The first account of ritual worship ... from Genesis 4.1-7
4.1Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain’s offering was unacceptable. Why? Was it because Cain did not offer an animal sacrifice, as did his brother Abel?
No.
There is no mention in the text of a requirement from God for an animal sacrifice. In fact, the same word – “offering” –describes what both Cain and Abel bring to God. This word is used for a “grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord.” (Lev. 2.14)
Leviticus 23 describes in succession the Feast of Firstfuits and the Feast of Weeks. Bringing the first and the best from the soil was not only acceptable to God, but it was also commanded by God.
Regarding Abel and Cain, something other than the difference between an animal and a plant offering caused God to regard one and not the other.
We'll take a closer look in our next post.