" 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. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." --Genesis 4:3-7
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
There is so much richness in Chapter 4 of Genesis and much application for us. For now we are looking at verses 3-7.
Verses 3 and 4 tell us that Cain brought an offering to God of the fruit of the ground and Abel of the firstborn of the flock and of their fat. Scripture goes on to tell us that God respected Abel and his offering but not Cain and his. We come to God by faith and we obey in accordance with His revealed word to us. The bible tells us to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. Hebrews 11:4 says this of Abel...
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.
Abel's offer was accepted because it was obediently given according to what God had prescribed. (though not recorded in Genesis) Cain was not rejected but his offering was. Why? Because it was not by faith...it was not obediently given. He tried to come to God on his own terms. Abel came in humility on God's terms, Cain came in pride. Our God sees the heart. Cain's offering was not accepted because it was offered from a heart of pride and unbelief. His offering revealed his wrong heart. Our actions will reveal what our heart believes.
Application for us...Our God is a God who sees. He is not mocked. He knows your motives behind all that you do. God sees through our forms of godliness to our hearts. Many of us come near Him with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. This was Cain...a man having the form of godliness but with a heart that was filled with self-will.
When God did not accept Cain's offering, he became very angry. The same things happens with people today. They get angry with God because He will not accept them on their own terms. They may want a relationship with Him, but they want one on their terms. You cannot walk with God unless you are in agreement with Him. Your will, submitted to His will. You cannot go your own way...you must go His. Jesus said in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
God speaks to Cain personally and tries to bring him back to the right path. Cain, like many of us, resists and refuses God's gracious offer. It is our way or the highway. (which, as it turned out, is exactly what Cain got...instead of being a pilgrim, he became a fugitive and a stranger...wandering from place to place)
I love what God says next and have used it often as a meditation verse and a verse to teach you, my children.
So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
God reminds Cain that if he had obeyed, his offer would have been accepted. Cain did not go through the door that God had opened but attempted to be accepted by God another way...his way. Next, He tells him that in choosing not to obey, he is giving way to sin...whose desire is for him...and unless he rules over it, it will devour him! Wow! That is quite a picture and quite a warning. If we do not rule over sin, it will overpower us. If we feed our fleshly desires often enough....they will rule. If we, by faith, however, feed our Spirit our countenance will be lifted up and we will see as God sees and be accepted by Him.
Girls, I can't even begin to write what is in my heart at the moment. Suffice to say this: Sin is a fierce beast crouching at your door...its name is unforgiveness, bitterness, wrath, evil speaking. To harbor and nurse these feelings in your heart is to give place to sin...to give Satan a foothold in your life. Give in often enough and you will bring about your own ruin.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.--Romans 13:14
Love
Mom
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