Why did God accept Ables offering and not Cains?
552246
Blood sacrifice/vegetable sacrifice  God rejected the one and accepted the other.  You come to God on his terms or not at all.  The commandment was a blood sacrafice. \nHeb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission of sin.
763950
In deciding that, consider Moses, who couldn't enter the Promise Land as a result of just one sin.  The question is whether his sin was what he did, or thinking that because of all the good he did that one sin wouldn't count?  Never assume to know what God may or may not think of something.
1110581
Yes, there is and yes, it was.  We have always had a choice.  Eve didn't HAVE  to eat the fruit.  She CHOSE to eat the fruit.  As a result, women suffer during childbirth.  You can either choose to believe in God, or you can choose not to.  See where I'm going with this?
216469
yes there were. remember cain even married his own sister and God gave him a sign on the forehead so he won't be hurt by other people living far from their home. Read Genesis 1-2.
752543
God only put us here to be toys of amusement for him. He enjoys watching people suffer. Just think about it for a minute...supposedly he is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-...whatever. Yet he allows this world to be infested with disease, famine, war, death, and horrors beyond imagination. Now, how can you call a god who does all these things loving and expect him to do anything for you. People who always turn to god to help them in their struggles are just trying to find someone else to fix their mistakes. They can't handle the fact that their god probably doesn't like them. God allows all these atrocities on earth to occur and doesn't lift a finger. The question you should really be asking is "Why do I worship a god that does not care?" God did not give us free will. And as far as free will in the respect to god goes, if it had not been for Satan, we would all be wandering around in complete servitude without even realizing we were slaves. By tempting Eve to eat that apple, if you believe the story, he gave us the ability to realize our slavery. Furthermore, anyone who says that we have free will given by god should examine their religion further. How can it be free will when he says that to disobey him will result in a tormenting eternity of fire and brimstone? Are these really choices...slavery or fire? I will thank God for nothing. My thanks go to the god of the underworld for giving me the knowledge to know these lies as they are.
642675
no.  God made Eve so Adam could have a partner, why would God restrict them from the very reason why he made her?
1086123
Ummm...no. This information is entirely incorrect. God created the Garden of Eden in what was to become Mesopotamia, for He listed the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Genesis, thus indicating the location. Therefore, the first peoples were most likely Middle-Eastern--not African, Caucasian, or Asian.\n\nSecondly, Cain only killed his brother, Abel, because God favored Abel. Genesis 4:8 reads, "Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him."\n--New International Version (NIV) of the Bible\n\nCain was then punished by God who proclaimed, "When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."\n-Genesis 4:12\n\nHowever, he protected Cain from someone murdering him by swearing that he (the murderer) would "suffer vengeance seven times over."\n\nFinally, Cain did not move to Africa, nor was he banished to Africa. Genesis 4:16-17 clearly states, "(16) So Cain went out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (17) Cain lay with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city and he named it after his son Enoch."\n\nAlso, Pontius Pilate was the Roman official who was hesistant to sentence Jesus to death, but ultimately decided to give the maddening crown an ultimatum: free the murderer Barabus, or crucify the man claiming to be the son of man. Obviously, they chose to crucify Jesus.\n\nAll in all, I seem to find a majority of African Americans actually believe the Gospel and worship Jesus. There seems to be a stronger correlation between African-Americans believing in Jesus Christ than there is of Caucasians believing in Him. However, that could just be where I live.
919678
Adam and Eve were created perfect in every way. Their children would also, no doubt, be born physically and genetically perfect. Therefore, Cain's wife could be one of his sisters with no problems. Likewise, many of Adam and Eve's children would have inter-married with no problems. \n"None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness. " (Leviticus 18:6).\nGod does not condone near-relative marriages. Had God's command to Israel been given to Adam and Eve, and they and their children all obeyed it, mankind would have quickly died out. God, therefore, had to temporarily allow intra-family marriages to increase his earthly family. \n By the time of the flood severe genetic weaknesses had likely set in, making close-kin marriages impractical, so after the flood God reduced the life span of mankind to seventy years. This would prevent another population explosion of the pre-flood magnitude. (Mathematicians have calculated a billion people may have died in the flood.)\nOne might wonder why genetic weaknesses set in. It's obvious Cain didn't care about God's law, else he would not have murdered his brother (Genesis 4:8; Exodus 20:13). If he disobeyed God in this matter, he likely disobeyed God in matters of diet (Leviticus 11; Deuteronomy 14), and ate whatever pleased him.
