When God Looked With Favor On You

“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.