But from God’s perspective, all these achievements do not glorify God and God is not at the center of his achievements & lifestyle. In addition to the great inventions, a great moral corruption also arose through the line of Cain.
Cain was the Father of murderers and fratricide (Genesis 4:8 – Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him).
Cain was the Father of the city builders (Genesis 4:17 – Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.)
Lamech was the Father of polygamy (Genesis 4:19 – Lamech married two women)
boar; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise cattle. (Genesis 4:20)
Jubal; he was the father of all who play string instruments and flute. (Genesis 4:21)
Lamech kills two men. (Genesis 4:23 Lamech said to his wives:
“Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, listen to my words.
I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for wounding me.)
Now you can see that in this line, there is a growing rebellion against God.
On the contrary we can see the Legacy of Abel in Hebrews 11, by faith Abel still speaks even though he is dead.
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain.
By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.
And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
point to ponder
What is the legacy I leave behind for my children, my family, my colleagues, my neighbors?
Am I a man of faith who seeks the Kingdom of God and his justice?
Or am I a successful man by human standards but separated from God by Kingdom standards?
The above discussion explained in detail the differences in character, attitudes, and actions of Cain and Abel and the reasons behind the Lord’s rejection of Cain’s offering. Although Cain had the opportunity to make amends, he chose not to. When we zoom in on the details we can see a world of difference between Cain & Abel’s offerings and the reason for the Lord’s decision is very clear.
I NEVER KNEW THEM!
In Matthew chapter 7 Jesus sheds light on another classic example of rejection yet to occur. As in the case of Cain and Abel, people come before the Lord with great offerings, long lists of achievements at the end, but the LORD clearly tells them, “I never knew you!”
Matthew 7: 21-23
“Not everyone who says to me: ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but ONLY HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. 22 Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and perform many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will tell you clearly:…