Even though Genesis 4 does not clearly state God's reasoning, Dr. Mark Strauss finds some compelling implications around Cain's failure that we can apply (and avoid) today.
Amen. This is the best explanation of this verse I have been able to find yet. It wasn't 'what' was given but the 'how and why'. IMO God wants us to want to give freely our offerings ( In my case too poor to pay but try through works and charity to others to show hearts intent.) Lately I've felt even this isn't right as I must look into my own intent, am I doing it for God's glory or my own....I try to read and learn more everyday through the Bible and any other source available (how I got here) and hope and pray I am starting to see the light. I believe in Jesus, God knows I am trying to live right by His word. What I feel I know he feels, so as for Cain I think the same is true. He gave as told, but not because he was happy to do it, and therefore wasn't in the right way or place in his mind and heart. IF anyone ever reads this I hope it helps in any way and U have a blessed day.
Maybe it's the fact that tilting the ground is hard work and shepherding takes less effort. So, Cain takes pride in his own offering and dispised Abel's offering. Cain = trying to work hard to please God. (Carnal minded) Abel = have faith to please God. (Spiritual minded)
@@DZ4Prezident Tilting the ground is much labor intense. Shepherding most of the time is just let the flock do it's thing. Only the blood can cleanse sin. Just like an animal or plant died so you can eat and live. Their life has now renewed you and give life to you. The sacrifice of the firstborn lamb is to foreshadow Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins. God is able to give life and take away life. The firstborn lamb might be dead physically. But, who knows? it's soul might be dwelling with God in heaven.
Cain was in competition mode with his brother not mindful of pleasing God through being obedient. Then he gave into his FEELINGS of hurt and turned them to anger for his brother. And still went a step further towards commit the grave sin against God, murder
This is one of those Bible stories that is never explained in the bible, but frequently explained with general speculations. Sadly, we'll never really know why God rejected Cain's offering, and there's really no evidence to go off that points to any explanation. But people have trouble coping with the unknown.
Thank you for your explanation. Unfortunately, when you read it in the Bible, there’s nothing to lead One to believe that there was any sort of attitude or that the gift was given to the Lord with a lack of sincerity. That said it is certainly a very good reminder and thank you.
The text doesn’t say anything about cain giving grudgingly either. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Abel knew what God was looking for and cain didn’t. Notice how Abel’s offering set the standards of how to be made right with God the reason why the Jews gave blood sacrifice the reason why Abraham sacrificing his son was done in faith. But it wasn’t about issac having to die because God provided a sacrifice in his place. It was a foreshadowing about Jesus. The scripture is pointing to Jesus. It’s not just about believing it’s about believing in Christ. These examples of faith proved their belief in Christ even before Christ came that was what faith looked like in the Old Testament, at least faith for the God of Abraham because people believed in all sorts of gods back in the day (and still do) Cain and abel is a foreshadowing of the Jews and Jesus. God accepted Christ and not the Jews and their regulations, the “fruit” of their law and the toil of their hands. It was inadequate compared to Jesus. (even though they thought they were established before Jesus came by the law, so it became a stumbling block) When the Jews saw they were rejected instead of doing the right thing their hearts were full of jealousy and they killed Jesus. They are lost. Lord I pray people will find the message of Christ in the Bible so we will know how to have the faith that pleases you.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth
Why did God reject Cain's offering? Because cain did not bring his offering in faith but he brought it in unbelief and holding back part of the offering for himself
For good reason. If you were sick and your parents had two options of medicine; 1 not very effective and has bad side effects but it’s cheap; 2 or one that is %100 effective and simply alleviates the illness but costs a bit more. Which would you want your mother/father to favor?
But how do you know that without any content behind the scripture that Kane gave his offering with less faith it doesn't specify that it just says that the Lord looked upon Abel's sacrifice with favor
The video should have mentioned that it's primarily because Cain didn't separate God's own portion ("fat portions") of the soil produce, and he didn't bring to God the first produce of the crop. Abel brought both the fat portions and the first of his flock.
Perhaps it's but an illustration of the two sides to mankind. The details of the sacrifices wouldn't matter so much to that main point...it's good guys vs jealous hearted bad guys
It just seems like God sets favourites. The bible portrays cain to be such a bad person. How would you feel if you and someone else both offered gifts for God but your gift wasn't "good enough?"
