Paul Taylor unpacks what it's all about
Wasn't God being a bit mean to refuse Cain's offering, while accepting Abel's? No wonder Cain was a bit miffed with his brother. The unfairness is enough to make anyone consider murder, isn't it?
It took me years to understand what the story in Genesis chapter 4 was all about. Part of the problem was that I had learned the story of Cain and Abel in Sunday School, along with other Bible stories, but had never been shown that there was a connection between them. If we try to read a Bible passage, in isolation from the rest, we will frequently misunderstand what the Bible is on about.
So what was wrong with Cain's offering? It could not have been to do with the actual substance of what was offered. Farming and growing crops is an honourable profession, and there are occasions under the Mosaic law when grain offerings are given. However, grain offerings, under the Law of Moses, are not used to bring about forgiveness.
Read more: http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/life/Cains_Offering/26681/p1/