The Bible will not answer every question that might come into our minds.

For example, when we read about Cain and Able (Gen. 3:1-6), the text never explicitly states why God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Here’s what it says:

In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstfruit of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

Genesis 4:3-5

Why didn’t God accept Cain’s offering? That’s a pretty obvious question to ask. Did God dislike vegetables? Did he have something against Cain personally? Did Cain do something disobedient in his worship? Maybe Cain didn’t offer God his very best? Or maybe there is some other reason? We can guess all day long, but the Bible simply does not answer that question (at least not right here in Genesis).

This is the kind of stuff that can make Bible study frustrating. It may even seem to us that the text isn’t written very well. How could Moses leave our such an important detail?

But what if God knew exactly what he was doing when he gave us the text written just as it is? What if the text is inspired to give us the few details we are given, and also inspired to leave out other details we might be curious about?

Notice what the lack of detail does for us as we read the text. It makes us stop and think, doesn’t it? It’s kind of like Obi Wan training Luke in using the force. In order to help Luke learn the force, he had to blind fold him. “Seeing” too much was causing him to miss the more important stuff, that is, the force (No, I’m not teaching you to accept the Jedi religion. It’s an just illustration. That’s all.)

By not giving us “why” Cain’s offering was rejected, now we can see the story from Cain’s point of view. He doesn’t get it either. Why isn’t God accepting the offering? What did Cain do wrong? By not giving us the answer we hoped to find, the Bible actually draws us into Cain’s frustration. It is then, that we read God’s response to Cain.

The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.

Genesis 4:6-7

In short God tells Cain to be careful. Yes, Cain was angry. We can understand why. But God hadn’t given up on Cain. If Cain would do well, he would still be accepted. But if not, Sin was crouching at the door, waiting to pounce.

Now notice what the story does to us as a reader. Are we always going to understand why certain things happen? No. Are we always going to understand why God does certain things? No. Might we feel disappointed and angry at times? Yes. But still, we can choose to do good. If not, sin is crouching at the door. When we read the story the way it was written, God’s warning to Cain becomes a warning to us, the reader.

We could just read the story and get frustrated because it doesn’t answer all of our questions. We could just say, “okay, let’s find a quick life application and move on.”

Or we could read it. Ponder it. Wrestle with it. Ask the hard questions (Tip #1). Think carefully and deeply about it. Pay close attention to every inspired detail we are given. Go for a walk. Talk about it with Christian friends. Come back to the text, and then read it again.

The Bible has a word for this kind of Bible study. It’s called “meditation.” That’s how the Bible is designed to be studied.

His delight is in the law of the LORD,
and he meditates on it day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:2-3

The Bible won’t answer every question you have. That’s okay. Keep studying. Keep mediating. You may not ever find the answer to every question you have, but by mediating on His word, you will be blessed.