In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Genesis 4:3–5
This is one of the more difficult stories in the Bible and has been the subject of much speculation. Why does Yahweh God look with favor on Abel’s offering, but not on Cain’s? We are told, in verse 2, that “Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.” It makes sense, then, that Abel would bring a sacrifice from his flocks and Cain would bring a sacrifice from the soil. So, why is God unhappy with Cain’s offering?
Sometimes we ask questions which God’s Word is not interested in answering. To us, the most significant question in this passage is “What was wrong with Cain’s offering?” Now, if God had thought that the inadequate nature of Cain’s offering was important in this passage, He would have told us. But He didn’t. What this reveals is that, in spite of our insatiable curiosity with this question, it is not what God is concerned about.
Maybe part of the issue is that we can relate all too well with Cain. We too wonder if the offerings we bring are pleasing to God. We wonder if what we are doing for God is acceptable to Him. In a results oriented world, it is easy to focus on the external.
The tendency to focus on what is not found in this passage points to one of the pitfalls we face in studying God’s Word. It is so easy to project onto God’s Word our own concerns. But maybe instead of obsessing over what is not there, we should focus on what is there. Actually, the passage gives us some pretty strong indications that there is something more going on than the content of Cain’s offering.
First, did you notice how Cain responded to God’s disapproval? “Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” A Godly man may have responded to God’s disfavor, “Lord, please teach me what I need to do to make this right!” Instead, Cain’s response is one of anger.
Second, in verse 7, God reveals that this is a sin issue, when He asks “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” We do not know exactly what it is that Cain has done wrong, but we do know that Cain is allowing desires that are not of God to control his heart and his actions.
Finally, we know that Cain’s response was to murder his brother. As Jesus makes clear, in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:21-24), the key issue with murder goes beyond the act to the anger which causes it. In other words, if we harbor anger in our hearts, even though we do not murder, we are still guilty of sin.
So, only by speculation could we divine whether there was a particular issue with the nature of Cain’s sacrifice. But the passage itself reveals plenty that is askew with Cain including his angry reaction, his giving in to sin and his murderous response. It would seem, then, that Cain’s heart was the issue.
How like me to focus on the act when the real issue surrounds the heart. The truth is, I may behave in a “right” manner, but that does not mean that my heart is right. Time and again, Scripture makes clear that God’s concern is with the heart: “I the LORD search the heart…” (Jeremiah 17:10); “…He knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:21); “For the Word of God…judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Though it may be more expedient to focus on what we say and do, God is more concerned with who we are. So, let us not neglect to do and say that which brings glory to His name. But let us also make sure that “the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts” are right before Him. In this way, we will heed the wisdom of Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
In Christ, Pastor Dan