“When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD……but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.” Genesis 4:3, 5 NLT
The story of Cain and Abel in Genesis chapter 4 is well-known even among those who have no regards for God or His Word. This story validates the proof of the truth of Scripture. When Adam and Eve fell by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden everything changed. They knew sin for the first time. They tried to cover their sin and shame. All they said to God when confronted by him was true but was said to excuse their disobeying God. Their excuses became the ‘bitter fruit’ now being produced due to the fall.
Cain, Adam and Eve’s first born child, was a farmer. He cultivated the ground. We have no reason to doubt Cain was a good a farmer, he was very good. Cain’s gift of his crops were the absolute best, but God did not accept them. This portion of Scripture does not give the reason for Cain’s rejection and his brother Abel’s acceptance. The author of the book of Hebrews does give us the reason. “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts.” (Heb.11:4 nlt) It was a matter of the heart. Cain’s heart was not right for the first worship service recorded in the Bible.
Yes, everything changed after the fall. Abundant joyous fruit of life was replaced by bitter fruit beginning in the smallest increments. Adam and Eve tried to excuse their sin, Cain was not on-board with whole-hearted worship, and when rejected by God Cain became angry. We know what happened next. Cain’s cultivation of the ground with God’s help produced abundant good fruit, but out of a sinful heart starting with tiny amounts is the bitter fruit of sin. Let our hearts be cultivated by the Holy Spirit to produce good fruit and let us not allow the seeds of bitter fruit in our sinful hearts see the light of day.
