Offering Him our Best, Not our Scraps. The Cain and Abel Story.

What is a proper offering to the Lord and why is it so important? Albeit the story of Cain and Abel is not one that we would readily associate with offerings to the Lord at our first association, it actually sets the framework for us to have a better understanding of what a suitable offering to God looks like and the heart of the Lord behind the request.

In studying the Word of God, it is a wise to be keenly aware of the first time something appears in scripture, be it a word or an action. Typically, the first occurrence of a word or action sets the bar, the standard, or the measure going forward. Let’s dive into Genesis 4 together so that we may bear witness to God’s heart to connect with us through our offerings.

Offerings to God Starting with Cain and Abel

The story of Cain and Abel is remembered for how it ends, but not necessarily for how it begins in our minds. Prior to Abel’s murder there is an action that both brothers take with different heart postures and gifts that offers us a glimpse into what an offering really ought to contain. Genesis 4 opens the story with,

“Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”” Genesis 4:1-7

From first glance we can notice a few things here, starting with the differing roles of the two men. Cain was the firstborn and a considered a great gift from the Lord to his parents, Adam and Eve. We can assume from how they name him that the gift of him as son would not merely end with gratitude in how he was named, but that there would be a reminder to him throughout his life that he was given as a gift from God, a help to them. Cain from the start had a call on his life to live in gratitude to the Lord, but by his flesh he does not live out that call upon his life.

What is also vital to notice is that both men worked the earth, but in differing facilities. Cain was a, “cultivator of the ground” or a farmer if you will. He had the opportunity to bring forward literal fruit unto the Lord. Abel, his younger brother, bears a name meaning, “breath or vapor.” This is notable for us because his life was but a breath, cut short before his time. Scripture tells us that Abel was a, “keeper of flocks” or a shepherd. Although it is not specified in command, we can draw the conclusion from the fact that both men brought forward an offering to the Lord that there was opportunity to thank God for the gifts of their labor through an offering. This is where we see the heart of the Lord spoken out in what a good offering, the Hebrew word, “minḥâ” meaning, “a gift, a tribute, or a present.” We are told that God had regard for Abel’s offering, but not for Cain’s offering, which leads us to the next question, what does it mean for God to regard something?

What Does God “Regard” here?

Genesis 4:4 reveals that the two separate offerings of Cain and Abel resulted in differing responses from God. To Abel God had regard, the Hebrew word, “šāʿâ” meaning, “respect or gaze.” In a differing reaction we see in Genesis 4:5 that God does not have that regard for Cain’s offering. This shows us that what Cain brought forward was not at the same standard of that of Abel’s, but it also offers to us that the offering went deeper, there was a heart aspect to everything as well.  

In deep Fatherly kindness God comes alongside Cain to reveal that he can have another opportunity in giving an offering, and how to do it correctly. Verses 6-7 give us a glimpse into the tender redirection of God, “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” God is not cruel; He desires to see Cain succeed and He desires the same for us as well. Because of the free-will choice of sin committed by Cain’s parents, Adam and Eve, sin was existent in the world. God knew this, and He wanted to encourage Cain not to fall into the same trap his parents had through temptation. God came alongside Cain with instruction to try again and to do better than before, but sadly Cain fell short and inevitably chose to kill his brother. We can learn from Cain’s mistakes here greatly. We have opportunity to offer God our first fruits, to serve Him with our whole hearts, and to not fall prey to the temptations of sin when we seek Him.  

What are First Fruits?

First fruits appear again in the Bible through the instructions given in Leviticus, 23:10 “When you come into the land which I give you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.”  The Hebrew word for first fruit is bikkurim—literally translated to “promise to come.” The Israelites saw these first fruits as an investment into their future. God told them that if they brought their first fruits to him, he would bless all that came afterward. This is where Cain fell short, for he did not bring forward an offering that was properly suitable. We can conclude that what he brought was likely the scraps, something he was willing to get rid of and keep the best for himself. How often do we do the same? We cannot sit in judgement of Cain that he gave his, decent enough pieces when we do the same thing through our time, our gifts, or our own offerings.

What Does God Desire from Us?

God is a kind Father and He wants the best for us. When we give God our best efforts it is there that we will be met with the opportunity for deeper communion and relationship with Him. Consider the story of the widow in Mark 12,

“And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”” Mark 12:41-44

The woman gave her best, not her scraps and although it was but a penny it was counted as something so deeply and richly valuable to the Lord. God looks at the heart behind the offering, not the size of the offering itself. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God sees past the tangible offering and looks at what the heart is offering unto Him. He desires the first fruits of our hearts above all else. 

How We can Offer First Fruits

We can offer God our first fruits, our best efforts, and our hearts and minds through relationship with Him. When we sense the threat of temptation lurking, or when we see that in our own flesh and might that we are not giving Him our most precious in offering, take a moment to reflect and invite. Reflect that you are not in this life alone and that you need His help, His salvation, and His Spirit abiding in and through you. Invite Him to help you to discern what is flesh and what is attack of the Enemy, and then ask Him to refine you, to give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26) and to have you try again. You do not have to have the same fate as Cain, letting sin snowball—you can call upon the Lord for His help. Remember too that He regards us as so greatly valuable, as a kind of first fruit.

“In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” James 1:18

We are a greatly beloved creation by Almighty God and in connecting with Him and giving Him our first fruits we can experience what Abel did in even greater connection and investment.

Resources:

Blue Letter Bible
NASB Bible translation