Cain's major problem was rationalization — he reasoned from his own human viewpoint instead of doing what God had instructed.
Instead of bringing the blood sacrifice God had instructed, Cain reasoned that a beautiful offering produced by his own labor would surely be accepted. Les Feldick describes this as rationalization and self-deception, and notes that God did not accept him. Abel, by contrast, did exactly what God said and offered the more excellent sacrifice by faith.
Genesis 4:3-5 — Records Cain's offering of the fruit of the ground and God's rejection of both Cain and his offering.
Genesis 4:7 — God points Cain to the sin offering at the door, showing that acceptance was still available on God's terms.
Hebrews 11:4 — Declares that Abel's sacrifice was more excellent because it was offered by faith, contrasting faith with Cain's rationalization.
In Genesis chapter 4, Cain brought 'an offering unto the LORD' of the fruit of the ground, while Abel brought 'the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.' The LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering, but 'unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.' Cain's response was to be very wroth, and his countenance fell. God then confronted Cain, telling him, 'If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.' The book of Hebrews later explains the spiritual contrast: 'By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain' (Hebrews 11:4). Scripture shows Abel responding in faith to what God had instructed, while Cain's offering brought rejection.
Les Feldick consistently boils Cain's problem down to one word: rationalization. As a farmer, Cain had no flock of sheep, so he reasoned there was no need to go over the mountain and barter with Abel for one of his lambs. He told himself that if he put together the best, most beautiful sacrifice he could from what he had grown, surely God would accept it. Les points out that this was rationalizing — not doing what God said. Les defines rationalization as 'self-deception.' Cain deceived himself into thinking God would accept him without the blood, but God did not. Abel, on the other hand, believed what God said and acted on it, bringing the blood sacrifice by faith. According to Les, the human race hasn't changed one iota — people today still rationalize, thinking their behavior patterns and good efforts will earn God's acceptance. It has to be God's way. Les also highlights that Cain's sacrifice was bloodless and 'of self-will,' and that when God rejected it, Cain's first reaction was anger — the same reaction people have today when shown from the Word of God that they are wrong. God even told Cain He had already provided a lamb at the tent door, but Cain would not take it. Les remarks that he wouldn't be a bit surprised if Cain was probably a better person than Abel, because Cain tried — yet his problem was substituting his own reasoning for what God required.
Les Feldick consistently uses the word 'rationalized' to describe Cain's thinking. Cain was a farmer who had no flock of sheep, so he reasoned there was no reason to make his way over the mountain and barter with his brother Abel for one of his sheep. He told himself, 'Surely, if I do the best I can, if I put together the best beautiful sacrifice for God, surely He will accept it.' Les calls this rationalizing — not doing what God said. He also offers a definition for rationalization: 'self-deception.' Cain deceived himself into thinking he could approach God on his own terms and still be accepted.
According to the Scripture account, Abel brought a blood sacrifice as God had instructed, and God accepted it. Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice, which Les describes as 'that which was of self-will,' and God rejected it. Hebrews 11:4 says, 'By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.' Les points out that Abel did just exactly what God said to do — he believed what God said and acted on it. Cain, meanwhile, brought the fruit of his own ground and relied on the effort behind the offering rather than on obedience.
Genesis records that Cain 'was very wroth, and his countenance fell.' Les observes that this is just like human beings today — when people are shown from the Word of God that they are out in left field with whatever they may be practicing, their first reaction is to get angry. Cain's first reaction when God rejected his offering was anger. Les notes that God came back and told Cain He had already provided a lamb: if Cain would just go to his tent door, pick it up, and bring it, God would accept him. Still, Cain would not.
Les says the human race hasn't changed one iota. Instead of coming into the book and seeing what God clearly says we have to believe, people rationalize: 'if I do such and such, if I live in such and such a behavior pattern, surely God will accept me.' Les warns that God is not going to accept that person any more than He did Cain — it has to be God's way. He also stresses that God's plan of salvation is so simple and plain that God is not going to let someone slip in a side door and say, 'well, I thought.'
Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained
We have that innate ability as believers to discern. Is this scriptural, or is this something that man has thought up? Now you see, I�ve been warning my classes here in Oklahoma, and most of you have heard me say it over and over again. In Matthew 24, when those 12 disciples approached Jesus and said, �What is the sign of your coming in the end of the age ?� He didn�t say, �Look for globalism, and…
Cain's rationalization as a farmer
Les explains how Cain, a farmer, reasoned there was no need to barter with Abel for a sheep, believing his best effort would be accepted.
Rationalization is self-deception
Les defines rationalization as self-deception and shows that Cain deceived himself into expecting acceptance without blood — yet God did not accept him.
Bloodless self-will vs. the provided lamb
Les contrasts Abel's obedient blood sacrifice with Cain's bloodless, self-willed offering, and notes that God offered Cain a lamb at his tent door.
Cain substituted effort for obedience
Les shows that Abel did exactly what God said while Cain tried to earn acceptance through his own effort, and may even have been the better person outwardly.
Cain's anger at rejection
Les notes that Cain's first reaction when his offering was rejected was anger, just as people react today when shown they are wrong.
Conscience, blood sacrifice, and bartering
Les teaches that God had instructed a blood sacrifice, but Cain rationalized that he could make a beautiful sacrifice from what he had grown instead of bartering for a lamb.
Doing God's way, not rationalizing religion
Les applies Cain's problem to today, warning that people who rationalize their good behavior will not be accepted any more than Cain was — it has to be God's way.
Genesis 4:3: And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Shows that Cain brought an offering from his own produce, not the blood sacrifice God had instructed.
Genesis 4:4: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Shows Abel bringing the firstlings of his flock — the blood sacrifice God required — and God's acceptance.
Genesis 4:5: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Records God's rejection of Cain's offering and Cain's angry reaction.
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.
God points Cain to the sin offering — evidence that acceptance was still available on God's terms.
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.
Explains the spiritual root of the difference: Abel acted by faith, Cain did not.
Cain's major problem was that he reasoned entirely from the human side. Instead of doing what God had instructed, he rationalized that his own best effort and a beautiful offering from his crops would surely be accepted. Les Feldick defines this rationalizing as self-deception.
Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice 'of the fruit of the ground,' substituting his own labor and logic for the blood sacrifice God had required. Abel brought the firstlings of his flock as instructed and was accepted, while God had no respect for Cain or his offering.
Les says a good definition for rationalization is 'self-deception.' Cain deceived himself into thinking God would accept him without the blood, and people today deceive themselves the same way when they trust their own good behavior instead of God's way.
Yes. According to Les, God came back to Cain and told him He had already provided a lamb — if Cain would go to his tent door, pick it up, and bring it, God would accept him. But Cain would not, even after being told of the lamb.
Watch the Teaching: Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained