.
● Gen 4:5b . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell.
Cain was a whole lot worse than distressed. He was blazing mad. The word for "distressed" is from charah (khaw-raw') and means: to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy. Cain is actually in a passionate rage over this and certainly in no mood for a lecture.
● Gen 4:6 . . And The Lord said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and why is your face fallen?
God made an honest effort to talk things over with Cain and resolve their differences; but Cain didn't respond; he was too busy sulking in a black pout.
● Gen 4:7a . . If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?
Cain believed in the existence of a supreme being; that was good, and his ritual was timely; that was good too. But Cain's piety was flawed, i.e. his personal conduct didn't meet God's standards, viz: Cain wasn't devout, thus his impious ways tainted the offering and made it unacceptable. (cf. 1Pet 1:18-19 where it's implied that Christ's blood is an acceptable offering because his ways were acceptable.)
FAQ: How could Cain possibly know God's standards without a written code to inform him?
A: Luke 11:49-51 says that Cain's kid brother Abel was a prophet; so Cain at least had a verbal source, which is adequate enough when it's coming from an inspired man.
Cain's situation is well illustrated at Isa 1:11-20. Moses' people were offering all the covenanted sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and observing all the God-given feasts and holy days. He rejected all of it, even though He himself required it, because the people's personal conduct was unbecoming.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah." (Prv 15:8)
Perhaps the classic example is the one below.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings." (Ps 51:16)
When David wrote that; he had only just committed the capital crimes of adultery and premeditated murder. There was just no way that God was going to accept his sacrifices and offerings on top of that; and David knew it too.
The principle shows up again in Jesus' teachings.
"Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice." (Matt 9:13)
Some folk honestly believe that Christ's statement, taken from Hosea 6:6, practically repealed the entire God-given book of Leviticus. But that's not what either Hosea or Jesus were saying. They meant that God much prefers that people be civil with each other rather than religious to their fingertips.
In other words; an ungracious person's lack of things like sympathy, patience, tolerance, lenience, helpfulness, pity, and common courtesy causes God to reject their worship just as thoroughly and bluntly as He rejected Cain's.
It's likely a foregone conclusion that God is deeply insulted when people whose conduct is unbecoming all during the week come to church on Sunday actually thinking He's glad to see them show up for some quality time together.
FAQ: In what way might Cain's piety have been lacking?
A: Well, my first guess would be bad blood between him and his younger sibling. (Matt 5:23-24)
And his attitude was deplorable; Cain was insolent and rude; even to God. (Gen 4:9)
_
● Gen 4:5b . . Cain was much distressed and his face fell.
Cain was a whole lot worse than distressed. He was blazing mad. The word for "distressed" is from charah (khaw-raw') and means: to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy. Cain is actually in a passionate rage over this and certainly in no mood for a lecture.
● Gen 4:6 . . And The Lord said to Cain: Why are you distressed, and why is your face fallen?
God made an honest effort to talk things over with Cain and resolve their differences; but Cain didn't respond; he was too busy sulking in a black pout.
● Gen 4:7a . . If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?
Cain believed in the existence of a supreme being; that was good, and his ritual was timely; that was good too. But Cain's piety was flawed, i.e. his personal conduct didn't meet God's standards, viz: Cain wasn't devout, thus his impious ways tainted the offering and made it unacceptable. (cf. 1Pet 1:18-19 where it's implied that Christ's blood is an acceptable offering because his ways were acceptable.)
FAQ: How could Cain possibly know God's standards without a written code to inform him?
A: Luke 11:49-51 says that Cain's kid brother Abel was a prophet; so Cain at least had a verbal source, which is adequate enough when it's coming from an inspired man.
Cain's situation is well illustrated at Isa 1:11-20. Moses' people were offering all the covenanted sacrifices, they were praying up a storm, and observing all the God-given feasts and holy days. He rejected all of it, even though He himself required it, because the people's personal conduct was unbecoming.
"The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah." (Prv 15:8)
Perhaps the classic example is the one below.
"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings." (Ps 51:16)
When David wrote that; he had only just committed the capital crimes of adultery and premeditated murder. There was just no way that God was going to accept his sacrifices and offerings on top of that; and David knew it too.
The principle shows up again in Jesus' teachings.
"Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice." (Matt 9:13)
Some folk honestly believe that Christ's statement, taken from Hosea 6:6, practically repealed the entire God-given book of Leviticus. But that's not what either Hosea or Jesus were saying. They meant that God much prefers that people be civil with each other rather than religious to their fingertips.
In other words; an ungracious person's lack of things like sympathy, patience, tolerance, lenience, helpfulness, pity, and common courtesy causes God to reject their worship just as thoroughly and bluntly as He rejected Cain's.
It's likely a foregone conclusion that God is deeply insulted when people whose conduct is unbecoming all during the week come to church on Sunday actually thinking He's glad to see them show up for some quality time together.
FAQ: In what way might Cain's piety have been lacking?
A: Well, my first guess would be bad blood between him and his younger sibling. (Matt 5:23-24)
And his attitude was deplorable; Cain was insolent and rude; even to God. (Gen 4:9)
_
