Worshipping the Lord Sacrificially

In Genesis 4, we read the story of Cain and Abel, the two firstborn sons of Adam and Eve. As Cain and Abel grew, they offered their own sacrifices before the Lord; Cain offering the harvest of the fields and Abel offering the firstborn of His flock. Scripture says the Lord had a high regard for Abel’s sacrifice, and none for Cain’s, which angered Cain.

This led to a confrontation between Cain and God, where God addresses Cain about his heart. “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed?  If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it” (v 6b-7). This would lead the hostility in Cain’s heart to grow more unchecked to the point where he would kill Abel in cold blood, which brings further judgment from God onto Cain.