Author : William Stewart
In a vivid picture of the wicked, Jude states they have “gone in the way of Cain” (Jude 1:11). John tells us that he killed Abel “because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12). Hebrews reveals that “by faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” (Hebrews 11:4) Cain walked contrary to the will of God, and sadly, many today have “gone in the way of Cain” also. Let us discuss the way of Cain in greater detail.
I’ve heard it said, and in times past have said it myself, that the offering of Cain was unacceptable because it was not what the Lord commanded. We know this was the case with Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1), but there is nothing in Genesis 4 which reveals what was and was not commanded by God. Some conclude that since the LORD “did not respect Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:5), it must be that an offering of the fruit of the ground was unacceptable to God. We do know that in the Law of Moses, an offering of the fruit of the ground was acceptable to God (Numbers 18:12). That is not proof that it was prior to that time, but that is an interesting point to note. Allow me to suggest a different perspective on why Cain’s offering was not acceptable to the LORD.
Genesis 4:3-5 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. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Most translations of the text cause us to conclude that Abel brought a lamb, Cain brought produce. Consider Genesis 4:3-5 as rendered in Young’s Literal Translation:
…Cain bringeth from the fruit of the ground a present to Jehovah; and Abel, he hath brought, he also, from the female firstlings of his flock, even from their fat ones; and Jehovah looketh unto Abel and unto his present, and unto Cain and unto his present He hath not looked…(Genesis 4:3-5, YLT)
In this literal translation of the text, the issue is not what Cain brought so much as what he did not bring. It would appear in YLT that both Cain and Abel brought an offering of the fruit of the ground, “Cain bringeth… …and Abel, he hath brought” But, of Abel, it says, “he also, from the female firstlings.” According to YLT, Cain brought what was effectively a grain offering, but did not bring a sin offering, while Abel brought both a grain and sin offering.
Why did the Lord respect Abel and his offering but not respect Cain and his offering? The produce was not the problem, it was the fact that Cain was unwilling to acknowledge his own sin. God cannot receive the one who will not admit he has transgressed the will of God. John wrote very plainly,
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
Paul wrote,
all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Cain was angry with God when He would not accept his sacrifice. God replied,
Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. (Genesis 4:6-7)
God pointed Cain to the problem – it was not Abel, it was not the produce of the field, it was his sin. God cannot receive the sinner who will not admit, confess and turn from his sin. Cain chose fellowship with the devil over fellowship with God, allowing sin to reign in his life.
Friend, there are many today who have “gone in the way of Cain.” To go in the way of Cain does not necessitate that one rise up and kill another – that was a result of Cain’s way. The way of Cain is a way of self-righteousness; it is a refusal to view ourselves as we truly are; it is a way of arrogance whereby we disdain the sacrifice of Jesus Christ – proclaiming that we really do not need Him. We walk that way if we engage in sin but do not call it sin; if we pat ourselves on the back, congratulating our-selves on how good we are. Any time we minimize sin and exalt ourselves, we have chosen the way of Cain.
