Cain’s Offering Rejected
Cain’s offering was rejected by God because it was not what God asked for. He reluctantly acknowledged the claims of God upon him. A spirit of rebellion made him comply to God’s command in a way of his own choosing rather than to follow precisely the plan ordained by God, which was to offer an animal sacrifice.
This rebellious son offered a bloodless offering – fruits of the ground while Abel offered an animal sacrifice (Genesis 4: 2,3). He offered a gift that expressed no repentance for sin. The Bible teaches “without shedding of blood there is no remission,” for “it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul’” (Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:11).
While Abel’s sacrifice was a demonstration of faith in the blood of the future Savior (Hebrews 11:4), his brother’s offering, in contrast, was an attempt to earn salvation by his own efforts. He failed to realize that partial, formal compliance with the explicit requirements of God could not earn God’s favor.
When the evil son noticed the absence of any visible sign of God’s acceptance of his offering, he burned with anger against God and felt fierce resentment towards his brother. There was no sorrow for sin in his heart. His behavior reflected that of an unrepentant sinner who does not yield to correction.
The rejection of the rebellious son’s offering did not necessarily mean that God rejected him at this point. In mercy and patience, God was ready to give him another chance. So the Lord said to him, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?” (Genesis 4:6, 7).
But instead of repenting of his sin, his heart hardened against God and he insisted on his evil ways. And his hate led him to kill his brother Abel. The Bible states that this evil son’s “works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). How different things would have been for him if only he yielded to God’s love.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
