Cain And Abel

by Chris Simmons

When considering the historical framework of God’s relationship with mankind and His plan to reconcile man to Himself, an important study after consideration of lessons learned from Adam and Eve, is the account of Cain and Abel in Genesis chapter four. It’s important for all Bible students to know and understand the lessons of faith and obedience taught by the first human offspring of mankind.

Above all else, Bible students need to learn what true, complete faith really is. In Genesis 4:3-4 we read that “it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions.” We need to note and appreciate the fact that both sought to worship God, but for reasons we will discuss later, each did so in different ways. Next we read of God’s response to each son’s offerings in verses four and five, “And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.” Why is that? Why did God have “regard” for Abel’s sacrifice but not for Cain’s? To answer this question, Bible students need turn and read Hebrews 11:4 which states, “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.” The Hebrew writer states that the fundamental difference is that Abel’s sacrifice was “better” because it was offered “by faith.” How did Abel come to offer his sacrifice to God “by faith”? Well, Romans 10:17 teaches that the hearing of God’s will is the source of faith and thus, it is a forced conclusion that God had in some “portion” and in some “way” (Hebrews 1:1) communicated His will to Cain and Abel regarding how He desired to be worshipped. Simply put, Abel chose to submit to God’s will by faith and Cain did not. Man has no right to offer worship to God that he has devised in his own heart as Cain had done (or as Jeroboam had done, I Kings 12:33). It is not revealed that God ever said not to offer “the fruit of the ground” in sacrifice unto Him, but according to Heb. 11:4, it is clear that He did reveal how He desired to be worshipped by both Cain and Abel, as God is “not one to show partiality” (Acts 10:34-35).

Cain’s reaction to God’s regard for his brother’s sacrifice and His disregard for his own was one of anger and dejection (his “countenance had fallen”). In other words, Cain was simply mad and he decided to pout about it. God had a simple question for Cain regarding his anger – “Why?” What reason did Cain have to be angry or dejected? Cain is essentially asked the same question that Jonah was asked in Jonah 4:4, “do you have a good reason to be angry?” Shall we react in anger when God does not accept the assertion of our will above His? Aaron understood this point when his sons “offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1-2). Aaron could have become angry and tried to defend his sons’ self-willed worship but rather, he exercised some wisdom and “kept silent” after Moses reminded him of what the Lord said, “by those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored” (Leviticus 10:3). Cain simply did not treat God with the divine holiness, honor and respect He deserved when he offered worship that was not “by faith.”

Cain’s problem was the problem of sin. He stood unapproved by God. The solution was simple. God simply told Cain, that if he began to live life in faithful obedience, that he would feel better. “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?” (Genesis 4:7). God’s favorable “regard” was available to both Cain and Abel. Despite his sin, God extended the opportunity for Cain to “do well.” The ball was in Cain’s court as to what he was going to do about his sin. Unfortunately, Cain, as many do today, chose to compound his first sin with another sin by murdering his brother.

Cain’s murder of his brother prompted another question from God. The Lord asked, “what have you done?” (Genesis 4:10). This was not asked out of ignorance but rather God asked this of Cain to arouse a consciousness of the sanctity of human life and the gravity of the sin he had committed (Genesis 4:8). The flagrant deed that Cain had committed cried out to God for accountability. God said, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). What was the voice of his brother’s blood saying? It testified of a lack of reverence and respect for God’s word. It spoke of his selfish desires and his uncontrolled anger and pride. It bore witness of the devastating consequences of temptations that were not resisted or overcome. It proclaimed a severed relationship with God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Indeed, our sins speak loudly against us. As Moses said, “your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Death could not silence the sinfulness of Cain or the faithfulness of Abel as we learn from Hebrews 11:4 that, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.” It is God’s intention that we learn from Abel’s faithful worship and turn away from any worship that we may devise in our own hearts.