Why did God reject Cain's offering? He was a tiller of the ground - he gave the first fruits of what he had. I do not understand why it was turned away. Thank You . . .
This is prime example that no matter how much money we give to churches, we cannot enter in Heaven unless we are born again. Cain was living sinful life; therefore, God rejected his offering.
I would like to add to what Brother Chris has shared,
In Hebrews 11:4 it reads "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain",
Now faith comes by hearing the word of God,
So if Abel offered his sacrifice by faith it seems he was instructed to offer the sacrifice he offered.
BY WHICH HE OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, God testifying of his gifts: ( AND BY IT ) he being dead yet speaketh.
It seems God expected obedience from Cain to follow through with a specific command in Genesis 4:7
"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.
Cain could have humbled himself and pleaded for forgiveness as Brother Chris said.
It is impossible to please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6.
Hello Linda. Many tend to believe that because Cain did not provide a blood offering, God had rejected it. But I cannot be sure whether at that time a blood sacrifice was mandatory, rather, that God was looking for something else.
Therefore, in Genesis 4:3-5, we read that "the LORD had respect (or, looked upon, attended to) unto Abel and to his offering". I read this as both the offerer & the offering were considered by the LORD whether to be acceptable or not. God was considering Abel, his heart, his motives, his giving, and found him acceptable, as also his offering.
But with Cain, his heart & offering were not right before the LORD, as we see that Cain flew into a rage when God rejected him & the offering. Abel had brought the "firstlings of his flock & its fat", while Cain might have just grabbed whatever 'produce of the ground' that came to his hand, deeming that the sacrificial act was more important than the quality of the sacrifice & of the heart.
Cain, who also walked & talked with God as did his parents, should have rather been humbled by his error & pleaded for forgiveness & sought corrective help. But he walked off in a huff & allowed his anger against the LORD & against his brother to fester, allowing the devil to have his way with him ( Genesis 4:7,8; 1 John 3:12). So, in my understanding of these verses, it seems that the LORD was requiring both the gift & giver to be in an optimal state before Him; unfortunately, Cain failed God, his family & left a murderer & a vagabond.
I would like to add to what Brother Chris has shared,
In Hebrews 11:4 it reads "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain",
Now faith comes by hearing the word of God,
So if Abel offered his sacrifice by faith it seems he was instructed to offer the sacrifice he offered.
BY WHICH HE OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, God testifying of his gifts: ( AND BY IT ) he being dead yet speaketh.
It seems God expected obedience from Cain to follow through with a specific command in Genesis 4:7
"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.
Cain could have humbled himself and pleaded for forgiveness as Brother Chris said.
It is impossible to please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6.
God bless.
Therefore, in Genesis 4:3-5, we read that "the LORD had respect (or, looked upon, attended to) unto Abel and to his offering". I read this as both the offerer & the offering were considered by the LORD whether to be acceptable or not. God was considering Abel, his heart, his motives, his giving, and found him acceptable, as also his offering.
But with Cain, his heart & offering were not right before the LORD, as we see that Cain flew into a rage when God rejected him & the offering. Abel had brought the "firstlings of his flock & its fat", while Cain might have just grabbed whatever 'produce of the ground' that came to his hand, deeming that the sacrificial act was more important than the quality of the sacrifice & of the heart.
Cain, who also walked & talked with God as did his parents, should have rather been humbled by his error & pleaded for forgiveness & sought corrective help. But he walked off in a huff & allowed his anger against the LORD & against his brother to fester, allowing the devil to have his way with him ( Genesis 4:7,8; 1 John 3:12). So, in my understanding of these verses, it seems that the LORD was requiring both the gift & giver to be in an optimal state before Him; unfortunately, Cain failed God, his family & left a murderer & a vagabond.
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