“Unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?”(Gen 4:5-7).
Cain’s ferocious face showed that he had not offered his sacrifice with a right spirit. It was not God Who was angry with Cain for not offering an acceptable offering, but Cain who was angry with God. It is the same with us. Very often we are annoyed because God has not answered our prayers or because He has delayed in answering them. We don’t examine ourselves to see whether we have prayed for the right thing or whether we have prayed in the right spirit.
“If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” From this we understand that Cain had not done well, and was hence not accepted. Though Cain offered an unacceptable offering, and was angry with God and obviously with his brother as well, God still showed His love and affection for him as a father would, and was ready to forgive himand accept him if he repented and did right.
What a compassionate God we have! The psalmist says, “He is slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.” How anxious He is that we should realize our faults and repent and return to Him! How eager He is to accept us, to receive us!
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion
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