Meditations from a Branch: Genesis 4:1-5 Meaning & CommentaryLord's Library

Lord’s Library contributor Jared Helms offers meditations from a branch, offering a Genesis 4:1-5 meaning with commentary. Check out Jared’s YouTube channel and two blogs: A Light in the Darkness and Blind Faith Examples, or send him a reader response email. Lord’s Library’s Ministry Leaders Series is a collection of contributed articles written by ministry leaders on key Christian topics.

Genesis 4:1-5: “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

God cares how we worship Him. We cannot bring Him any old offering we choose and expect it will not make a difference. What we offer God says a lot about who we think He is. Abel brought the choicest of the flock, taking care to give the Lord what was first and best of what God had given him. That required effort and putting God before himself. Cain’s offering is not described in any detail, which seems to indicate there wasn’t anything to say about it. He did bring an offering, but it was not a well-considered one. We get a glimpse into Cain’s thoughts; he expected God to receive his offering very gladly and reward him handsomely. However, God was not impressed with what Cain offered.

It is nothing against Cain, as we learn in a later verse; it is all about his actions. If Cain had shown the same care as Abel, both would have gained favor, but one of these offerings is not like the other. Perhaps Cain forgot who God was and who Cain was. Perhaps that led him to think that any offering he might make was something—as if giving God any of his harvest was an honor. Clearly, it is not.

God deserves the very best we have. For some of us, our very best is not much in the eyes of the world. Fortunately, God does not judge as the world judges. God judges the heart, and He knows what is our best offering. God had no use for Abel’s livestock, but He knew it was the best Abel had to give. In just the same way, God knows when we are truly honoring Him, and when we are just keeping up appearances. Let this encourage you today as you worship God in all you do.

Of course, nothing we could ever offer would earn us full acceptance into the family of God. Therefore, God Himself provided us with a perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection secured our gracious adoption as sons of the King. Jesus did all things well on our behalf. Our offerings are made not in payment or repayment, but in loving gratitude.

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Jared Helms

Jared received his Bachelor of Arts from Bryan College in 2012, and his Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. He has pastored churches in Kentucky and Tennessee. Most importantly, Jared has walked with Christ most of his life. His interests extend from theology to church history, but he is particularly passionate about ecclesiology and homiletics.