Cain. Perhaps he thought it unnatural as well as unnecessary. He
rejection from God. It is to this that the Holy Spirit is seeking to bring us, when he "convinces of sin." For it is thus that he shews us what sin is, and what are its wages. It is thus that he brings us to the experience of him that said, " I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; AND THOU FORGAVEST THE INIQUITY or MY SIN "
(Psalm xxxii. 5).
3. Abel comes with the blood in his hand. There is no blood seen on Cain. Perhaps he thought it unnatural as well as unnecessary. He might point to the stream of blood from Abel's lamb, and contrast it with the beauty of his own fruit-offering which no blood disfigured. He might scornfully contrast the struggles of the suffering lamb with his painless and more attractive offering. He might, perchance, like many a modern pretender to reason, thank God that his was not a religion of blood, whatever his brother's might be. He, at least, was not adding to creation's sorrow! His religion was too rational, too pure, to admit of that! It had nothing to do with the destruction of God's creatures!
Yet it was just the want of that blood that was the cause of his rejection. What ever man may say, yet God will accept no thing which the blood has not consecrated. It would be defilement to do so. The blood is the only thing that can fit a sinner for going near God.
"Without shedding of blood there is no remission." That blood can cleanse even a Cain, and secure his acceptance, if he will but make use of it. But if he undervalue it, if he trample on it, then rejection must be his doom. The blood that would have cleansed him, will condemn him for ever.