Why Did God Refuse Cain’s Offering, Yet Accept Abel’s Offering?
Genesis 4 has a well-known story of perhaps the first offering made by man to God. For the casual reader, the question may be asked what was so wrong with Cain’s offering? Did Cain not bring from the fruit of his labor as a “tiller of the ground?” Bible commentors posit that what was wrong with Cain’s offering was that he did not offer an animal sacrifice like Abel seemingly did. How was Cain to know this? Why should Cain be faulted for bringing what God has blessed him with from the “fruit of the ground.” Does not the fruit of the ground sustain our life? Should not an offering of this type symbolize an offering worthy to be offered? Yet, the Bible is clear that,
“…And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard (“respect” KJV, “not look with favor” NIV, “he was not pleased” NET) …” Gen 4:4-5
Why? It seems to me that the key to understanding this comes from the text itself. We read in Gen 3:4 that, “…Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.” When we go back a few verses we come across the judgement of God of Adam in Gen 3:17-19,
“Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’;
Cursed is the ground because of you;
In toil you will eat of it
All the days of your life.
“Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the plants of the field;
By the sweat of your face
You will eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return.” Gen 3:17-19
God curses the ground and decrees to Adam that he will return to the very place where he was taken from. He will toil to eat the plants and bread till he returns to the ground from where he was taken. While most see this as a sort of a blessing, I think the text is trying to show us the way man is to die by eating of the cursed fruits of the ground. The judgment is tied to the sin because when we look back further in Genesis, we find that God brought forth life from the ground. From the ground, God created man, all the different kinds of animals and the fruit of the trees for food,
“Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Gen 2:7
“Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, …” Gen 2:19
“Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Gen 2:9
Why would an offering of food that man could eat to live be a bad form of offering? The Bible is clear that God cursed the ground. God has judged and He cursed the symbol of life. Yet, we are told that it is from this cursed source that Cain brought his offering!
It may be counter intuitive to argue that an offering of food was unacceptable (or God had “no regard” NASB or “respect” KJV or “not look with favor” NIV, “he was not pleased” NET) which we may see as worthy of offering to God since this would symbolize life giving characteristics. What Abel seems to have understood, is that the first gospel message that was given, was a promise of a seed or an offspring for man’s salvation. Gen 3:15. It is not in the promises of those things that leads to greater life in our current sin-filled worldly state that we are to thank God with our offerings. Cain did not appreciate and recognize this from God’s pronouncement or judgement. Part of the judgement of Adam was that he was to now eat of the fruits of the cursed ground which would instead of giving him further life, it will lead to death. It is clear, the death of Adam and therefore of all mankind would come about as man eats of the bread that grows out of the ground which is now cursed. Gen 3:17-19. It seems clear that God’s intent was as man ate from the fruits of the trees of the garden of Eden, they were to enjoy life without seeing death. Gen 2:16-17, Gen 3:22. What was meant as a blessing was now a curse due to sin or man’s disobedience. Abel understood this and Cain did not, which is why we read in Hebrews,
“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.” Heb 11:4
It was by faith that Abel offered a better sacrifice. Why? Because Abel recognized and understood God’s judgment and His promises of a new life.
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25
This story leads us to, perhaps, a fuller understanding of God’s will for us. His will is for us to have life and not die. It is for us to strive for the life eternal with Him.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16
A time where He can truly say, “and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Cor 6:16.
The Christian faith can lead to contradictory ideas.
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25
“So the last shall be first, and the first last.” Matt 20:16
“…he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.” Luke 9:48
I venture to guess many of us, like Cain, offer to God a thank offering for the blessings that better our life and that which sustains our life here on this world. How many times have I offered to God my offerings that I may receive more here in this world? This is not to argue that offerings to God for all His blessings should not be recognized or honored with tithes and offerings. But, if we “only” offer our regular offerings to God for a better life on this Earth, we fail to truly understand the true blessing He wishes for us. Our offerings must be given with the understanding of God’s true desire for us. We must offer to God our offering by faith. God’s will for us is to by faith offer a better offering like Abel who seems to have understood the Gospel message and offered his offerings that showed his appreciation for God’s true gift to mankind. God’s will has always been for us to choose the eternal life that He intends for His people in heaven.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…” Deut 30:19
Dr. Jae Park is a physician practicing in Warsaw, IN and attends the Living Word Fellowship in Berrien Springs, MI. He is also a sponsor for the English Compass.