The Story: Chapter 1 The Bible: Genesis 1-4
Genesis 4:3-7 At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock—even the fattest of them. And the LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”
When I was very little and first heard this story in Sunday School, I thought Abel’s offering must have been good because it was part of his flock and that was the traditional sacrifice. I thought Cain’s offering was wrong because it was probably vegetables, which made sense to me since I wasn’t very fond of vegetables as a child. Thankfully we gain understanding as we grow and dig deeper into God’s Word.
We gain two important clues from Cain’s offering. It happened at the designated time from which we get the sense that Cain waited until the last minute, and that he brought some of the fruit of the ground from which we get the sense that he grabbed whatever he could find at hand. It seems little thought or effort was put into the preparation of what Cain offered to the LORD.
If we take a look at Abel’s offering we find that Abel, a shepherd, brought not only some of the firstborn, but also the choicest of them. Abel’s offering included thoughtful preparation.
What I discover is a difference in attitude. It wasn’t about Cain’s occupation as a cultivator of the ground that displeased the LORD, but it was Cain’s callous attitude. The LORD warned Cain to be careful of sin crouching at the door and this is an important lesson for us today.
Today’s Prayer Suggestion: Come to your Heavenly Father with your heart well-prepared. Be ready to offer the LORD the very best of your time, talents, and efforts and do so with a willing and cheerful attitude.
The devotional It’s Not About the Vegetables appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
General format for WFMH devotionals will follow the pattern of chapters outlined in The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, M. Lucado & R. Frazee, Zondervan, 2005, 2008, 2011.
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