The answer I was taught as a child in Sunday School was that Cain's offering was inadequate because it wasn't an animal. The idea underlying this is that for an offering to be acceptable to God it had to be a blood sacrifice.
Cain was a rebellious and proud man. He wanted to do things his own way - not God's. God asked for first fruits and gave was he was willing to discard instead. His brother Abel, on the other hand, had a God-seeking heart. He was willing to obey The Lord's commands and brought the prescribed sacrifice of his best for the Lord. Cain harbored hatred, deceit, and anger in his heart. He gave in to his passions and greed. His sacrifice and lack of repentance after God personally chastised him exposes his sinful heart. If Cain had accepted God's correction, God would have forgiven him.
When God asks us to do things a certain way, we must obey Him without question. However, God is not looking for obedience out of fear of punishment (though fear is the beginning of wisdom), God is looking for us to want to obey because we love Him supremely, above all things.
I pray this response finds you well and answers your question. Be blessed ing Christ!
The scripture says. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4.
Now faith comes by hearing the word of God.
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.
So apparently they were instructed to offer what Abel offered which we find in Genesis 4:4.
"And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:"
This was a sacrifice pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ, who would later come and be a sacrfice for the whole world. John 1:29. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Faith comes by hearing the word, so apparently Adam may have preached this to them, Abel demonstrated his faith by his offering. "Obedience and belief in what he was commanded to do.
Cain demonstrated unbelief by disregarding and disbelieving in what he was told.
Look at Gods response to Cain.
"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Genesis 4:5-7.
Under the old covenant they offered up sacrifices pointing to one to come (Jesus).
The death of Christ ended that Covenant. read Hebrews 9:13-20.
Now we offer up ourselves.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1.
I think you're asking about Cain's offering to God in Gen 4:3-5.
This is just speculation, but it maybe had to do with their heart and motivations. Abel's offering was a bit higher quality as a blood sacrifice from an animal rather than Cain offering just crops, but I think God saw into Cain's heart and saw what he intended.
Genesis 4:4-7 (KJV) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Hebrews 11:4 (KJV) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Cain was a rebellious and proud man. He wanted to do things his own way - not God's. God asked for first fruits and gave was he was willing to discard instead. His brother Abel, on the other hand, had a God-seeking heart. He was willing to obey The Lord's commands and brought the prescribed sacrifice of his best for the Lord. Cain harbored hatred, deceit, and anger in his heart. He gave in to his passions and greed. His sacrifice and lack of repentance after God personally chastised him exposes his sinful heart. If Cain had accepted God's correction, God would have forgiven him.
When God asks us to do things a certain way, we must obey Him without question. However, God is not looking for obedience out of fear of punishment (though fear is the beginning of wisdom), God is looking for us to want to obey because we love Him supremely, above all things.
I pray this response finds you well and answers your question. Be blessed ing Christ!
The scripture says. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4.
Now faith comes by hearing the word of God.
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17.
So apparently they were instructed to offer what Abel offered which we find in Genesis 4:4.
"And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:"
This was a sacrifice pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ, who would later come and be a sacrfice for the whole world. John 1:29. "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Faith comes by hearing the word, so apparently Adam may have preached this to them, Abel demonstrated his faith by his offering. "Obedience and belief in what he was commanded to do.
Cain demonstrated unbelief by disregarding and disbelieving in what he was told.
Look at Gods response to Cain.
"But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." Genesis 4:5-7.
Under the old covenant they offered up sacrifices pointing to one to come (Jesus).
The death of Christ ended that Covenant. read Hebrews 9:13-20.
Now we offer up ourselves.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1.
I hope that helps.
God bless.
This is just speculation, but it maybe had to do with their heart and motivations. Abel's offering was a bit higher quality as a blood sacrifice from an animal rather than Cain offering just crops, but I think God saw into Cain's heart and saw what he intended.
Here's the requested scriptures.
Genesis 4:4-7 (KJV) And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Hebrews 11:4 (KJV) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Welcome to the site and
God bless.
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