Why did God REJECT
Cain's offering and worship?

(Submitted by: Irvin)

" . . . Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord.  Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat.

"And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, BUT HE DID NOT RESPECT CAIN AND HIS OFFERING.  And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell." (Genesis 4:2-5, NKJV throughout)

Many have speculated as to why Cain's offerings were not respected. Three factors, however, can be safely assumed as contributing to God's displeasure:

1. The ATTITUDE OF MIND that Cain had with his offerings.

2. The QUALITY of Cain's offerings.

3. Cain did not act in FAITH.

When one considers Cain's jealousy toward his brother that drove him to finally murder him, a poor attitude in giving offerings to God is very plausible. This attitude was likely a factor in offering to God poor quality products rather than the very best.

“You offer defiled food on My altar, but say, 'In what way have we defiled You?'  By saying, 'The table of the Lord is contemptible.'

"'And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil?  And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?  Offer it then to your governor!  WOULD HE BE PLEASED WITH YOU?  Would he accept you favorably?' says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 1:7-8)

Cain's mental attitude was a key factor in displeasing God. God knows man's inner thoughts. The Apostle Paul's writings attest to this fact:

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;  for God loves a cheerful giver." (2Corinthians 9:7)

In the well-known faith chapter of the New Testament, Hebrews 11, the apostle Paul makes it abundantly clear that Abel had faith in God but that, by implication, Cain lacked it:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony . . . BY FAITH Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks." (Hebrews 11:1-2, 4)

Our human nature not only can think evil and hinder us to do good works, but it can also ill dispose us toward those who reject evil and are doers of good works like Abel. No one less than Jesus himself attested to Abel's righteousness before God:

". . . that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of RIGHTEOUS ABEL to the blood of Zechariah . . ." (Matthew 23:35)

We can acquire more of the mind of God, which Abel possessed, by constantly studying His word. If we do not do this our minds can easily be led to the same attitudes that Cain possessed, and be deceived by the devil who is "the GOD OF THIS AGE . . ." (2Corinthians 4:4).

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