Genesis 4:3-5 - Cain was very angry

4:3,4a

“In the course of time ...” They are both going to offer gifts to the Lord, but out of very different hearts. Cain seems to bring his gift as an afterthought, and 1 John 3:12 says that Cain’s actions were evil. Abel also brought an offering, but these were from the firstborn of the flock. Heb 11:4 says that Abel acted out of faith. He knew that it was only because of God’s goodness that he was able to have flocks, and for the flocks to be fruitful. Living by faith does not mean that we do not do anything, quite the opposite. Rather, it means we live and act knowing that we are dependent upon God, and that we work together with God.

4:4b,5

“The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour”. While both men had offered gifts, there was a very different heart attitude in the two men. We perhaps have an example here of “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). So there was sin in Cain by his slovenly attitude to offering a gift. However, this sin was now compounded. The right reaction would have been to learn from his own mistake, and from his brother’s good example. Instead he became “angry and his face was downcast.” This is a reaction that occurs many times in human history.