After sin entered the world through Adam and Eve's sin, it invaded everything. Nothing was immune from sin's sting. It brought about heartache, pain, and death. Sin also spread to Adam and Eve's children. From the moment they disobeyed God's command, humanity had a sin problem. This was abundantly evident in the story of Adam and Eve's sons, Cain and Abel.
Genesis 4 tells the heartbreaking story of brothers Cain and Abel, two sons of Adam and Eve. "When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground" (verse 2). In other words, Abel was a shepherd, and Cain was a farmer. At harvest time, Cain gave a gift to God as an offering, "some of his crops" (verse 3). Abel also brought a gift to God— "the best potions of the firstborn lambs from his flock" (verse 4). Genesis 4 tells us that "the Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but He did not accept Cain and his gift" (verses 4-5). Unfortunately, Cain became so angry that Abel's sacrifice was accepted, and his sacrifice was not that he killed his brother, Abel. What a tragic circumstance.
Why didn't God accept Cain's gift? Genesis 4 does not explicitly tell us, but the information about their sacrifices helps us to understand one of the reasons why Cain's sacrifice may not have been accepted. Cain's sacrifice to God was described as "some of his crops" (verse 3). Abel's sacrifice was described as "the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock." We can deduce from these descriptions that Able brought God his very best while Cain did not.
Still today, God desires our very best. We do not offer sacrifices today. The book of Romans reveals that we are to offer our very lives as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1). That means that we are to offer our lives and everything we say and do to Him, bringing Him our very best in everything we do. It means we bring Him our best through our actions, in the work that we do, and in our relationships. Will you bring Him your best today?
The story of Cain and Abel reminds us that God desires our very best. He is pleased when we bring Him the best we have to offer. Take a few moments to think about how you can bring your very best to God. Is there anything keeping you from bringing Him your best? Let go of that today. Tell God you are sorry for the areas where He has not received your best, and commit to bringing Him your best every day.
4 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. 3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, 5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? 7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! 11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. 12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! 14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. 16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
