Read Genesis 4:1-16

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. Hebrews 11:4

Presenting gifts is a customary part of official government visits. Lady Kramer, the British transport minister, discovered too late that her present to Mayor Ko Wen-je of Taipei, Taiwan—a watch from the House of Lords—was more gaffe than gift. In Chinese culture, giving someone a clock or watch is considered in bad taste, since the phrases “giving a clock” and “attending an old person’s funeral” are pronounced similarly. “I had no idea a gift like this could be seen as anything other than positive,” Lady Kramer said. “In the U.K. a watch is precious—because nothing is more important than time.”

Cain had worked the earth by the sweat of his brow to produce a gift for God, but God favored his younger brother’s instead. We are told in the book of Hebrews why Cain’s offering was insufficient: it was not offered in faith (Heb. 11:4). Cain might have responded to God’s rejection of his offering with humble contrition, but he chose to turn away from God in anger.

God saw Cain’s rebellion and shame leading him into a downward spiral of sin. He encouraged Cain to repent and promised him acceptance—if only he would submit to doing things on God’s terms. But Cain decided to blame someone else for his situation. He attacked his own brother, Abel.

God couldn’t ignore the murder of one of His image bearers. Notice that God still pursued Cain, giving him the opportunity to acknowledge his sin and be freed from it. Again Cain avoided God’s question and tried to cover up his crime. So God sent Cain into exile.

His unrepentant acts of murder and lies caused both earth and heaven to turn against him. God spared his life, but Cain’s rejection of God led to God’s rejection of him.

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