by Lane Rogers
The Sacrifice of Cain, and Acceptable Worship Genesis 4b
I. In verses 3-4, God turns to the acceptance of the offerings by Cain and Abel.
II. Cain offered the first fruits of the soil, since he was a farmer.
III. Abel offered the "first fruit of the flock" since he was a shepherd.
A. From all appearance, both offering were acceptable since both were first fruits.
B. Technically, these were not sacrifices as we understand the use of the word.
C. They were minhah or gifts of worship.
a. There was no sacrifice for sin before Sinai.
b. Cain and Abel both offered "gifts" for worship.
[See Hebrews 8:4 for Gifts]
D. The object of this lesson from God is that there are acceptable forms of worship and worship that is not acceptable.
E. Cain's Response to God's rejection gives us a clue as to Cain's motive, that is, we must approach God with a pure heart.
1. But, was Cain disobedient? Yes.
2. 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 (Hebrews 11:4).
3. How did Abel have faith and Cain did not? Did God tell them what kind of worship he required and Cain disobeyed? (Yes) Notice, it was on "faith that Abel offered his but what is the Bible idea of "faith?"
4. See Hebrews 3: 19. So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out]. (αΠϊστϊαν) Unbelief in verse 19 is "lack of faith." In other words, lack of faith kept Israel out of the rest.
5. Hebrews 4:6 [6Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience] Now we are told in the same context that "lack of faith" and "disobedience" are the same.
6. Cain's offering was rejected because he "disobeyed."
IV. What is the point of the story of Cain and Abel? It is obvious, God tells us how he wants us to worship him. To worship God by any other means than what God prescribed will be rejected.