Because God likes Abel's offering of meat (and possible milk), but turns his nose down at Cain's offering of fruit and grain. The first time I heard that-and I would have been quite young, it struck me as discrimination, pure and simlpe. I mean Cain was just trying to make a living, and God, Lord and Master of the universe, behaves in a completely arbitrary and/or petty manner. Now, what is this supposed to prove? Wouldn't God have known that Cain would slay Abel? This, I think implacates God.
2006-12-23 11:44:29 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
there is more to it--when cain was concieved, Adam lay with eve during the time of her menstrual impurity, and from the filththat was formed, the serpent arose between them and inseminated eve before adam--so cain was half evil from his conception, and God mistreated him based on something that cain himself could not help--that is God's way, you know........
2006-12-23 12:03:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Notice in the scripture that Cain gave "an offering" whereas Abel gave of the "first fruits". Abels offering was accepted because he gave God his "best". Cain just gave an offering but it wasn't from his heart.
Obviouly, his heart wasn't in the right place, then to top it off, he gets jealous over it when it was his own fault anyway. He blamed Abel for his own faults. Something that still goes on today.
2006-12-23 19:50:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It had nothing to do with what they offered. It was what was in their hearts. Cain was jealous of his brother Abel. God actually warned Cain that if he didn't get mastery over his anger toward his brother something bad would happen. God explained to Cain that his offering wasn't acceptable because he was not doing what was right in his day to day life. Cain didn't listen, and slay his innocent brother. Cain had a choice do good or do bad. he chose bad. It is written "to obey is better than to sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of lambs." It wasn't petty. We too have a choice- do good or do bad...
If we choose bad we have to suffer the consequences... Like Cain.
Read the entire account found in the Bible. Then you'll understand...
2006-12-23 19:54:17 · answer #3 · answered by Cherokee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that God can tell the future. He put us here to come and make our choices. He would never put someone here knowing full well He was just going to send them to hell. Also, Cain brought only some fruit and grain. Abel brought the first born of his flocks. This showed more respect to God. Cain was just lazy. When God was more appreciative, Cain got mad and killed his brother. Jealous much.
2006-12-23 19:49:50 · answer #4 · answered by cclleeoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't know what they were told by God, because the Bible does not tell us.
However, the Bible does tell us that God said Cain was following the devil.
God tells us of sin offerings that require the shed blood of a perfect, spotless being.
God tells us of grain offerings, these are not sin offerings.
I think it depends on what type of offering God told them to bring.
Whichever, God did not recognize Cain's offering either because it was the wrong type, or it was not the best of his crop, or it was not given with the right attitude.
2006-12-23 19:51:47 · answer #5 · answered by Theophilus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well since the sacrifice of an animal symblizes what Jesus will do and it was what commanded, why couldn't Cain just do as he was told to do, thats where hsi parents got in trouble, don't eat from the tree, and what did they do, they ate from the tree. Cain's sin was also jelousy. I mean think of it, God was not going to send a vegtable to die for our sins, can you imagine a potatoe nail to the cross for your sins??? Or maybe an apple nailed to the cross for your sins. Its the same story with Abraham and his son, God would one day have to sacrifice hos son for the world, like he asked Abraham to do, though God sent an Angel to stop Abraham in the nick of time. The story of Cain came after teh adam and eve story because it was also the first murder.
2006-12-23 19:51:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cain's offering was the work of his own hands. (sweat & labor)
Abel's offering was not only a creature of God's making, but it was the prescribed (required) offering.
Nothing has changed. No work of man's hand is good enough to make it acceptable to God.
The only acceptable sacrifice is Jesus, God's own handi-work in the form of His Son.
2006-12-23 19:50:37 · answer #7 · answered by Bob L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Abel's gift was purity and innocence. Cain's gift was self worth and pride. Cain was angered that God would not change to his way of thinking, and then fell to temptation. God remained consistent through this entire story.
2006-12-23 20:56:51 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is our Creator and King he expects our best, it says that that Able brought choice cuts of meat from the first born of his flock. He gave God his all. Cain however if we understand why there was a lack of description there, brought whatever he felt like, without much thought. The second question I have to study up on.
2006-12-23 20:39:40 · answer #9 · answered by Monika B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God did not accept Cain's offering, because of his attitude and heart. It had nothing to do with what he offered. Blaming God for Cain's jealousy is ridiculous to say the least. God is not a respector of persons, he looks at the heart.
2006-12-23 20:35:01 · answer #10 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the bible, Abel killed the best of his flock while Cain listened to the devil and tried to give stuff that was rotting. Had he picked stuff that was the peak of season and free of imperfections, god was supposed to accept his gift. But that is how the practice of killing pure white lambs got started.
2006-12-23 19:52:50 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