Shattered the perfect relationship

Read Genesis 4:1-16

In Genesis 3 we saw how sin shattered the perfect relationship between man and God, and as we come into chapter 4 we see how sin is also detrimental for the relationships between men. Sin has worsened over the course of one generation. Where Adam had to be tempted and convinced to sin, Cain had to be discouraged from sinning (by God himself).

Even as we see how sin has affected relationships it makes us ask the question, how can we be made right with God (and then one another)? And as we come into the story of Cain and Able, why did God reject Cain’s sacrifice? Why did it not make him right with God? 

It says that Cain brought “an offering” to God, whereas Able brought the fattest and firstborn of all his flock. God’s requirements for a sacrifice are that it is costly and perfect. Cain simply brought some of his crop to God and did not consider the reason of why he would be giving a sacrifice in the first place. Cain did not regard God’s holiness or justice; therefore, God did not regard his sacrifice.

Psalm 51 outlines what an acceptable sacrifice looks like for sinful humanity, that we come before God repentant and dependent on God’s mercy. Cain did not see his need to repent before God, and give Him the credit for all the produce of his fields. So, what does an acceptable sacrifice look like for us as believers, knowing that Christ was that perfect sacrifice on our behalf, now making us acceptable to God? In Romans 12:1, Paul says we are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God”. This means we are to continually come to God in repentance, reliant on Jesus as the one who makes us holy and acceptable before him. This gives us freedom to come confidently before God as we are, in all our sin and brokenness.

Prayer:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”

- Psalm 51:1, 10 & 15