Abel Vs Unable Series

Able vs. Unable (Genesis 4:1-8)

Abel was a shepherd. Cain was a farmer.

Cain would end up making Abel the first person martyred for the truth. What led to this extreme act of violence?

I. The Offering

A. Two different offerings

1. Abel offered fat portions from the

firstborn of the flock. (4)

2. Cain offered some of the fruits of

the soil. (3)

B. Two different results

1. The Bible says that God looked

with favor on Abel’s offering. (4)

2. The Bible also says that God did

not look with favor on Cain’s

offering. (5)

The obvious question would be, “Why did God

look with favor on Abel’s offering and not

on Cain’s?”

II. God’s Reasons?

We must first realize that no reason is

given, but let us examine some

possibilities.

A. The Amount?

1. No Biblical mandate (i.e. 10%) had

been given prior to this first

recorded offering.

2. Perhaps Cain knew he was cheating

God (Maybe another Ananias &

Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) while Able

was giving sacrificially.

(Mark 12:41-44)

3. Perhaps Cain chose from the less

desirable of the crop or the

surplus while the Bible says that

Able chose from the firstborn. (Malachi 1:7-8)

B. The Attitude?

1. Perhaps Cain came with a disgust

for the idea of having to bring an

offering to God.

(II Corinthians 9:7)

2. Perhaps Cain came with a spirit of

pride wanting to upstage his

brother. (Matthew 6:1)

III. The Response!

A. Cain

1. Cain became angry over the issue.

2. He was warned by God about the

dangers of sin controlling his

life. (6-7)

3. He shows his true colors in the

murder of his own brother, and in

his ignorance, plays clueless

before God. JUST like? Yep! His

parents! (Genesis 3:9-13, 4:8-9)

B. Ours

1. Do we learn from those who made

mistakes in the past.

2. Do we give as we are commanded to

give (tithe) and are led to give

(sacrificially).

3. Do we give the with the right

heart attitude.