Perhaps if we shift the focus from “why one offering was acceptable and one was not” to the reaction of God to the unacceptable offering and Cain’s decisions we will be given a clue as to why the offering was rejected. Cain makes an offering. It says Cain and his offering were rejected. Cain is upset and God sees this. God then takes the time to teach. God teaches Cain that “doing what is right” will make Cain accepted or in the Hebrew “there will be uplift” I find it interesting that the solution is to “do what is right” not to “bring a different/animal offering”. Perhaps this tells us that the reason the sacrifice was rejected was not because the sacrifice was wrong, but that Cain’s heart was wrong. That is to say Cain was “not doing right”. God then takes the time to further teach that if Cain does not do what is right THEN sin waits for Cain. The sin comes, not from the wrong sacrifice, but from the disobedience of Gods teaching. We can see this in the end of Jonah when God says he will not judge Ninivites who do not know what God wants. What does Cain choose? Does he repent and do right? No he chooses to say something to Able and murder him. God then comes to Cain and rebukes Cain for murdering Able. What is Cain’s reaction to the rebuke? Is it like king David’s when Nathan rebukes him for murder and David instantly repents and is forgiven? No. Cain lies. He says he does not know where Able is. He rejects God’s implicit thought that Cain should have a responsibility for his brother. (God makes a covenant with Noah and his offspring (all of us) and in genesis 9:5 says that each man will have to reckon for the life of fellow men) After this reaction from Cain, God tells Cain what his punishment will be, and Cain still does not repent. Instead he tries to negotiate a lesser punishment from God. (We can see in Isaiah 55:7 that God will freely forgive the wicked who forsake their ways and return to God.) This is such a sad story because of the choices of Cain. But we do not have to be like Cain. Hopefully we can learn about heeding the teachings of God and turning from wickedness (repenting).
@@amyam.1934 Owning up is part of repentance. From the Bible we can see that the offering (important! It was not a sacrifice) was rejected because Cain was not “doing what is right”. What is the appropriate response prescribed by God when we are not doing right? Well God says right in the following passage: do what is right and there will be uplift. So it is clear that it is not just admitting or owning up that will lead to uplift. Actively doing what is right is required. There are three ways the Bible clearly tells us that we can atone for sin: 1) charity 2) repentance (teshuva in Hebrew) 3) sacrifice (weakest form and only for specific sins when a tabernacle or temple is in place) It sounds like you are asking about repentance/Teshuva. The word means to “return” The Bible tells us that it is one of the preferred methods of atonement: “Rescue me from blood-guilt, O God, God of my salvation. 17My Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. 18For You desire no offering, else I would give it, a burnt offering You do not favor. 19 The offerings of God are a broken spirit, a heart broken and crushed O God, that You will not despise. (Psalm 51:16-19) “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O man, what is good, what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:6-8) What are the specific steps of repentance/ Teshuva? How does this work? Here is a excerpt from a well written article in Aish that does a pretty good job of communicating the process: Done something wrong? We all have. Here's how to fix it. Once and for all. Many people misunderstand the concept of sin. They think someone who sins is a "bad person." Actually, the Hebrew word chet does not mean sin at all. Chet appears in the Bible in reference to a slingshot which "missed the target." There is nothing inherently "bad" about that slingshot! Rather, a mistake was made ― due to a lack of focus, concentration or skill. The same is true with us. When we engage in irresponsible or destructive behavior, we have simply misfired. Every human being has a soul, a pure piece of Godliness that distinguishes us from the animals. When we do something wrong, it is because the soul's "voice" has become temporarily muted by the roar of the physical body. This confusion is what we call the "Yetzer Hara." But our essence remains pure. We only need to make a few adjustments ― and we're back on target! This is the idea of teshuva. Teshuva literally means "return." When we "do teshuva," we examine our ways, identify those areas where we are losing ground, and "return" to our own previous state of spiritual purity. And in the process, we "return" to our connection with the Almighty as well. The process of teshuva involves the following four steps: Step 1 - Regret. Realize the extent of the damage and feel sincere regret. Step 2 - Cessation. Immediately stop the harmful action. Step 3 - Confession. Articulate the mistake and ask for forgiveness. Step 4 - Resolution. Make a firm commitment not to repeat it in the future. Now let's examine each of these steps in-depth. Step 1: Regret Sometimes, we try to justify our actions, using a variety of excuses: "Everyone else is doing it" "At least I'm not like some people who go around killing and stealing!" "Who are YOU to say it's wrong?!" Regret