Road to rebellion

God’s rejection of Cain’s offering made him terribly angry, and his disappointment showed so clearly in his face that God even commented on it. God’s next sentence (“You will be accepted if you do what is right”) shows that Cain knew the right way to bring his offering, but that he had chosen to do it his own way. We know this because our loving Heavenly Father did not respond by saying: “Let Me show you the correct way to offer”. Some teach that the offering was not acceptable because it did not involve an animal, but this was not a sin offering which would have required the blood of an animal – it is stated in verse 4 that Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock, implying that this was a fall first-fruit offering, where both the animals from herds and also crops from the harvests were to be offered.

We can now clearly follow the progression of rebellion as events unfolded from here:

Firstly, just as Eve, his mother had believed a lie planted by Satan, Cain had to have heeded the lie that his own method of sacrifice would be just as good as God’s way.

Secondly, when God Himself rebuked Cain, he refused to hear the truth and instead of repenting, responded with anger. His own parents had done the same by playing the blame game instead of admitting their error and asking forgiveness.

Thirdly, Cain then went to his brother in the field and confronted him, the anger in his heart making way for hatred to develop. No doubt Abel had tried to persuade him to take responsibility for his wrong attitude, but the rebellion in his heart made him blind to his own faults.

Fourthly, Cain rose up and killed his own brother. If this was not bad enough, he tried to cover it up when God confronted him about it. His defiant answer, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” showed his absolute disrespect for his Creator, and his self-righteousness would lead to bitterness later as he left God’s presence.

Points to ponder:  God’s warning to Cain, that sin was crouched at his door because of his wrong choices, is still true for us today. We have to watch for the sin door-openers in our lives and firmly keep those doors shut! (This means we must repent sin, and deal with wounds quickly, as they occur). They are usually the following four doors: Anger and bitterness; Fear; Sexual wounds; Occultic participation. Evaluate your own life in the light of the road on which Cain travelled: are you believing a lie; do you repent when confronted by truth; are you letting wrong heart attitudes dictate your behaviour; do you defend your wrong choices instead of dealing with sin/wounds in your life? Turn your rebel heart back to God, and so avoid the consequences Cain faced when he refused to do so!