Religion of Cain and Abel: the Root of the Problem (Genesis 4)

 Religion of Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel are the first brothers we see in Scripture and they went completely different paths. Much of history can be summarised in the encounter between these two brothers.

Cain was the firstborn and Abel the second. The first murdered the second.

But before going into what happened we have to see the root of this unfortunate history.

What caused this jealousy and franticide? What is at the root of many problems today psychologically speaking?

[Gen 4:1-5 NKJV] 1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

Cain’s offering was not accepted. Abel’s was. This eventually brought Cain to a place where he would murder his own brother.

Why then was Cain’s offering not accepted? What was the difference?

Hebrews tells us:

[Heb 11:4 NKJV] 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Abel gave a gift by faith. It is no accident that Abel gave an animal, perhaps a lamb.

Cain gave fruits, the work of his own hands.

When put in the context of the new testament and faith, especially in the context of Paul, we immediately think of trusting in Christ, the Lamb of God or our own works, the fruits of our life.

Cain did not have faith. He did not actually trust in God for His salvation. He did not lean upon him even though this was exactly what the sacrifice was supposed to represent. He was confident in his own works and had no need of God. Faith requires need. Cain did not see it.

Abel, however, saw his need. He trusted in God, had faith and sacrificed a lamb which would be a common symbol for the Person in whom Abel trusted.

God accepted the offering of faith and rejected the offering of self-reliance.

This was the root of the issue and would eventually lead to murder.

Today we have two groups of people too.

One of them trusts in God and relies on Him. They feel their need. It may be interesting to note that the name ‘Abel’ has the Hebrew word for ‘vanity’ as a root word. 

But Cain relied on himself. He had no need. He presented his own works in a self-reliance.

And when one trusts in his own works and might, it is offensive when this is rejected by God. It is painful for pride to see humble faith being rewarded while your own hard-wrought works are being rejected. 

And Cain was the firstborn no less!

This is human nature today as well. We tend to rely on self and feel offended when the stuff we present to God is rejected. We feel like we have a right to be accepted. Didn’t we do so much work for it? Can’t we do stuff perfectly ourselves?

Then we feel wronged when others, whom we despise as less, are accepted.

Self-reliance and works-based salvation are at the basis of human nature. Every expression of religion besides Christianity proves this.

Therefore, everyone is subject to the danger of being offended by God and a dangerous pride in our own works.

We should be like Abel, realising our own vanity and trusting in God alone. This feels unnatural. We feel like we have to give something from our own works. We tend to not trust God and His provision. We want to do things our way. But our ways are not His ways.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.