GEN464 The story of Cain and Abel contains an even more [than Adam blaming Eve and she the serpent] pointed lesson in human responsibility.  When God “accepts” the offering of Abel, but not the offering of Cain, we are told that “Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.” [this verse] It would appear that Cain found himself assailed by very powerful destabilizing emotions. After all, he and not his brother had taken the initiative in doing what he thought was a proper act of thanksgiving by bringing some of the fruits of his farming efforts as an offering to God. Crestfallen and bewildered, he had watched his brother’s offering being accepted but not his own. A fury of envy and resentment filled his heart, focusing on the handiest target—his brother Abel! But before anything serious happens, God appears to Cain, to engage in a conversation which appears to have an informative as well as a preventive purpose. “And the Lord said unto Cain:” ‘Why are thou angry, and why is thy countenance fallen?’” Genesis 4:6 Of course, God knew the answer to that question. But did Cain? At this very early stage of human history, man did not understand his own emotions. He had no conception of their obscure origins, no comprehension of the tortuous paths they cut through the personality, and no explanation for the explosive nature of their expression. Cain felt himself driven by powerful emotional forces he did not understand. God’s initial advice to Cain was: Don’t simply accept the emotions as given. Try to understand them. Stop to analyze your feelings. Cain, why are you angry? To the extent that you understand the source of your feelings, to that extent will you be able to rationally direct them.” The Lord’s statement continues: “If thou doest well [good], shall it not be lifted up?” That is to say, “Cain, get a grip on yourself! All if not lost. The future is still before you. If you react properly you will be all right. The path to God is still open. Your ‘fallen countenance,’ your injured pride, will be lifted up.” “But if thou doesn’t not well, sin croucheth at the door, and unto thee is its desire…” In other words, “Cain, if you vent your emotions, things will cool down. But if you permit yourself to become obsessed by your feelings, which right now are just so much heat, they will become a means by which sin will penetrate your personality with the possibility of tragic consequences.” “But thou mayest rule over it …” “Remember, Cain, that you can understand and control your emotions. Don’t be overwhelmed by their apparent power. You are in command. Exert your willpower. You can rule over it!” We all know the story’s sad ending. “And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Genesis 4:8  The rabbis, however, infer from Cain’s subsequent conversation with God that he ultimately accepted responsibility for himself, exercised his freedom, repented, and was forgiven. Genesis Rabbah 22:28 (sic; reference should apparently be Genesis Rabbah 22:13 - AJL) SPERO 237-9