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25» Why Was Cain's Offering Rejected?
Long story short: God rejected Cain along with rejecting his offering. This is
important because God still does business like that with mankind to this day.
• Prov 15:8 . . Jehovah detests the sacrifice of the wicked
Cain's situation is well illustrated by Isa 1:11-20 where Moses' people were
offering all the covenanted sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and
observing all the God-given feasts and holy days. God rejected all of it, even
though He himself required it, because the people's personal conduct was
unbecoming.
FAQ: In what way might Cain's piety have been lacking?
A: Well, judging by the fact that Cain later murdered Abel; my first guess
would be bad blood between him and his kid brother.
• Matt 5:23-24 . . If you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift
there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then
come and offer your gift.
And Cain's attitude was deplorable too; he was insolent and rude; even to
God. (Gen 4:9)
Moral of the story:
"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is
light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with
Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. (1John
1:5-6)
NOTE: The Hebrew word for Cain's and Abel's offerings is from minchah
(min-khaw') which aren't necessarily sin offerings like the 'olah (o-law')
which are burnt offerings. Minchahs are more like donations and or tributes;
and usually bloodless and voluntary.
Ancient rabbis understood the brothers' offerings to be a "first fruits" kind of
oblation.
T. And it was at the end of days, on the fourteenth of Nisan, that Kain
brought of the produce of the earth, the seed of cotton (or line), an oblation
of first things before the Lord; and Habel brought of the firstlings of the
flock. (Targum Jonathan)
Seeing as how Cain was a farmer, then in his case, an amount of produce
was the appropriate minchah, and seeing as how Abel was an animal
husbandman, then in his case a head of livestock was appropriate.
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