So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
-Genesis 4:3-5
At first blush, God’s response to Cain and Abel regarding their offerings appears whimsical or capricious: This one I like… that one I don’t… Most alarming, it’s not just the offerings but it’s the men themselves for whom He had regard or no regard.
Is there a basis, then, by which God approved or disapproved of these men and their offerings?
Here are some of the best responses I’ve come across to that question. See what you think.
* Hebrews 11:4 tells us, “by faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.” God saw their hearts and knew their motives. Only Abel came in faith (did Cain come begrudgingly or out of duty?), and this accounts for their different treatment.
* The brothers came to worship with different attitudes and this was reflected in the quality of their gifts. Cain brought only “some produce of the land.” Abel offered the choicest animals from his flock–“firstlings” and “their fat portions” and that’s why God had regard for him.
* Based on Genesis 3:21, we assume God had already taught the principle of “substitutionary death” and directed them to bring an animal sacrifice. Cain’s heart was rebellious (alluded to in Jude 1:11-13) and evil (see 1 John 3:12), and he stubbornly decided to bring his own kind of offering. This is why God had no regard for Cain or his offering.
* In 4:6-7 God both urges Cain to do right and warns him against continuing wrong-doing. A capricious God would not engage in conciliatory dialogue with an angry Cain about doing right and not doing wrong. Further, God’s tone and wording (“Why are you angry…? If you do well…”) seem to indicate that Cain had known the right thing to do with regard to his offering but chose to do otherwise. Sadly, defiant Cain refused this warning, too. (Is this a pattern for him?) Even when confronted with Abel’s murder he gives no indication of repentance.
No, God is not whimsical or capricious. Far from it!As we see here, “The Lord God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; showing lovingkindness to thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished” (Exodus 34:6-7).
Have mercy on me, O Lord. For I am too often guilty of stubbornly doing my own thing my own way rather than carefully following Your directives. Be gracious to me, Father, for I regularly give You less than the best of what I have to offer. Pour out Your compassions on me, O God, when I fail to come to You with a humble and contrite heart. Be merciful to me, Lord Jesus, by the blood of Your Perfect Sacrifice. For, “nothing in my hand I bring; simply to Thy cross I cling.”
Blessings,
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