is not really possible unless we can clearly distinguish between right and wrong. Otherwise, we will just rationalize and delude ourselves into thinking we've done nothing wrong. The ever-changing, sliding standards of society contribute to this lack of clarity. For example, imagine growing up in a house where gossip was constantly spoken. Unless you're introduced to the Jewish idea of Loshon Hara ("negative speech") and made aware of its destructive nature, you may otherwise never consider gossip to be wrong! (For this reason, it is important to be familiar with halacha, Jewish law, and to have a rabbi who knows you personally and can advise you. How should we feel upon recognizing a mistake? Should we feel guilty, worthless and bad? No! "Guilt" is the negative emotion saying that "I am bad." Whereas "regret" is the positive acknowledgement that while my essence remains pure, I have failed to live up to my potential. Feeling regret is a positive sign that we're back in touch with our Godly essence. Our conscience will not let us relax until we've corrected the mistake. Would an evil person feel regret over a transgression? This first step of teshuva is indeed the most crucial ― because unless a person feels regret, he will most likely continue in his errant ways. Step 2: Cessation The Talmud says: A person who made a mistake and admits it, but does not renounce doing it again, is compared to going into the mikveh holding a dead reptile in his hand. For although he may immerse himself in all the waters of the world, his immersion is useless. However, if he throws [the reptile] out of his hand, then upon immersing in 40 se'ahs of water (the minimum size of a mikveh), his immersion immediately becomes effective. (Ta'anit 16a) Can you imagine trying to ask forgiveness from someone while you continue to wrong him at the same time? Without stopping the bad action, all the heart-pounding in the whole world won't help. Step 3: Confession and Asking For Forgiveness In admitting our mistake, Jewish law prescribes that it be articulated verbally. ArtScroll's Yom Kippur Machzor gives a beautiful explanation of why this is so crucial to the teshuva process: As an intelligent, thinking, imaginative being, man has all sorts of thoughts flashing constantly through his mind. Even sublime thoughts of remorse and self-improvement are not strange to him, but they do not last. For his thoughts to have lasting meaning, he must distill them into words, because the process of thought culminates when ideas are expressed and clarified. That is not as easy as it sounds. It is usually excruciatingly difficult for people to admit explicitly that they have done wrong. We excuse ourselves. We refuse to admit the truth. We shift blame. We deny the obvious. We excel at rationalizing. But the person who wrenches from himself the unpleasant truth, "I have sinned," has performed a great and meaningful act. Teshuva must not only be in our minds and hearts. It is to restore our relationship with the God we have wronged. We must stand before God and ask His forgiveness. If we are sincere He is sure to grant it, but to make amends we must first approach Him and ask. In addition, if our past actions have hurt another person, we must ask his forgiveness as well. The Torah requires us to be humble and contrite as we ask forgiveness. This is crucial in enabling the "victim" to heal. Has someone ever apologized to you and you knew it was not sincere? Just grunting the words "I'm sorry" is not enough. Even secular courts are now adopting this principle; some judges are requiring that criminals demonstrate sincere regret and formally apologize to their victims before the court will consider shortening the sentence. Step 4: Resolution Not To Repeat On Yom Kippur, we say two prayers ("Asham'nu" and "Al Chet") which contain an extensive list of mistakes. As a matter of fact, as you go through these lists, you'll see the mention of mistakes covering every conceivable aspect of life! This begs the question: By saying these prayers, are we in effect making a commitment to never sin ever again? Is this realistic? Imagine a new child taking his first steps in front of the proud parents. He gets to his feet, takes a few steps ― and falls flat on his face. The parents clap with excitement and joy. But if you analyze the scenario, shouldn't the parents be upset? After all, the child fell down! The answer is obvious. A parent doesn't judge a child based on whether he walks or falls, but rather on whether he took a few steps in the right direction. So, too, with the Almighty. We are not in competition with anyone but ourselves. What concerns Him is whether we're making a sincere effort to move in the right direction. God doesn't ask you to change in an area that is not yet feasible for you to change. We are commanded to be human beings, not angels. This means making a serious commitment to change ― and taking the right steps at the right time. An individual doesn't need to have all the answers right now. The key is the commitment to change. Be aware of situations in which you're likely to stumble, and keep a safe distance from them. The Torah tells us: Strengthen your resolve in a certain area and God will ensure your success. Nothing that can stand in the way of persistence and determination. As the Talmud (Makkot 10b) says, "In the way that a person wants to go, he will be led." I hope this helps!
