JAN 27

Genesis 4:1-7
Memorise Hebrews 11:4
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice…”

Cain and Abel were the first two children to be born into the world, and together with their parents were the first family to have lived. At the time of the account in Genesis 4, they would have been in their late teens     or early twenties as both Cain and Abel had professions by then. Both    of them were farmers, with Abel as a keeper of sheep, dealing with livestock, whilst Cain was a tiller of the ground, dealing with  agriculture.

There came a day when they had to bring an offering unto the Lord. This was probably not the first time as they would have been bringing regular offerings and sacrifices unto the Lord, as taught by their parents. They would have known that what God requires is a blood sacrifice through the killing of animals. However, this time, Cain decided to bring the fruit of the ground, probably the produce of his fields, whilst Abel brought the firstlings of his flock. Perhaps it was because he resented the situation, that he had to trade his produce to acquire the animal for sacrifice; or maybe it was because he thought that God should accept the fruit of   his labour, and he need not bring an animal. Either way, the Lord was certainly not pleased with his offering, for the Bible tells us “the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering  he had not respect” (Genesis 4:4-5). Cain was angry with the situation. But God’s counter argument to him was very wise. He told  Cain that if  he had offered the right sacrifice, it would have been accepted. However, he had allowed sin to enter his heart, to rule over him, to control his actions. Thus we realise that behind the wrong offering was a sinful heart. Cain, in his pride had thought to approach God on his own terms. Unlike his brother Abel, he did not offer up a sacrifice by faith (Hebrews 11:4). Instead, it was out of his own selfish convenience, thinking that what was good for him should be good enough for God. Even when rebuked, Cain refused to repent but continued to insist that he had done no wrong.

How many of us have committed this same sin of Cain, in trying to approach God on our own terms, insisting that He accepts us in our sin? How often has sin been pointed out to us, but yet we refuse to repent and become angry instead? Be careful that you do not go in the “way of Cain”, for the Bible warns us “woe unto you!” (Jude 11).

Thought: Is it fair for God to punish sin?
Prayer: Lord, may my life and all I do always be acceptable to Thee.