Cain Offered His Own Labor-Work out of Order

It wasn’t what Cain brought that caused God to reject his offering, but rather the order in which he brought it. Cain’s offering should have been brought after Abel’s offering, i.e. after atonement was made for both Cain and Abel. By bringing his offering first, Cain was saying he did not need atonement. He was saying that he should be accepted as if he were not the fallen son of Adam. He was saying that he was not subject to the curse of sin and death as his father. It was the sin of pride. Possibly because Eve told him he was the seed that was to crush the head of the serpent and he would do it by his own hand. Product of Cain’s labor had to be offered in Christ. Only after atonement, i.e. out of true worship, could Cain’s offering of the fruit of his own labor-work be accepted.

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If 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.”
Genesis 4:3‭, ‬5‭-‬7 ESV

Blessings in Christ,

Terry W. West