An Acceptable Offering to God

¹ Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” ² And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. ³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, ⁴ and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. ⁶ The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? ⁷ If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:1-7, ESV)

Only three chapters into the book of Genesis the serpent arrived causing sin to rear its ugly head.  He twisted God’s words to Eve and she was tempted to have the knowledge the serpent spoke of.  She was tempted to be like God.  Although the serpent was partially right and she did not physically die, her actions brought spiritual death into this world and not just for her, but also for all mankind.  No matter how much we may try, sin will always spill into the lives of those around us.  And here we see it didn’t take very long down the family line.

This time it wasn’t the serpent that showed up, but a monster of a different kind, the big green eye monster, JEALOUSY!  There I’ve said it!  Cain was angry with God because God did not accept his offering, however God accepted Abel’s (his brother’s) offering.  He was angry with God and jealous of his brother. 

Now of course we know God did not reject his offering according to the type of offering it was.  We know God is not unjust.  God had given Cain the ground to work, therefore Cain should have had an acceptable offering to bring to God from what God had given him.  Abel’s offering came from the firstborn of his flock, which was of great value of what he had.  Abel truly showed his heart and desire to please God by giving God the best of what he had been given.  Obviously Cain did not offer the best of what he could, because God did not accept his offering.  Ultimately it would come down to the matter of the heart.  And right here, we see Cain’s heart revealed. 

God even calls him out on it and gives him another chance. ⁷If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7).   In other words, He was saying, get a hold of your sin before it gets a hold of you.  And same word still applies to us today just as much as it did to Cain back then.  The Apostle Paul warns us of this in Ephesians, ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:26-27, ESV).  Anger left unattended and un-dealt with gives the devil an opportunity.  Which was exactly what happened with Cain and he killed his brother.  Seriously, did he think by eliminating his brother God would change his mind?  Did he think by taking out the competition (so to say) it would make his offering pleasing to God?

What I find most disturbing in this story was Cain’s coldhearted response to God when He asked him about his brother.  It brings a chilling effect, that Cain has zero regard for the value of life he just killed off.  No wonder why God cautioned him to rule over it.  Realize God did not take lightly Cain killing his brother. 

Back in Genesis 3, the serpent was right when he told Eve that she would gain knowledge of good and evil, but she quickly found out it was a knowledge of evil I’m sure she would have much rather never known.  And Cain followed in those same footsteps, as he said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear” (Genesis 4:13).  God sent him out as a fugitive, yet He still covered him with protection.

I heard a Seminary Professor say, “If you have a problem with me, than you have a problem with my Heavenly Father!”  That was exactly what Cain brought upon himself. 

Jesus addresses the exact issue of anger against one another in Matthew 5.  ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24, ESV). 

Anger, the umbrella of our feelings and emotions, usually has an underlying feeling or emotion behind it.  Is there any anger (maybe jealousy, resentment, bitterness) in your life right now that needs to be tended to?  Its desire is contrary to you and maybe it’s time to rule over it.  After all we don’t want to continue to give the devil any opportunity!

Father God, thank you, you did not leave us in sin or leave us as wandering fugitives on this earth.  Through the blood of Jesus we have been washed clean of our sin and brought back into relationship with you.  Jesus you came to give a new life.  Because You, Jesus, have given us the Holy Spirit, we no longer have to walk in the old self of sin, which is corrupt through deceitful desires.  Rather being renewed in the spirit of our minds, we can put on the new self, created after Your likeness, in true righteousness and holiness.  I pray Lord we would put away all falsehood and speak truth with one another.  Lord, show us any area of anger that may be brewing and needs to be dealt with.  By the power of the Holy Spirit would you grant us the strength and honestly to rule over it, leaving no opportunity for the devil!  May you fill us with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness, as in Christ You forgave us.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.  (Ephesians 4:22-32, paraphrase).