Cain's Gift
Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 09:48PM 
photograph by Dawn AllynEarlier this week, I began to toy with the notion of writing about Cain’s question in Genesis 4:9 ("Am I my brother’s keeper?") from the perspective of one who dislikes pat answers. (Hint: the answer may be "no." I’ll write that post soon.) As I reflected on the tale of Cain and Abel, a question nagged me like a neon sign buzzing and blinking outside a bedroom window. How did Cain know that God preferred Abel’s offering over his? The scripture doesn’t say.
While pondering that thought, two related questions, likewise unanswered in the text, joined the buzz in my brain. First, why did God not appreciate Cain’s offering? Second, why were the brothers bringing offerings to God anyway? The text indicates no such request or command from the Almighty until long past Cain and Abel’s lifetimes.
Where scripture is silent we can look for clues by reading between the lines. We shouldn’t make stuff up, but has the recorder of this "first family" history left us a few scraps we can patch into a more complete picture? May we also extrapolate answers from our own experience?
Let’s look at the offerings. The NLT Bible translation says Cain brought God "a gift of his farm produce" versus the "several choice lambs from the best" of Abel’s flock. This wording similar to that in other translations implies that Cain randomly grabbed something to offer while Abel specifically chose the best of his best for God. These differences may have played out as a pattern over years. Nothing in scripture says these offerings were a one-time thing.
Why did Cain and Abel bring offerings to God that had not yet been demanded? Was it instinctual? Was it Cain, the elder brother, who began the practice and Abel who followed suit but bested his big brother? Or, did Cain see Abel being blessed through his sacrifices and then copy Abel?
It was during younger brother Seth’s lifetime that people began to worship God (Genesis 4:26). Seth was born after Abel’s death. But the Bible also says that Seth was a replacement for Abel (Genesis 4:25), so possibly Abel had begun God-worship and his offerings were a part of this worship.
No matter who gave first, Abel gave better. God’s lack of enthusiasm for Cain’s effort may be explained in Proverbs 21:2-3 which says, "People may think they are doing what is right, but the LORD examines the heart. The LORD is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices," and Proverbs 21:27 which says, "God loathes the sacrifice of an evil person, especially when it is brought with ulterior motives." (NLT)
God reads the heart of every human. God knew the evil in Cain before Cain committed murder. God knows whether our tithes and offerings are turned over in a spirit of love and gratitude or not. And we know this about ourselves. So God was displeased and Cain knew it for the same reason―Cain’s heart might have been hidden from his family and friends as he went about working his farm and making a show of worshipping God, but he and God knew the truth.
Reader Comments (8)
Cain's offering came from the ground God had cursed, while Abels offering came by the way God had shown man could be accepted. [God Himself sacrificed a lamb to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned]. Abel came by the lamb, Cain came by the works of his hand.
Today we have these two sacrifices being offered by people. Those who come by the lamb of God, and those who come by the works of their hands that is cursed.
=) I had written this in detail on our site. If you'd like to read on it, let me know.
Sidharth
God required a blood offering, and as Sidharth mentioned, the ground was cursed. It was not until Jesus came that He ended that. That is why it was unpleasing to God.
Blessings!
I agree with both Sidharth and Yvette. However, there is more than one layer to every Bible story; the story of Cain and Abel is also about the acidity of jealousy, as well as about faith versus the dependence on one's works to achieve salvation.
Thank you so very much for this excellent thought provoking article. Now I’d like to address the three questions in your article perhaps to share more light and contribute to the excellent thoughts that are already expressed in the various comments.
1. ("Am I my brother’s keeper?") This was a response to God’s query from Cain. Now the line of God’s questioning reminds me of a similar question God had ask Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” We know and understand that God is all knowing “Omniscient” but yet both questions implies some what as if God is uninformed. Of course, that is not the case however I believe that God wanted Cain, Adam and Eve to locate themselves, to be accountable and expose them to the intents of their own heart. Cain knew exactly what he had done but in response to God, he came in defence and defiant as most of us are like when confronted with the truth. In order to come clean with God he lied saying “I know not, with an attitude.
How did Cain know that God preferred Abel’s offering to his? Cain knew that his brother’s offering was accepted and preferred to his because Genesis 4:4 & 5 lets us understand that God had respect for Abel and his offerings while He had no respect for Cain and his offering. In other words Abel’s offering was accepted and Cain’s was not. Not because God is a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) but he knows and weighs the intents of man’s hearts. This resulted to Cain’s animosity. God had a chat with Cain saying why are you angry and filled with remorse for if you have done well would you not have be accepted? And if you have not done well sin lies at the door and that sin will consume you.
First, why did God not appreciate Cain’s offering? It was a question of what was in his heart. By his actions he did not honour God. Our offering is to honour and worship God. Hebrews 11:4 states that “By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Looking at the typology of both offerings would give us further understanding of why Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted.
Second, why were the brothers bringing offerings to God anyway? Well the only explanation would be that they learnt that from their Parents and a legacy passed on to them. Genesis 4:3 states, “In the process of time it came to pass …. Possibly when they have come of age and understanding of what their parents (only examples) were doing that they did like wise.
My apologies for this rather long comment. I hope this will help prayerfully. Thanks again
I pray that I will always give cheerfully. Lord knows that I've come a long way. Thanks for this post.
THIS was an incredible post! Very thought provoking and it has given me some new revelation! Awesome! Keep them coming!
"However, there is more than one layer to every Bible story".
I agree with you Diane =). However, there is something we need to consider while studying Scriptures. The holy Scriptures are specifically referred to as "Word of God" rather than "words of God". I have always wondered why this was so, and what Abba revealed was that from the beginning to the end of this book there is only one message: Yeshua Ha'Moschiach. Jesus Himself said, "The Scriptures testify of Me...". So whenever I study Scriptures, I make it a point to study it in the light of the "Word of God", even Christ.
This is in fact the aim, the goal, the focus of the ministry of the Holy Spirit.....to reveal, to promote, to advertise Jesus, the Christ. =)
love Sid
I also follow through Google Reader! wcvuef wcvuef - Tory Burch Shoes.