God respected Abel and his offering (worship), but rejected Cain and his offering (worship). Why?

Answer 1

Because Abel gave the best of what he had - the best animal from his herd or flock or whatever.

Cain kept the best of his crop for himself, and offered only the worst pieces to God.

Answer 2

You have some good answers in here. Abel offered a righteous sacrifice according to all that his father, Adam, had taught him. The Bible records that Cain offered a sacrifice of his plants after Satan told him to do so. Cain had been taught the doctrine of atoning sacrifice as a similitude of the sacrifice of the Savior who was yet to come, just as Abel had been taught. Yet he did not offer and animal sacrifice as required, bringing instead his crops, and brougth that with a reluctant heart instead of the willing sacrifice required. Thus, Cain did not keep the law of sacrifice as he had been taught and by so doing he mocked God and was rejected. Cain, instead of humbling himself and admitting his error, chose instead to fight against God and so brought upon himself the curse of God and made himself subject to Satan. Murder, to get gain, entered into the world.

Answer 3

I think that the story goes that Cain wanted to keep the best part for himself.

God was offended. Not yet the God of kindness and Love.

Answer 4

Cain offered to the Lord; but Abel offered the first to the Lord!!!

Answer 5

That part is a survivor of the pre-Egyptian worship of the Habaru god of war Yave that demanded blood sacrifice over grain sacrifice. The story of Abraham and his son in a metaphor of the transition from human sacrifice to strictly animal sacrifice. The Habaru picked up monotheism from the Egyptian Pharaoh Akennaten, added that to Yave's position as the only god, the Habaru left Egypt after the death of Akennaten, merged with the Semites of Palestine and became the Hebrews and their god Yave became Yahweh the god of Israel. The story of Cain and Able was a rewrite of old traditional stories and added to the scripture by Judean priests about 500 BCE.

Answer 6

Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam and Eve, "in the course of time" brought offerings to the Lord (Genesis 4:3). Without doubt, they were doing this because God had revealed it to them. Some question, “How were Cain and Abel supposed to know what to sacrifice?” The answer is that God must have instructed them. It is clear that the offering was to be a substitutionary atonement, because we read in Hebrews 11:4, "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did." When Abel came for worship, it was by faith that he brought his offering, "fat portions from some of the first-born of his flock" (Genesis 4:4). The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, and it was accepted.

His brother Cain brought "some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord" (Genesis 4:3). But on Cain and his offering the Lord did not look with favor. We do not know how He expressed His rejection, but it was evident. In Jude’s epistle, verse 11, we read, "They have taken the way of Cain," referring to lawless men. This may mean that they, like Cain, disobediently devised their own ways of worship; they did not come by faith. Cain’s offering, while acceptable in his own eyes, was not acceptable to the Lord. The result was that Cain became very angry, and later, in the field, he killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8).

Why did Cain kill Abel? It was premeditated murder, caused by anger, jealousy, and pride. John wrote, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous" (1 John 3:12). The evil in his heart was further revealed when the Lord asked Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don’t know," he replied. "Am I my brother’s keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). The Lord brought a curse on Cain, and he went out from His presence.

Answer 7

Ok I am not very religious but I am pretty sure it was because Caine offered his BROTHER as his offering. Giving a pig or a mule is one thing but to offer your brother? I think it probably was taken as a cruel thing. You just do not offer your family members up as an offering , any Just God would never expect such a demand or offering. SO my guess that is why. I guess God does not reward murderers.

I am watching a special on the History channel international at this moment on Caine & Abel. it is pretty good to watch.

(KO - What gave you that idea? of course I am not, I already stated it!! I can read and see and what I JUST watched on TV says differently, sure he made those other offerings first, but ultimately he killed no murdered his own brother because he thought it would make his god happy. That's main stream TV stating this, not me so go argue with the History Channel not me LOL bonehead.)

Answer 8

It is all in the attitude. Abel's attitute toward the offering he was presenting God was one of reverence and honor. On the other hand, Cain's gift was one of well, the left overs and thinking of himself first. I guess this is the first lesson we have in the bible that we are to push down the "self" and put God things first.

Answer 9

OK, Wolf, first of all he did not offer his brother to God as an sacrifice. When you said you're not religious, you really meant it!

Cain offered the fruit of his labors from the field while Abel offered the fruit of his labors from the flock. We read: "In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard"
By his rejection of Cain and his offering, God bore witness, not to an improperly detailed ritual of worship, but to the wickedness of the man. Many centuries later, John, the apostle, recognized Cain's evil nature and urges "that we should love one another, and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother.

Answer 10

The lesson in that story is about human state of mind which includes our attitudes to the way we do things, not only to God but also to people around us. Show positive attitude to the things you do and have respect for others.