Daily Devo

Genesis 4: Offering Your Best

Genesis 4:4-7

Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel. It mentions in Genesis 4 that there's a time of offering to the Lord from Cain and Abel - which might mean that Adam and Eve made sure that they give offerings to honor the One who gave them grace and gave them blessings from their labor. There's a time for offering, hence, they are practicing this heart of gratitude of the Lord.

In the moment of the offering, Cain sure gave his first fruit; but Abel, it says, gave the best of whatever he produced. The Lord gave approval to Abel's offering but He rejected Cain's offering. More than the offering, I think, the Lord is looking at the heart. There's a big difference from Cain's offering which only obliged to give because it is a practice than Abel who pours out his heart in his offering to the Lord. Abel's heart gave fragrance and aroma that pleased God.

Cain, instead of repenting, did the unimaginable thing because of his jealousy, envy, and anger — he killed his brother. We are like Cain, at times, when we don't get an answer from the Lord, we do thing our own way thinking that through our ways, we can get to where we wanted to be. But God knows us well and is waiting for us to repent from our wicked ways. Even as Cain killed his brother Abel, when the Lord gave the consequences of his sin, there's still grace that was extended. Cain was afraid that anyone who find him would kill him but God made sure that he will be spared from that. Anyone who killed Cain will have a consequence that is multiplied by seven fold. This somehow reminds us that we should live the vengeance to the Lord. He is in control.

As for Eve, as she lost Abel, the Lord gave a new blessing: Seth. Whenever we lost anything or anyone, if we depend fully on God, He will renew our joy with a blessing that will poured out to us.

REFLECTION: What would you do if someone suggested you were wrong in a situation? Would you try to correct the problem or deny it like Cain did?

Like Cain, I'm a person of pride. Most of the time, I don't take criticism or correction with an open heart. I always feel that this is an attack to me. I know this kind of attitude is wrong especially by the Lord's standards. I thought I have overcome this whole pride issue when I worked for an NGO where I was humbled by the Lord. But then, He sees my heart differently and He knew I could still be sharpened and be better. I don't agree with Him in most of the aspects, still. Changing is just so hard in the Pride Department. I have this uncontrollable urge to always be right when I am not. And I know if I keep on going my proud ways, the Lord could allow breaking to change who I am. I don't want to come to a point where God will allow me to learn the hard way. I pray that I will be reminded of God's grace and there's absolutely nothing wrong to be humble. I pray that I will have a teachable heart, not a stubborn one. I pray that I will learn to accept if there's something in me that needed changing for the better. May the Lord help my inability to obey into full dependence and obedience on Him.