Is there reason to be (so) angry when God makes choices? That depends on your relationship with God. If you love and respect someone, and they make unexpected, perhaps strange choices in your opinion, how do you react? Cain’s response shows that he has little love and respect for God. He does not reflect, nor politely inquire, but breaks out in anger and no longer looks worthy of God (his face fell
). God brought a trial into his life. God chose no attention.
At the same time, God is Cain’s loving Father. This is evident from the sequel, but we could already know this from his promises to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15).
How do you react when you have to go without such a Father's attention? There is no insurmountable problem yet. God still associates with Cain. Cain can begin to accept God’s ways. That is what God offers him. Does Cain take God’s outstretched hand? If someone gets lost, it is always his own choice. God offers love (Acts 17:27, see also John 3:16). Cain went without God’s attention. That complaint continues to this day: God, where are you? It may be God’s choice to let it be quiet (for a while) between you and God. How do you react?
5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.