What was Cain's sacrifice?

Question

And why did it displease God?

Answer 1

It was the fruits and vegetables that he had grown.

It displeased the god of the bible because it was not a sacrifice of blood.

Answer 2

Dear Shadowpup,

The story of Cain and Abel's sacrifice is found in Genesis 4. There are those who try to compare Cain's sacrifice with Abel's and suggest that because Cain's offering was produce and Abel's sacrifice was of meet that this is the reason Abel's sacrifice merited favor with God, but such is not the case.

Leviticus Chapter 2 teaches that bloodless offering from the ground was fully acceptable to the Lord.

So we must go back to the text to understand why Cain's sacrifice displeased God.

Genesis 4:3 reads: And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. That phrase in the process of time- is also translated as at the end of days.

Genesis 4:4 reads: Abel also brought of the firstilings of his flock and their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering.

Cain's offering was rejected and Abel's accepted because of the attitude of their hearts. Cain brought what was leftover at the end of the day, while Abel brought God his very best. It's a reminder that when we bring offering or worship to God we ought always to give God our best, and not our "leftovers".

God also did not "favor" Abel. In fact in Verses 5-7 God kindly expresses his displeasure with Cain but also let him know that he just has to bring a better offering, and instead of receiving God's correction- Cain became angry and as God warned him - sin was lying at his door and Cain opened that door and eventually it resulted in bitterness and an act of wrath towards Abel and God.

Anyhow i hope that this helps you in understanding the passage.

Please do feel free to email me with any other questions or thoughts.

Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 3

Cains sacrifice was from the land that he farmed. He brought the first fruits (the best) of his harvest.

There are two lines of thought as to why it was displeasing to God.

THe first is the one that seems most reasonable to me in relation to the rest of the bible. this is that Cain brought his sacrifice to God out of obligation and not honor. Cains heart was not open to pleasing God and it bothered him that he shoud have to give his best to God.

The second line of thought was that Cain should have traded Abel his best harvest for one of Abels best animals and then gave a blood sacrifice to God. This does have some merit because of the need for blood sacrifice in old testament times.

Answer 4

Gen 4:2-5
"Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. "

Heb 9:2
"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

There is the attitude with which it was given. Abel offer from his firstborn sheep the fatted (best part). Cain did not offer the first fruits.

Answer 5

Cains sacrifice was from the fields that he tilled. God had taught Cain and Abel how to make a proper sacrifice. Cain did not follow the rules and he offered his sacrifice half-hearted. This can be seen in his response to God when God asked him where his brother was. Cain was flippant with God. It's not nice to flip off God.

Answer 6

I don't think it had so much to do with what they brought, in the law produce was acceptable also as a sacrifice, but it was a heart attitude of faith that was accepted by God. Heb 11: 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."

Answer 7

If I recall correctly, Cain gave God part of his harvest - basically vegetables. God didn't consider it as great a sacrifice as Abel's. Since Abel gave a lamb, it was considered greater, since it's a blood sacrifice.

Yes, that's right. Blood sacrifice. For God. In the Bible. Never understood why it was "better" than the vegetables. Coming from a family of farmers, tilling the land is no picnic.

Blessed be.
)O(

Answer 8

It was Cain's bad heart condition that was dissapproved.
His sacrifice would not be excepted regardless what he brought forth.
His heart condition and lack of faith was exposed when he killed his brother out of jealousy.
A good lesson for us.

One can go to church all they want, and serve all they want, but if is not a real love and zeal for God, he knows it. We may fool human eyes with our deeds, but God see everything about us.

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Answer 9

He chose vegtables but he wasn't sincere in getting them prepared and he didn't pick the best.
God wanted the best and Cain didn't follow that part of the instructions

Answer 10

I think his was wheat. He tended the wheat fields.
Abel tended sheep so he had a meat sacrifice.
Apparently, he (God) liked the smell of cooked meat b/c the OT talks aout the smell of burnt offerings a lot. Not a vegetarian, I would guess.