757913
All I can offer is my own two cents from my study. (clink, clink)\n\nBefore looking at Cain and Able, we need to look at Adam and Eve's last time in the Garden before having to leave. They had already sinned before God and was punished (the ground cursed and pain in child birth). As hard as it is to believe, Adam and Eve's sins were paid for - therefore there is no "original sin" - but that's another post!\n\nBefore getting kicked out of the Garden, God made garments of skins and clothed them. Why? As we can see in later parts of scripture, God perfers animal sacrifice because of the blood. The blood "pays" for the sins of the offerer. That's why God gave them garmetns of skins - He had shown them what was the offering that He wanted - animal.\n\nAdam then taught this to his sons Cain and Able. For Able it was easier since he already took care of the flock. Cain knew God accepted only animal offerings, but pride got in the way. Instead of going to his brother and trading a lamb for some harvest goods, Cain decided to simply offer up his goods instead of a lamb.\n\nAll Cain had to do was humble himself and ask to trade a lamb for some grain with his brother. But he was jealous that Able had it easy because he overlooked the flock.\n\nSo when Cain offered up his harvest to God, He refused it. Instead of realizing his mistake and doing something to fix it, he got angry. God then asked him what was wrong, that if he did the right thing, he would be a happier person. But Cain let anger fester in his heart until he murdered his brother.\n\nThis is a fine example of how people rather do their own thing than obey the rules God has given us for better living.
54676
I think one of the main reasons is because if he can convince Eve, he knows that she can convince Adam. Women have a strong influence over "their man", and Satan knows that.
590460
God isn't as loving as many might assume--- Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.\n This is for all you that assume God did not create evil!\nand for the test not many actually pass it-- Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.\n  Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.\n \nIt is all them "called ones "that make all the trouble for the "chosen few", they hate them without a cause---Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.\n 1 John 3:12 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.\n Now if this is not enough proof consider these two brothers by "good jewish parents".\nGenesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.\n  Now consider this bible verse and understand that Esua did not have a chance in hell--- 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)\n Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.\n  OK I will say it again for all them that do not understand or believe GOD HATED ESAU!!!Now if this does not make it plain enough Jesus said that it had been better if Judas had not been born than do what he did---Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.\n  Now that is serious talk for a christian man to say.\nconsider Jesus and Judas were best of friends and brothers--- Luke 22:48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?\n To answer you more generally though this world is the world of Satan and he rules this world, God's kingdom we call Heaven it actually is here also in another deminsion. As is hell and death.--- 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.\n  2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
929913
An argument could be made -- a yin yang comparison.  Even from a more traditional Judaeo-Christian perspective, since god is omnipresent, couldn't he be both god and satan?  A method of introducing free will, perhaps.
409347
God is all powerful. He (or She) could have done anything.\n\nHowever God in His unlimited love has given US the free will to choose. We choose to accept or reject God's constant offer of spending eternity with Him in heaven. God will respect the choice we make.
659241
These verses aren't saying the same things at all, and you aren't understanding them because you are looking at them out of context.  These are all from the NRS.\n\nGen 3:  14 The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."\n\n16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."\nhttp://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=Genesis+2&section=0&version=nrs&new=1&oq=&NavBook=ge&NavGo=2&NavNextChapter=%3E%3E&NavCurrentChapter=2\n\nHere in Genesis 3:16, YHVH is telling Eve that her punishment for eating of the Tree of Knowledge is to have pain during childbirth, and yet to still desire sexual relations with her husband in spite of it; that her husband will rule over her on account of her desire for sexual relations with him.\n\nGen 4: 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.\n\n6 The Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." \nhttp://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?passage=ge+4&version=nrs&language=en&showtools=0\n\nHere, in Gen 4:7, YHVH is telling Cain that if he does good things he will be happy; that Cain should desire to do good things because good things desire Cain to make good things manifest.  But evil things also desire Cain to make evil things manifest, and so Cain must learn to control himself - to gain mastery over himself - in order to differentiate between good and evil, and then presumably choose good over evil because man's natural state is godlike and therefore good.
1006291
When it comes to prayer for Salvation for others - God can set up the situation that can result in Salvation even if it means taking them to a whole new low so they have no place else to go - BUT - ultimately such people must make that final decision themselves.\n\nWhile nothing is impossible for God..., he will not make that final decision for the person(s).  Either we accept him willfully or not.
485257
It is only God that can give gifts that will stand the test of time. His gifts are eternal.We should not be chasing and acquiring worldly gifts for they are vain.
49282
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is Free Will, our ability to choose.  If God did not set that Tree in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve would not have free will but would merely be robots.  God's ultimate plan was to give his creation the ability to choose.  Just like a parent would tell their child to beware of something, God did the same for Adam and Eve. God told them to not eat of the Tree just like a parent will tell a child not to do certain things because the parent may know more.  It doesn't mean that the child is not able to do it.  He/she can but the consequences that follow are entirely that child's responsibility.  Unfortunately in the case of Adam and Eve, the consequences of their decision had cosmic-sized consequences.  But the important point is that God wants freely willing people to have a relationship with him.  It's always been a choice and it will always be one.  That's my understanding and hopefully that helps.