“Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, ‘With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.’ Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’” (Genesis 4:1-7, NIV).
While taking another course in college in another university, I observed an Engineering student who was a big guy and not only mestizo looking, but if you would not hear him speak, you would think he was an American. There was an instance that my attention was caught while his friends were around him and laughing, as he was bragging of something. He related to them that during an exam, his instructor, who was a lady, saw him cheating; but, instead of confronting him, she turned her face to the opposite direction!
Have you also experienced when someone looked with favor on you?
This time, our topic is… WHEN GOD LOOKED WITH FAVOR ON YOU … as we focus on our text (Genesis 4:1-7).
So, what happens, when God looked with favor on you?
The incident in our text happened after our first parents were driven away from Eden, wherein God gave them many good things. He gave them life. He formed them according to His image. He placed them in the garden with all kinds of fruit bearing trees which are good for food. They were even provided with the good opportunity to extend their life for eternity, if they would only eat the fruit of the tree of life.
God gave the man the joy of good employment to work and keep the garden. He gave the man the favor of a good company – giving him the woman.
But our first parents gave their loyalty to the tempter. Believed more his lies. Believed that God was trying to withhold good things from them. Believed they could enjoy good things apart from the Good God. And believed the lie that they could have better wisdom – knowing good and evil – independent from the wisdom of God.
The seriousness of their sin – their unbelief on the Trustworthiness of God and in His Word resulting to disobedience that sprouted also from a proud heart. Yet, God confronted them with gentleness, patience and grace.
In chapter 3, verse 15, God gave them the good hope of reconciliation, when He told the Satan, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
As they sinned, our first parents placed their affection, their loyalty, their allegiance, their friendship on Satan, but the Sovereign God asserted His power to reverse that affection, and friendship would be directed to Him. Through the woman Christ would come and would make it possible. And believers in Christ would now hate Satan and his evil ways. While the unbelievers – the children of the devil – would hate those who love God and His Word.
And, now, in our text, our first parents were already out of the Garden. And in the incident, we could learn at least two important things, when God would look with favor on you.
What are those?
I – You are ABLE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT (verses 4-5).
We read verses 4-5, “And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.”
The text did not say that God looked with favor on the offering of Abel, so He also looked with favor on Abel?
First, it says, “The Lord looked with favor on Abel…” God regarded first the person, not the offering. He placed first his interest on the person. And so, as He had first directed His attention, His regard, His favor on the person, the offering of the person was then also looked with favor. As God regarded the person, He also regarded what he did. He accepted what Abel offered.
God did not accept the offering of Cain, because He did not accept the person.
In Hebrews 11:4, we read:
“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.”
Abel had faith. Because of his faith, he was righteous before God. Because of his faith, he was able to give a better offering. Because of his faith, God looked with favor on his offering – “God spoke well of his offerings.”
And who gave Abel his faith? God. Was Abel more handsome than Cain, why he was given faith? It was not the point.
Consider Romans 9:10-15:
“Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’”
Thus, between Abel and Can, God also exercised His Sovereign Choice.
So, as God enabled Abel to have faith, he was able to offer better sacrifice to God. He was able to do what is right. He was able to accomplish things acceptable to God.
Fellow believers, do we consider ourselves those persons whom God looked with favor?
Realize that it’s not just the good things that we do or we have that we could measure that God has looked on us with favor.
We could have many things and even perform many good things as acknowledge by others, but they could not be acceptable to God, if He does not choose us or finds favor first in His sight.
But, when God looked with favor on you, you will be eager to do good works, because of the faith you received from Him. You will be able to perform what is acceptable to Him.
We read Titus 3:8 partly, “…those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.”
And in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
When God extended His grace to you, not only you would have the faith that could save you but you would be able to perform things acceptable to Him.
What other things you can do when God looked with favor on you?
II – You are ABLE TO RULE OVER SIN (verses 6-7).
We read verses 6-7, “Then the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”
God told Cain, whom He did not look with favor: …? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”
Surely, Cain did not do what is right. And sin what at his door of his and he was not able to rule over the desire of sin, as in the succeeding verses show that he finally murdered his brother.
But, for those whom God looked with favor, they would certainly rule over the desires to sin.
James wrote, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Not everyone can do that. Not everyone would not even try to do that.
Only those whom God looked with favor will desire and would be able to submit to God, resist the devil. They are those whom His Spirit dwells.
Fellow believers, could we rule over any desire to sin? Yes, we can. For we are not just ordinary human beings. Paul told us, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12-13).
We can overcome sin and display in our lives the righteousness that God imputed in us. God is working in those whom He has looked with favor.
We also read in Titus 2:11-12:
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...”
Because of God’s favor on us, not only we can bear every good work but we can also resist Satan and all the evil desires in this world.
CONCLUSION:
What a great privilege, indeed, when God looked with favor on us!
Paul told the Ephesians, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” (Ephesian 1:4-5.)
Through our faith in Christ, we are adopted to become the children of the Holy, Sovereign, Loving God. No greater favor could be greater than that!
