Once Adam and Eve were banned from Paradise, they were sent out to work the land to start their new dwelling. Alone, they had to face the hardships in the new world where sin, evil, trials, and temptations existed and they had to continuously choose between doing good and doing evil. Adam and Eve had two children, Cain and Abel. Even with the same upbringing, the children of Eve were very different from one another. Abel was a shepherd and apparently quiet and obedient. Cain was a tiller of the ground and appeared to be a man who could revert to extreme anger as a way of expressing his feelings. It is evident that they were both aware of the existence of God because they kept the tradition of making sacrifices and
offerings to Him:
3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell (Genesis 4:3–5 NAS)
Abel’s offering to God reflected obedience toward what appears to be God’s commandment about acceptable offerings—a burnt sacrifice symbolizing Jesus Christ and thus carried future meaning and purpose. Cain’s offering was disregarded by God. God warned Cain beforehand that sin was waiting for him:
6 So 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 lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:6-7).