In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent (Genesis 4:3-5, CSB).

The story of the first murder is recorded only four chapters into the Bible. I am always intrigued by the incidents leading up to the murder. God’s regard for Abel’s offering of the firstborn of his flock and His disregard for Cain’s offering of some of the land’s produce creates a theological dilemma for me and seems to be the circumstance that sets in motion the tragic chain of events ending in murder.

We are told that Cain was a farmer and worked the land and Abel was a rancher and raised sheep (vs. 2). So, it’s reasonable that Cain would give an offering to God from the crops he produced and Abel would give an offering to God from the flocks he raised.

While there is no explicit explanation for God’s disregard of Cain’s offering, from the context we can surmise a couple of possibilities. One explanation for God’s disregard of Cain’s offering is that God may have standardized blood/animal sacrifice when He clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins after their temptation and fall (vs. 3:21).

Another explanation for God’s rejection of Cain’s offering is that Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and fat portions while Cain just brought some of the land’s produce. In other words, Abel offered his first and best to God while Cain only offered some of what he already had.

This second explanation provides a clue to the real reason for God’s disregard of Cain’s offering, which is revealed to us by the Hebrews writer in the New Testament. In his faith hall of fame chapter (Hebrews 11), the Hebrews writer provides a theological resolution to my dilemma: “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith” (Hebrews 11:4, CSB).

In other words, Abel offered his sacrifice in faith (and apparently Cain didn’t)!

So, the sacrifice is as much about the sacrificer as it is about the sacrifice itself.

God gives more consideration to the condition of the heart of the giver than He does to the value of the gift.

Abel’s offering revealed the faithful condition of his heart. His offering was sacrificial. Abel offered to God the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions–the first and best portions of his flock.

Sacrificial giving has to cost you something and Cain offered only what he already had. And, the faithless condition of Cain’s heart permitted revenge to dominate his thinking: “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.’” (vs. 6-7).

The lesson we should learn from this tragic tale is similar to that of the widow’s offering in the New Testament. One day Jesus was watching people drop off their offerings into the temple treasury and this is what He observed: “Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44, CSB).

Just like the widow at the Temple, Abel’s giving was sacrificial and demonstrated his faith and trust in God’s way while Cain’s offering signified trusting his own way. And, God accepts the worship of those who have faith in Him, but rejects the worship of the faithless.

So, let us always worship God with a willing heart–a heart always willing to accept God’s way over our own way.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. (Hebrews 12:28, NIV)