How many times have you heard the story of the two competing brothers, Cain and Abel, used as an example of obedience to God? Read the following passage carefully.

Can you find a place where God asks for a sacrifice, or specifies what He wants?

Cain and Abel
(punctuation added)

Came Qayin fruit soil donation Jehovah
Hebel went gather self (/same/that/as/are) firstborn flock fat (or migrate)
Gazed at (in amazement, shock, compassion) the Eternal toward Hebel, toward donation.
Toward Qayin, toward donation not look amazed.
Heated Qayin vehemently fall the face.
Say Jehovah to Qayin, What heated/angered? What fall your face?
Not if made well/beautiful/sound elevation;
If not make well/beautiful/sound,
opening offense crouches.

Did you find it?

Translated in this simple form, the story warns us to guard against jealousy and competition. God did not disapprove of Cain's gift; He was just more surprised at Abel's.

This is the first mention of sacrifice. It was a human gift idea, not a requirement from God. What was the problem? Simply, God didn't rave about Cain's gift, and Cain was hurt.



Sibling rivalry is so common, it's kind of amusing to see it in the earliest foundation of the Word. We all want approval, and want things to be fair. Parents sometimes respond with favoritism, then correct themselves-- “I didn't mean to react differently; I just did.” One child might have shown emotional maturity or growth, or an unusual generosity.

We see the same competition for attention in religious circles. One person earns favor and notoriety for one public comment while the ones who give thankless hours in the kitchen, maintaining the building or teaching children get constructive criticism. The struggle can be for God's love, for internal scorekeeping, for others' respect. What happens when we compete for pats on the back, and serve for the privileges?

The congregation in God's eyes is a network of people with the different skills and personalities needed to build each other up. If we focus on appearances, our self-service will block God's provision for others. People need your skills, your talents, your kind words, your connections. Pray all you want for the needy, give to the poor, but if you undercut the people you're closest to, what good have you done?

Competition happens in the workplace, it happens among friends. This apparent injustice is so common that we could reserve this passage for the injustice topic alone. We don't expect God to be unfair, but we hope that He will treat each one of us individually. And watching how God works in our lives, He does. We are not always acclaimed when we hope to be, but sometimes we are over-blessed by God slipping in the right connections, unexpected provision, unique information that we need for the day.

God warns that if we hold onto the natural reaction of jealousy and frustration, we open the door to offenses. Resisting jealousy will require that we take on an attitude of wellness and maturity and enjoyment despite the circumstances. Make a choice to move on, don't follow the trail your feelings will lead. Cain later allowed his rage to take over and killed his brother. Abel might have even bragged, and prodded Cain's feelings to take over. But getting rid of Abel did not balance the scales.

We can avoid misfortune and an ineffective life if we heed the advice. One of the choice words for "make well" refers to sound, from which we could infer proactive praise and a good attitude even when things don't seem fair. This praise in adversity is echoed throughout the Word.

You might have heard recent medical research that anger and fear release toxins in our body, similar to the fright-or-flight response. If we release these chemicals daily, our body needs to work harder to clean them out. Disease takes hold. If the forgiveness advice doesn't make sense to you, at least consider the health aspects.

God wants us to live a healthy, whole, happy and productive life. He gives us clues on how to do that. God gradually prepares early believers for what they'll come up against. The story is a gentle training for life ahead on this Earth. For all of us.

Translation taken from selections of Strong's definitions of the original Hebrew words. Scholars may differ in their interpretations of phrasing and definitions. Josiah Publishing does not claim this an accurate translation, but a study of another's very reputable work. Past and present tense are inferred, as is punctuation, but other interpretations are possible. Scholars of parallel historical documents will be more familiar with usage.

Hebrews 11:4 in the Amplified Bible: 4[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.(A)

Consider faith as this: allowing God to accept you, rather than mustering spirituality.

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