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You are quite correct Yearling. There was a very specific way that God wanted the sacrifices presented.
Hebrews 11:4 (New International Version)
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Cain and Abel can be viewed as representing the heart-sets of humanity. Cain was a tiller of the earth and Abel a keeper of flocks. Cain represents the concept of salvation through works and Abel the concept of salvation by grace. Pride, anger, sin and God’s mercy are all revealed in this short story from Scripture. Here it is in its entirety.
Genesis 4:1-12 (New International Version)
Cain and Abel
1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Why Did God Reject Cain's Sacrifice?
This story centers on a rejected sacrifice, so we have to understand the purpose and significance of sacrifice. Interestingly this is the first record of humans giving God a sacrifice. No special significance was placed on it, so we can make a fair assumption that it had become a common ritual by this time. They were likely following the model of God when he made clothes for Adam and Eve from animal skins (killed/sacrificed) to cover their sin/nakedness (atonement).
God had taught them that sacrifices are presented as a way to wash away sin and restore a right relationship with Him. Acceptable sacrifices are made with a humble heart that acknowledges and accepts God’s grace. The sacrifice needs to be optimally balanced between its inherent value/quality and the attitude of the heart giving it.
Cain and Able both knew how the sacrifice was to be presented. However, Cain’s sacrifice was the result of his own works, while Abel’s was the result of his love for his flock. Cain sought reconciliation by his works, demonstrating pride, while Abel sought reconciliation by presenting a lamb (a metaphor of Christ) that he loved.
The Hebrew Scholars, Keil and Delitzsch, comment on this passage, "The reason for the different reception of the two offerings was the state of mind towards God with which they were brought. ...Abel offered the fattest firstlings of his flock [this is the literal translation of "fat portions from some of the firstborn"], the best that he could bring; Whilst Cain only brought a portion of the fruit of the ground, but not the first-fruits." Keil and Delitzsch conclude with these thoughts, "Abel's thanks came from the depth of his heart whilst Cain merely offered his to keep on good terms with God, a difference that was manifested in the choice of the gifts..." Hebrews 11:4 tells us that, By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. The emphasis here is on the faith of Abel not on the actual sacrifice.
Even though the Bible doesn’t spell out what was wrong with Cain’s offering, his reaction gives us all we need as a clue.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
Cain was angry with God and probably felt slighted or rejected which flowed from his pride. Pride is a stumbling block for many of us; we exaggerate our achievements out of proportion and forget to attribute our success to its source. This kind of pride can happen on many levels, in our interpersonal relationships, our work relationships and our relationship with God. God tries to warn Cain about the power of pride and allowed Cain the opportunity to correct his second rate offering. Cain instead did something else,
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Cain ignored God’s warning about sin and seethed with anger and resentment. These feelings put down deep roots in him and he finally was pushed to murdering his brother.
When God asked Cain where Abel was, Cain kept up his prideful attitude, instead of confessing his sin and asking forgiveness.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"
"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Cain is in effect saying to God, “I don’t have to answer to you.” God already knew what happened to Abel but offered Cain the opportunity to admit his sin. Cain refused the second chance and suffered the consequences.
10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."
The consequence of Cain’s sin was the loss of his livelihood and home. For the rest of his life, he carries with him the stain of his crime.
The Mark of Cain
Cain also was marked by his sin. He feared that others who found out would murder him. But God had mercy on Cain. It’s important to note that the mark that God put on Cain was not a punishment but a mercy. It was the thing that would protect Cain from any who sought to kill him.
15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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