GENESIS 4:2-5

 

Q: Is there any significance to the fact that Cain was a farmer and Abel a shepherd? Also, 

why was Cain’s offering not acceptable?

 

As far as I know, there is no significance to the choices of profession. Regarding the second question,

 responses either center in on (A) on Cain himself or (B) on the sacrifice.

  

(A) Note that God has no respect for Cain and his sacrifice. It was not made in the right attitude—as

 evidenced by his subsequent behavior. If Cain had been trying to please God with his sacrifice rather

 than just going through the motions of a duty, his logical response should have been one of sadness or 

repentance rather than anger at God. Cain had some moral flaw. Abel offered from his own possessions 

while Cain offered from common possessions.

 

Abel offered a tithe of the flock while Abel offered only a minimal amount. See Hebrews 11:4-- Abel 

had faith and Cain didn't (“a more acceptable sacrifice”). There was even a legend that Cain was the son

 of Eve and Satan. See I John 3:12-- “We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and

 murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's

 righteous.” He was only going through the motions of the ritual without his heart being in it. Abel is

 said to have been righteous in his behavior (Matthew 23:35) and that was the reason his sacrifice was

 accepted. The general principle is laid out in the Old Testament: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an

 abomination to Jehovah, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” (Proverbs 15:8) And then there is

 the Calvinistic idea that some are destined for destruction and others for salvation-- solely at God's

 discretion.

 

(B) The sacrifice came from the ground, which was cursed by God. It reflects an anti-agrarian attitude

 in Israel during the time it was written. Only a blood sacrifice is ultimately acceptable to God. This last

 explanation is unlikely since the later levitical laws specify that cereal offerings are also acceptable.

 Also, Abel offered from the choicest of his flock while Cain did not pick the best of the crop. The LXX

 infers that the rejection was due to some ritual infraction in the way the sacrifice was prepared or 

burned. If the sacrifice was fruit, then it was rejected since it is a reminder of the forbidden fruit.

Alternatively, the sacrifice may have been merely a test, such as the eating of the tree of knowledge-- 

the real importance is in how man responds to an apparent lack of interest by God. Note that God does 

not actively reject Cain's offering; he just doesn't consider it. God doesn't even get mad at Cain when he

 shows anger, only later when he kills Abel. At this point he is gently warning Cain to get his anger 

under control or he will sin.