Everyone misses the point. God took this opportunity to instruct as to what kind of offering was acceptable in the future. All Cain would have needed to do was ask forgiveness of the unacceptable and promise to do the acceptable in the future. But He took it to be a contest between himself and his brother, that he failed to be the victor. Thus, Cain took the low road and did not remain in awe of God and displeased God, not only in his anger, but yet again in his action of killing his brother. (3 times symbolic of his fall from God).
“Surely if you do right there is uplift. “ It is a simple inference to suppose that Cain was not doing right. God did not say that Cain had sinned. Only after God told him to do right was Cain told that the persistence of wrongdoing would lead to sin. Is this not doing what is right not the most obvious reason why the offering was not heeded?
What was lacking in Cain offering is his heart was not in it. God wants a cheerful Giver with a good attitude.
Amen. This is the best explanation of this verse I have been able to find yet. It wasn't 'what' was given but the 'how and why'. IMO God wants us to want to give freely our offerings ( In my case too poor to pay but try through works and charity to others to show hearts intent.) Lately I've felt even this isn't right as I must look into my own intent, am I doing it for God's glory or my own....I try to read and learn more everyday through the Bible and any other source available (how I got here) and hope and pray I am starting to see the light. I believe in Jesus, God knows I am trying to live right by His word. What I feel I know he feels, so as for Cain I think the same is true. He gave as told, but not because he was happy to do it, and therefore wasn't in the right way or place in his mind and heart. IF anyone ever reads this I hope it helps in any way and U have a blessed day.
Thanks for sharing your testimony.
Maybe it's the fact that tilting the ground is hard work and shepherding takes less effort.
So, Cain takes pride in his own offering and dispised Abel's offering.
Cain = trying to work hard to please God. (Carnal minded)
Abel = have faith to please God. (Spiritual minded)
LOL what tf bruh id rather pick fruits off the ground than sacrifice the first born of the flock . Your idea is backwards.
@@DZ4Prezident Tilting the ground is much labor intense.
Shepherding most of the time is just let the flock do it's thing.
Only the blood can cleanse sin.
Just like an animal or plant died so you can eat and live.
Their life has now renewed you and give life to you.
The sacrifice of the firstborn lamb is to foreshadow Jesus shed His blood on the cross for our sins.
God is able to give life and take away life.
The firstborn lamb might be dead physically.
But, who knows?
it's soul might be dwelling with God in heaven.
Cain was in competition mode with his brother not mindful of pleasing God through being obedient.
Then he gave into his FEELINGS of hurt and turned them to anger for his brother.
And still went a step further towards commit the grave sin against God, murder
Jesus is the better than anything we can do to be saved.
This is one of those Bible stories that is never explained in the bible, but frequently explained with general speculations. Sadly, we'll never really know why God rejected Cain's offering, and there's really no evidence to go off that points to any explanation. But people have trouble coping with the unknown.
The answer is in what God said to cain after rejecting his offering
Thank you
Thank you for your explanation.
Unfortunately, when you read it in the Bible, there’s nothing to lead One to believe that there was any sort of attitude or that the gift was given to the Lord with a lack of sincerity.
That said it is certainly a very good reminder and thank you.
The text doesn’t say anything about cain giving grudgingly either.
Without faith it is impossible to please God. Abel knew what God was looking for and cain didn’t. Notice how Abel’s offering set the standards of how to be made right with God the reason why the Jews gave blood sacrifice the reason why Abraham sacrificing his son was done in faith. But it wasn’t about issac having to die because God provided a sacrifice in his place. It was a foreshadowing about Jesus.
The scripture is pointing to Jesus. It’s not just about believing it’s about believing in Christ.
