Reject This

GENESIS 4:5b - 7

5...So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.

 

I understand how Cain felt. His offering to God was not accepted, while his brother's was. Cain's was rejected; Abel's accepted. And Cain made the leap that I often make: the offering was rejected, therefore he was rejected. My work, words, or outreach are rejected; I am therefore rejected. But the Scriptures provide the key to this dilemma; the truth of the rejection is found in God's word.

Verse 3 describes Cain's sacrifice as an offering of the fruit of the ground. Pretty nondescript. But verse 4 goes into much detail about Abel's offering. It was from the first born of the flock and it was the fat portion of the animal. Abel's sacrifice cost him much: the first offspring of his ewes. We don't sense that Cain brought such a costly offering. He didn't bring God the finest grain. Or perhaps he brought God what was left over after he sold the crop and paid his bills. Whatever the circumstances, Cain made sure he was taken care of and then made his offering to God. And that offering was rejected. Cain was not rejected; but his offering and his attitude toward it was. He had not made a pleasing offering to the Lord. And God would not accept what he offered. Cain became angry...even knowing he had not given his best. And his anger was apparent to God.

Yet, in His mercy, God attempts to correct Cain. Don't let the anger get the best of you, He says. Do what you know is right and you will be accepted; let anger rule your emotions and sin is waiting to trip you up.

Isn't this so true? We know we haven't done or given our best and we get angry when it's rejected. When I haven't given a friend what she needs and she seeks out someone else. When I haven't put in enough time or practice on a sermon and no one seems to get it. When I haven't prayed before a meeting and there seems to be chaos. In these situations I feel rejected and I become angry. God's word is clear: if I give my best it will be accepted.

But of course this scripture speaks of what I offer to God. So often what I offer is presented to humans beings. Sin is crouching at their doors, waiting to enter. I cannot control their responses to that. And what I offer, presented to human beings will be rejected. How I have let this rejection anger me. How I have allowed sin to therefore enter and spoil relationships.

And the mercy that God offered to Cain is available to me. He reminds me to do my best, to offer the best. HE will accept my best offerings. Rejection of what I have to offer is not rejection of me, because HE has accepted me. Sin does not have to have entry into my home/dwelling.

Thank you, Father, for accepting me. How you deserve the best I have to offer in everything I do: my work, my family, my time with you. Thank you for reminding me to give the best...and then to know that it is accepted...by you. Thank you, good and gracious Father.

Posted with Blogsy