Chapter 6 — CAIN AND ABEL AND THEIR OFFERINGS

Cain and Abel were Adam's first two sons. They had very different characters. Cain allowed rebellious feelings to stay in his mind. He complained because God had cursed the ground and had placed a curse on Adam because of Adam's sin.SRme 1.151

Cain and Abel had been taught about God's wonderful plan to save the people of the world. Cain's and Abel's responsibility was to obey God humbly and to worship Him in a reverent way. They were to show they understood their need of being saved, by killing firstborn lambs and offering the lambs as a sacrifice to God. Making an offering would lead them to remember they were sinners and that Jesus would have to come and die for them as the great sacrifice for their sins.SRme 1.152

Cain brought his offering to God. Cain brought his offering while complaining in his heart. He did not believe he needed Jesus to die as a sacrifice for his sins. Cain did not want to obey God's plan for the sacrifice. God's plan was to bring aSRme 1.153

lamb and offer the lamb with the fruit of the ground. Cain just brought the crops he had grown and did not obey God's requirement about bringing a lamb.SRme 1.154

God told Adam that the only way sin could be forgiven was by offering the blood of a lamb. Cain did not think of the importance of giving God the best of the things he had grown. His brother, Abel, advised him not to bring an offering to God without the blood of the lamb. But, because Cain was older, he would not listen to Abel. He paid no attention to Abel's advice. Cain brought his offering with doubts and complaints about having to bring sacrifices to God. God did not accept Cain's offering.SRme 1.155

Abel brought the fattest and best firstborn lamb for an offering as God had commanded. Humbly and reverently he brought the Lord his offering. God accepted Abel's offering. A bright light flashed from heaven and burned up Abel's offering. But God did nothing to show that He accepted Cain's offering. So Cain became angry at God and at his brother.SRme 1.156

Then God sent an angel to talk with Cain. The angel asked Cain why he was angry and told him that God would accept his offering if he would follow God's instructions. But if Cain refused to believe and obey God, the Lord could not accept Cain's offering. The angel told Cain that God was fair, that God did not love Abel more than Cain. But God could not accept Cain's offering because Cain did not obey God. If Cain would do what God asked, his offering would be accepted. Then Abel would be expected to listen to his brother's advice. Cain would be accepted as the leader because he was the older brother, the firstborn.SRme 1.157

The angel talked to Cain kindly, but Cain did not repent. Instead of recognizing his own faults and unbelief, Cain complained that God was not fair and that Abel was God's favorite. Then in his jealousy and hatred of Abel, Cain quarreled with his brother. Abel humbly pointed out that Cain had disobeyed God, and the wrong was inside Cain's heart. But Cain hated Abel from the time that God accepted his brother's sacrifice.SRme 1.158

Abel tried to quiet Cain's anger. He told Cain that God showed great love in saving Adam and Eve from dying right away when they sinned. God loved them so much that He was willing to give His holy and pure Son to take the punishment that the human family deserved because of disobeying God.SRme 1.159