These examples of faith proved their belief in Christ even before Christ came that was what faith looked like in the Old Testament, at least faith for the God of Abraham because people believed in all sorts of gods back in the day (and still do)
Cain and abel is a foreshadowing of the Jews and Jesus.
God accepted Christ and not the Jews and their regulations, the “fruit” of their law and the toil of their hands. It was inadequate compared to Jesus. (even though they thought they were established before Jesus came by the law, so it became a stumbling block) When the Jews saw they were rejected instead of doing the right thing their hearts were full of jealousy and they killed Jesus. They are lost.
Lord I pray people will find the message of Christ in the Bible so we will know how to have the faith that pleases you.
Very good, clear and to the point. Thank you 👍🏼
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth
1 john 3 11
Why did God reject Cain's offering? Because cain did not bring his offering in faith but he brought it in unbelief and holding back part of the offering for himself
Why would he offer anything if he didn't have faith though?
God has favourites
For good reason. If you were sick and your parents had two options of medicine; 1 not very effective and has bad side effects but it’s cheap; 2 or one that is %100 effective and simply alleviates the illness but costs a bit more. Which would you want your mother/father to favor?
Exactly. Cain should have gotten credit.
Actually scripture says God shows know partiality
I found my answer in Islam…made much more sense…there was no favouritism…it was much deeper than the surface level version from the bible 😊
So why do some teachings say that it's because Cains offering was not a blood offering
But how do you know that without any content behind the scripture that Kane gave his offering with less faith it doesn't specify that it just says that the Lord looked upon Abel's sacrifice with favor
The video should have mentioned that it's primarily because Cain didn't separate God's own portion ("fat portions") of the soil produce, and he didn't bring to God the first produce of the crop. Abel brought both the fat portions and the first of his flock.
Perhaps it's but an illustration of the two sides to mankind. The details of the sacrifices wouldn't matter so much to that main point...it's good guys vs jealous hearted bad guys
It just seems like God sets favourites. The bible portrays cain to be such a bad person. How would you feel if you and someone else both offered gifts for God but your gift wasn't "good enough?"
This is one of the thing i didn't understand in Bible
@@_Glory_to_God one of the many things that I don't understand
Perhaps if we shift the focus from “why one offering was acceptable and one was not” to the reaction of God to the unacceptable offering and Cain’s decisions we will be given a clue as to why the offering was rejected.
Cain makes an offering. It says Cain and his offering were rejected.
Cain is upset and God sees this. God then takes the time to teach. God teaches Cain that “doing what is right” will make Cain accepted or in the Hebrew “there will be uplift”
I find it interesting that the solution is to “do what is right” not to “bring a different/animal offering”. Perhaps this tells us that the reason the sacrifice was rejected was not because the sacrifice was wrong, but that Cain’s heart was wrong. That is to say Cain was “not doing right”.
God then takes the time to further teach that if Cain does not do what is right THEN sin waits for Cain. The sin comes, not from the wrong sacrifice, but from the disobedience of Gods teaching. We can see this in the end of Jonah when God says he will not judge Ninivites who do not know what God wants.
What does Cain choose? Does he repent and do right? No he chooses to say something to Able and murder him.
God then comes to Cain and rebukes Cain for murdering Able.
What is Cain’s reaction to the rebuke? Is it like king David’s when Nathan rebukes him for murder and David instantly repents and is forgiven?
No. Cain lies. He says he does not know where Able is. He rejects God’s implicit thought that Cain should have a responsibility for his brother.
(God makes a covenant with Noah and his offspring (all of us) and in genesis 9:5 says that each man will have to reckon for the life of fellow men)
After this reaction from Cain, God tells Cain what his punishment will be, and Cain still does not repent. Instead he tries to negotiate a lesser punishment from God.
(We can see in Isaiah 55:7 that God will freely forgive the wicked who forsake their ways and return to God.)
This is such a sad story because of the choices of Cain. But we do not have to be like Cain. Hopefully we can learn about heeding the teachings of God and turning from wickedness (repenting).
@@room7594 so basically own up to your wrong doings?
@@amyam.1934
Owning up is part of repentance.
From the Bible we can see that the offering (important! It was not a sacrifice) was rejected because Cain was not “doing what is right”.
What is the appropriate response prescribed by God when we are not doing right?
