“And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.”
Genesis 4:3
Have you ever wondered why God didn’t approve Cain’s offering? Did you feel that God was unjust, partial, and complicated in His decision? Perhaps you thought that since Cain brought offerings obtained from his own work, God should have accepted them. After reading that passage from the Bible, many thoughts might have crossed your mind, leaving some questions answered and others unanswered.
Today, we will explore the reasons why God didn’t accept Cain’s offering. “And the LORD said unto Cain, ‘Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.'” (Genesis 4:6-7)
These verses provide an answer. However, they raise another question: How well could Cain have done better than bringing offerings from his farm produce? God is not an author of confusion. When He requires the right thing to be done, He has already given the instructions to follow. Cain should have known that an offering made with blood would be accepted. Even when Adam and Eve sinned and were naked, God made the first sacrifice by killing an animal (shedding blood) and using its skin to make coverings for them. Just as our parents pass down values and history to us, Cain’s parents must have passed down God’s expectations to him and his brother.
But Cain chose to serve God in his own way. He didn’t serve God as God wanted, which is why God said that his offerings would have been accepted if he did the right thing. Let’s assume that Cain didn’t know the right thing to do; when God asked him why he was angry, he could have spoken to God. In their time, they might have had better access to hearing from God. He could have asked God what he needed to do for his sacrifice to be accepted. Instead, he allowed sin to overcome him and killed his brother.
God sees our hearts and knows what we are capable of. Although Cain was a farmer, he could have exchanged his crops for an animal, thereby doing the right thing. However, he chose to make excuses and serve God in his own way. His heart was corrupt and unrepentant. He preferred giving excuses and being envious rather than apologising and doing the right thing.
Are you also serving God in a way that pleases you rather than following His demands? Are you pretending to honor God to gain recognition from others? Are you an excuse-giver, avoiding responsibilities instead of accepting your mistakes and striving to be better?
Today’s message calls all of us to return to God with a heart that serves Him the way He desires. “And ye shall seek me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) If we are willing to search for God wholeheartedly, we will surely find Him. Remember, just like you can’t fight God and win, you can’t serve God the way you wish and find Him; His ways aren’t ours. Shalom!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for this eye-opening message. Thank you for answering the questions in my heart. Please forgive me for allowing the devil to manipulate me into serving you with stubbornness. Forgive me for being selfish and arrogant. Oh Lord, please help me to serve you the right way. Help me to keep your commands always in Jesus’ name. Help me to see and understand the way you do. Amen.
This message serves as a reminder of God’s love and guidance in our lives. May it enrich your spiritual journey. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, and for more resources to support your spiritual growth, click here.
Wishing you a wonderful day ahead!
