Life outside the Garden of Eden meant that there was no longer direct contact between the holy God and the people that He had created to bear His image. [cp Gen 1:26-28; 3:8, 24] While we never truly get to witness how Adam and Eve approached God again after their sin, the Bible does register the approach of Cain and Abel with their offerings as they come before Him in worship.
Both men offered to God a gift from the labor of their hands. Cain, “a tiller of the ground” like his father before him [cp Gen 2:5, 15; 3:17-19, 22-23], “brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord”. [vv2-3, NKJV] Abel, “a keeper of sheep”, “brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.” [vv2, 4, NKJV] In the Genesis account we are shown immediately how God “responded” to each man’s act of worship. First, we are told that “the Lord respected Abel and his offering” [v4, NKJV; emphasis mine], but then we read that “…He did not respect Cain and his offering” [v5, NKJV; emphasis mine]. Though both men had come seeking God with their offerings, only one had been accepted. Read that again. The text tells us that God “respected Abel and his offering” [v4; emphasis mine] and “did not respect Cain and his offering” [v5; emphasis mine]. Only one person had been accepted as he worshiped – God was looking first at the men and only then at what they were bringing.
Some have suggested that perhaps Cain was not accepted because his offering was a bloodless grain offering, while Abel offered a blood sacrifice from his flock and was accepted in virtue of the blood that was shed. While that may be the case, there is more from the text here and also some indication from Abel’s mention as an example in the New Testament that helps us to see more clearly what made the difference in God’s accepting or rejecting them.
1. While Cain is mentioned first in the text as bringing an offering, it is stated that he brought it “in the process of time”. [v3 NKJV] The literal rendering of this text would be “at the end of days” [cf the YLT version, for example]. It is possible that Cain brought to the Lord the grains that were left after the harvest had been fully gathered and stored. Abel’s offering, however, was “of the firstborn” and “of their fat”. [v4 NKJV] While God does not need the things we have to offer, what we offer and how we offer it will show whether worshiping God is a priority in our lives or if worship is merely an “afterthought” for the time and resources that remain after we have done what we wished for ourselves.
2. Cain’s reaction to God’s response also reveals a lot. We are told that “Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” [v5 NKJV; emphasis mine] Was Cain interested in what God desired, or in what he desired to give God? Worship is not about what we feel, what we “get out of it” , or what we like – worship is about pleasing God and serving Him, according to His will and His desire. How would you respond if in studying the Bible you found out that what you were offering to God as worship was not acceptable to Him? Would you be upset with God for not accepting what you wanted to give Him, or would you be thankful that your error had been exposed so that you could seek to offer Him what He desires instead? Too often, we may approach worship as Cain did here, based on what we feel that God would like or on what appeals to us. Jesus’ words to the very religious Jewish Pharisees are a fitting warning against such an attitude. “Hypocrites!” He called them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” [Matthew 15:7-9 NKJV; emphasis mine] The Pharisees became angry with Jesus, rejected Him, and eventually had Him killed. Have we effectively “killed” Jesus in our lives, rejecting His word and His will in favor of what we would rather offer to God? [see Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-29]
3. The Lord’s words to Cain reveal even more of what is at issue. First, God asks Cain to consider why he has become so visibly upset. [v6] When we are emotionally charged, it is always a good idea to slow down and take a moment to consider why. What has caused me to feel a certain way? Is my strong feeling rooted in the truth of God, or is it merely rooted in what I believed to be true? The only way I can know for sure is to test my feelings and my beliefs against His word.
God then challenges Cain: “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” [v7 NKJV; emphasis mine] God clearly indicates that Cain had not “done well”. This tells us that Cain knew what to do, but that in giving his offering to God he chose to do differently. The book of Hebrews reveals plainly that “by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” [Hebrews 11:4] Seeing that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” [Rom 10:17 NKJV; emphasis mine], it is safe to conclude that Abel’s faithful sacrifice was in accord with what God had revealed to him, while Cain’s was not.
Note also that what God wanted “to accept” was Cain himself. God did not say that Cain’s offering would be accepted if he did well, but that he would! The offering itself only gauges the heart of the giver. The God who made the world and everything in it does not need anything [cp Acts 17:25]. What he wants is the hearts of men – but there is a rival! Sin’s “desire” is also “for us” , but with God’s word guiding our lives we can “rule over it”! [cp 2 Peter 1:2-4; etc] After all, it is God who made us in His image and endowed us with “dominion” over all creation. [cp Gen 1:26-28]
Just because someone chooses to worship God, this does not mean that their worship will be acceptable to Him. Sins, the traditions of men, and our own preferences and desires often get in the way as we seek to come before the holy God who made us. Only when we have been accepted in Christ – our sins forgiven, our traditions, preferences and desires crucified with Him – will we be able to offer sacrifices that are acceptable to God. [cp 1 Pet 2:4-5; Eph 1:6; Gal 5:24; etc] And what is the acceptable sacrifice that He desires? It is US! If we “do well”, we will be accepted! As the apostle Paul teaches, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” [Romans 12:1-2]
God is clearly not obligated to accept all that is offered as worship. Are you certain that what you are offering as worship is acceptable to Him? Are you certain that you are “doing well” according to His word, so that you may be accepted? We would love to help you better understand His will for you, that you may worship Him in Spirit and in truth. [see John 4:23-24]