Well God says right in the following passage: do what is right and there will be uplift.
So it is clear that it is not just admitting or owning up that will lead to uplift.
Actively doing what is right is required.
There are three ways the Bible clearly tells us that we can atone for sin:
1) charity
2) repentance (teshuva in Hebrew)
3) sacrifice (weakest form and only for specific sins when a tabernacle or temple is in place)
It sounds like you are asking about repentance/Teshuva.
The word means to “return”
The Bible tells us that it is one of the preferred methods of atonement:
“Rescue me from blood-guilt, O God, God of my salvation. 17My Lord, open my lips, that my mouth may declare Your praise. 18For You desire no offering, else I would give it, a burnt offering You do not favor. 19 The offerings of God are a broken spirit, a heart broken and crushed O God, that You will not despise.
(Psalm 51:16-19)
“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O man, what is good, what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
(Micah 6:6-8)
What are the specific steps of repentance/ Teshuva? How does this work?
Here is a excerpt from a well written article in Aish that does a pretty good job of communicating the process:
Done something wrong? We all have. Here's how to fix it. Once and for all.
Many people misunderstand the concept of sin. They think someone who sins is a "bad person."
Actually, the Hebrew word chet does not mean sin at all. Chet appears in the Bible in reference to a slingshot which "missed the target." There is nothing inherently "bad" about that slingshot! Rather, a mistake was made ― due to a lack of focus, concentration or skill.
The same is true with us. When we engage in irresponsible or destructive behavior, we have simply misfired. Every human being has a soul, a pure piece of Godliness that distinguishes us from the animals. When we do something wrong, it is because the soul's "voice" has become temporarily muted by the roar of the physical body. This confusion is what we call the "Yetzer Hara." But our essence remains pure. We only need to make a few adjustments ― and we're back on target!
This is the idea of teshuva. Teshuva literally means "return." When we "do teshuva," we examine our ways, identify those areas where we are losing ground, and "return" to our own previous state of spiritual purity. And in the process, we "return" to our connection with the Almighty as well.
The process of teshuva involves the following four steps:
Step 1 - Regret. Realize the extent of the damage and feel sincere regret.
Step 2 - Cessation. Immediately stop the harmful action.
Step 3 - Confession. Articulate the mistake and ask for forgiveness.
Step 4 - Resolution. Make a firm commitment not to repeat it in the future.
Now let's examine each of these steps in-depth.
Step 1: Regret
Sometimes, we try to justify our actions, using a variety of excuses:
"Everyone else is doing it"
"At least I'm not like some people who go around killing and stealing!"
"Who are YOU to say it's wrong?!"
Regret is not really possible unless we can clearly distinguish between right and wrong. Otherwise, we will just rationalize and delude ourselves into thinking we've done nothing wrong. The ever-changing, sliding standards of society contribute to this lack of clarity.
For example, imagine growing up in a house where gossip was constantly spoken. Unless you're introduced to the Jewish idea of Loshon Hara ("negative speech") and made aware of its destructive nature, you may otherwise never consider gossip to be wrong!
(For this reason, it is important to be familiar with halacha, Jewish law, and to have a rabbi who knows you personally and can advise you.
How should we feel upon recognizing a mistake? Should we feel guilty, worthless and bad? No! "Guilt" is the negative emotion saying that "I am bad." Whereas "regret" is the positive acknowledgement that while my essence remains pure, I have failed to live up to my potential.
Feeling regret is a positive sign that we're back in touch with our Godly essence. Our conscience will not let us relax until we've corrected the mistake. Would an evil person feel regret over a transgression?
This first step of teshuva is indeed the most crucial ― because unless a person feels regret, he will most likely continue in his errant ways.
Step 2: Cessation
The Talmud says:
A person who made a mistake and admits it, but does not renounce doing it again, is compared to going into the mikveh holding a dead reptile in his hand. For although he may immerse himself in all the waters of the world, his immersion is useless. However, if he throws [the reptile] out of his hand, then upon immersing in 40 se'ahs of water (the minimum size of a mikveh), his immersion immediately becomes effective. (Ta'anit 16a)
Can you imagine trying to ask forgiveness from someone while you continue to wrong him at the same time? Without stopping the bad action, all the heart-pounding in the whole world won't help.
