The First Offering

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Genesis 4:3

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In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.

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The first offering to the Lord God was made by Cain. Adam did not request this of him, the Lord did not commit him to it. In wonder of the fruition of his efforts, Cain brought this firstfruits of his work to the Lord as an offering. Cain meant to honor God. This was a loving act.

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Genesis 4:5-7

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but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

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Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

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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 rule over it."

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Cain was to overcome rejection. This rejection was a gift from God because God loved him. God's first offering. Cain was offered the first fruits of wisdom. The wisdom for Cain was to overcome rejection and endure. Cain had the opportunity to please God by accepting rejection.

What is acceptable before God is recognition of His unseen qualities. Cain had an opportunity to show the Lord that he could endure rejection and seek to honor the Lord in ways the Lord desires. This was a gift, true favor. This wisdom was available to Cain, had he overcome the knowledge of good and evil that he relied upon.

And so it is with all of mankind. And we rely on our knowledge of good and evil so we surely die. Our inability to put aside our knowledge and seek in faith the unseen qualities of the Spirit of God, leaves us open to sin. We walk in our reactions to what is placed in front of us, and our actions are solely based on our knowledge of good and evil. So we are led into sin, as everything not done in faith is sin.

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Genesis 4:9

"And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said: 'I know not; am I my brother's keeper?'"

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A new opportunity for the first born of Adam, to repent of his sin. A sin that came from his inability to endure rejection. Cain could have feared the Lord, but instead he feared rejection. If Cain feared the Lord, he would have done what is right by the Lord. But Cain again felt rejected, and instead of repenting, spoke rebelliously.

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Genesis 4:10-12

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The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

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Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

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When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”

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The Lord knew that Cain was not accepting rejection. And the Lord knew that Cain was not going to repent. So the Lord offered Cain the gift of understanding. The Lord said, "Listen!".

So the Lord explained to Cain the cost of these acts. But because the Lord loved Cain, He gave Cain the opportunity to overcome rejection, and know the peace of the Lord.

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Genesis 4:13,14

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Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear.

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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.”

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Cain did not see the opportunity to overcome rejection, and know the peace of the Lord.The wisdom for Cain was to overcome rejection and endure. Instead of fearing God and knowing then a love for Him, Cain feared for his existence, based on his knowledge of good and evil. Yet again we see the Lord loved Cain because he showed Cain mercy.

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Genesis 4:15,16

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But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

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So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

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Having feared rejection from relying on his knowledge of good and evil, the Lord still love Cain. And knowing Cain would not overcome rejection, and knowing Cain would not repent, and knowing Cain would not fear Him, and knowing Cain would not endure but would instead be ruled by his sin, the Lord showed Cain that he was loved. The Lord showed Cain mercy. After hearing Cain fearing for his existence, the Lord said to him, "Not so."

Cain was treated with love. We see patience, we see love, we see kindness, we see gentleness, we see faithfulness, we see mercy. The Lord did not leave Cain, Cain walked away. The Lord never lost faith, Cain just couldn't see his way to it. Cain walked away.

I leave you with this. Cain did not endure. Cain did not overcome rejection. Cain did not seek out the unseen qualities of God. Cain could not separate himself from the knowledge of good and evil that he relied upon, after he was rejected once as a test of love. Cain walked away.

Do not consider rejection from the Lord as anything but an opportunity to seek out His will. What you offer the Lord might be rejected for your own sake, so you can come into a greater understanding. You are deeply loved.

So "Listen" when you feel rejected. Remain humble, and fear God who does bring you down, so He can raise you up in holy ways. This is the ways of loving discipline of our only Father. Endure or be left to your sin which will destroy you. Don't walk away. 

The first offering was met with love. Love corrects our ways, not agrees with them.

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