God responds to Cain's anger with grace, asking why he is angry and promising he will be accepted if he does well.
God does not strike Cain down or pronounce immediate judgment. In Genesis 4:6-7 He asks why Cain's countenance has fallen and tells him he will be accepted if he does well. Les Feldick emphasizes that this was God's gracious plea for Cain to be reconciled, even telling Cain that God had already provided a sacrifice.
Genesis 4:6-7 — These are the verses where God directly answers Cain's anger with a question and a condition for acceptance.
Genesis 4:5 records that God had no respect for Cain or his offering, and Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. In Genesis 4:6-7 the LORD responds to Cain directly: "Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." God's words are a question and a condition, not an immediate sentence of judgment. Hebrews 11:4 adds that Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by faith, and by that faith he obtained witness that he was righteous.
Les Feldick stresses that God's reaction to Cain's anger was full of grace and kindness. Instead of judging Cain on the spot, God asks, "Why art thou wroth?" and pleads, "Cain, can't you comprehend how much I want you to get right with me?" Les says God is always anxious for the sinner to be reconciled by simply doing what God has said. In Les's understanding, "if thou doest well" means bringing a blood sacrifice in the same way Abel did, and God went even further by telling Cain that He had already provided a sacrifice. Les describes God saying, in effect, "I've already provided a lamb; if you'll just go to your tent door, pick it up, bring it, and I'll accept you." Yet Cain would not. Cain rationalized, deceived himself, and thought a beautiful offering of his own crops should be accepted. Abel, by contrast, was accepted because by faith he did what God told him to do. Les adds that even after God later pronounced judgment on Cain, God would still have forgiven him if Cain had humbled his pride and brought the sacrifice.
God did not begin with judgment. He asked Cain why he was wroth and why his countenance had fallen. Les Feldick says this question reveals God's heart: "Cain, can't you comprehend how much I want you to get right with me?" Les explains that God is always anxious for the sinner to be reconciled by simply doing what God has said.
Les teaches that "doest well" in Genesis 4:7 means bringing a blood sacrifice, just as Abel did. God had instructed that when conscience convicted them of sin, a blood sacrifice would bring acceptance. Abel acted on that instruction by faith, while Cain rationalized, thinking the finest offering he had grown should be enough.
Yes. Les says God went further and told Cain, "I have provided a sacrifice for you." In Clip 3, Les describes God saying, "I've already provided a lamb, if you'll just go to your tent door, pick it up, bring it, and I'll accept you." The offer was still open, but Cain would not take it.
According to Les, pride and rationalization kept Cain from obeying. As a farmer, Cain evidently had no access to sacrificial animals unless he bartered with Abel, and his pride would not let him do that. He deceived himself into thinking God should accept his beautiful bloodless offering. Abel, on the other hand, did what God said by faith.
Les says yes. Even after God pronounced that Cain would be a fugitive and a vagabond, Les states, "Would God have forgiven Cain even here? Sure he would have." All Cain needed to do was let his pride come down, confess his sin, and bring the sacrifice. Instead, Cain would not, and Les describes him going down, down, down.
Abel's Faith as the Background
Les sets the stage by showing that Abel was accepted because, by faith, he took God at His word and offered a more excellent sacrifice.
God's Gentle Question to Cain
God's first response to Cain's anger was not judgment but a question that reveals God's longing for reconciliation: 'Cain, can't you comprehend how much I want you to get right with me?'
What 'Doest Well' Means
Les equates 'doing well' with bringing a blood sacrifice like Abel did, and says God even went further and told Cain He had provided a sacrifice.
The Provided Lamb
Les emphasizes that God told Cain 'I've already provided a lamb' at the tent door; all Cain had to do was bring it to be accepted, yet he would not.
God's Offer of Reconciliation
Les summarizes the episode as God offering restoration and reconciliation through a blood sacrifice, which Abel accepted by faith and Cain rejected.
Cain's Rationalization
Les explains that Cain rationalized that a beautiful offering of the things he had grown should be accepted instead of God's prescribed blood sacrifice.
The Self-Deception of Cain
Les repeats that Cain deceived himself into thinking God would accept him without blood, while Abel did what God said and was accepted.
God's Continued Willingness to Forgive
Les teaches that even after God's judgment, God would have forgiven Cain if he had humbled himself and brought the sacrifice.
Genesis 4:5: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
This shows Cain's anger and fallen countenance that prompted God's response.
Genesis 4:6: And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
This is God's direct, non-judgmental question to Cain.
Genesis 4:7: If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
This is the condition God places before Cain: doing well brings acceptance.
Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
This explains that Abel's acceptable sacrifice was offered by faith.
God's question was not a rebuke that ended the conversation but an invitation. Les Feldick says God was pleading with Cain: 'Can't you comprehend how much I want you to get right with me?' God is always anxious for the sinner to be reconciled by doing what God has said.
God told Cain that if he did well he would be accepted. Les explains that 'doing well' meant bringing a blood sacrifice in the same way Abel did, and God even said He had already provided a sacrifice for Cain.
According to Les, pride and rationalization kept Cain from obeying. As a farmer, Cain would have had to barter with Abel for an animal, and his pride would not allow it. He deceived himself into thinking God should accept the beautiful offering from his own harvest.
Yes. Les says that even after God pronounced punishment, 'would God have forgiven Cain even here? Sure he would have.' All Cain had to do was humble his pride, confess, and bring the sacrifice, but he would not.
Watch the Teaching: Cain vs. Abel: Why God Accepted One Offering and Rejected the Other