Step 3: Confession and Asking For Forgiveness
In admitting our mistake, Jewish law prescribes that it be articulated verbally. ArtScroll's Yom Kippur Machzor gives a beautiful explanation of why this is so crucial to the teshuva process:
As an intelligent, thinking, imaginative being, man has all sorts of thoughts flashing constantly through his mind. Even sublime thoughts of remorse and self-improvement are not strange to him, but they do not last. For his thoughts to have lasting meaning, he must distill them into words, because the process of thought culminates when ideas are expressed and clarified.
That is not as easy as it sounds. It is usually excruciatingly difficult for people to admit explicitly that they have done wrong. We excuse ourselves. We refuse to admit the truth. We shift blame. We deny the obvious. We excel at rationalizing. But the person who wrenches from himself the unpleasant truth, "I have sinned," has performed a great and meaningful act.
Teshuva must not only be in our minds and hearts. It is to restore our relationship with the God we have wronged. We must stand before God and ask His forgiveness. If we are sincere He is sure to grant it, but to make amends we must first approach Him and ask.
In addition, if our past actions have hurt another person, we must ask his forgiveness as well. The Torah requires us to be humble and contrite as we ask forgiveness. This is crucial in enabling the "victim" to heal. Has someone ever apologized to you and you knew it was not sincere? Just grunting the words "I'm sorry" is not enough.
Even secular courts are now adopting this principle; some judges are requiring that criminals demonstrate sincere regret and formally apologize to their victims before the court will consider shortening the sentence.
Step 4: Resolution Not To Repeat
On Yom Kippur, we say two prayers ("Asham'nu" and "Al Chet") which contain an extensive list of mistakes. As a matter of fact, as you go through these lists, you'll see the mention of mistakes covering every conceivable aspect of life! This begs the question: By saying these prayers, are we in effect making a commitment to never sin ever again? Is this realistic?
Imagine a new child taking his first steps in front of the proud parents. He gets to his feet, takes a few steps ― and falls flat on his face. The parents clap with excitement and joy. But if you analyze the scenario, shouldn't the parents be upset? After all, the child fell down!
The answer is obvious. A parent doesn't judge a child based on whether he walks or falls, but rather on whether he took a few steps in the right direction.
So, too, with the Almighty. We are not in competition with anyone but ourselves. What concerns Him is whether we're making a sincere effort to move in the right direction. God doesn't ask you to change in an area that is not yet feasible for you to change. We are commanded to be human beings, not angels. This means making a serious commitment to change ― and taking the right steps at the right time.
An individual doesn't need to have all the answers right now. The key is the commitment to change. Be aware of situations in which you're likely to stumble, and keep a safe distance from them. The Torah tells us: Strengthen your resolve in a certain area and God will ensure your success. Nothing that can stand in the way of persistence and determination. As the Talmud (Makkot 10b) says, "In the way that a person wants to go, he will be led."
I hope this helps!
Everyone misses the point.
God took this opportunity to instruct as to what kind of offering was acceptable in the future. All Cain would have needed to do was ask forgiveness of the unacceptable and promise to do the acceptable in the future.
But
He took it to be a contest between himself and his brother, that he failed to be the victor.
Thus, Cain took the low road and did not remain in awe of God and displeased God, not only in his anger, but yet again in his action of killing his brother. (3 times symbolic of his fall from God).
That is extratextual, but a good interpretation of the events. Caine should indeed have accepted the loss and vowed to do better.
thank you i understand now
It’s simple! Gods has always loved barbecue! He ain’t. Vegetarian
Sounds like a very capricious God
So close. Cain had murder in his heart. God tried to correct him. He murdered and was a lier from the beginning.
Excellent job shedding light on this; God does not hate vegans, haha.
But who said he had an attitude, no one knows that, you!! say maybe!! More than likely!!!! he had an attitude, no one really knows, so stop!! it
“Surely if you do right there is uplift. “
It is a simple inference to suppose that Cain was not doing right. God did not say that Cain had sinned. Only after God told him to do right was Cain told that the persistence of wrongdoing would lead to sin.
Is this not doing what is right not the most obvious reason why the offering was not heeded?
Because the folks who wrote the bible were wandering herders, not farmers?
Cattleman's Association vs Homesteaders when barbed wire was invented.