Is God Partial?

Is God partial? There are many believers who think that God is partial; especially when they study how God dealt with Cain & Abel or Jacob and Esau. They are not aware of the many other verses in the Bible which very clearly states otherwise.

What we need to remember is that when it comes to interpreting the Scripture, it should be done in its context and in the light of other Scripture portions which deal with the same topic.

For example, let us take the case of Cain and Abel. Many people think that God was not pleased with Cain because his offerings were vegetarian and that God is a non-vegetarian. Is that the truth? Let us examine.

Jude, in verse 11 of his epistle, states that the ungodly people, about whom he starts writing in verse 4 that they walk in the way of Cain. To understand what the ‘way of Cain’ is, let us go to Genesis 4:3-5. A careful reading of these verses makes it very clear that it was not only with Cain’s offering that God was not pleased, but with Cain himself. The verses read as follows: “So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 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; but for Cain and his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.”

It becomes clear from these verses that to God, the offerer is as important as the offering itself. Both the offerer and offering should be acceptable to God.

Now what was the problem with Cain? Why was he not acceptable to God? The answer is in 1John 3:12. It says that Cain was of the wicked one. He murdered his brother because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. It was not for any fault of Abel that his brother Cain murdered him. His works were righteous whereas the works of Cain were evil.

God is not pleased with the offerings of the evil-doers. If anyone thinks that God is blinded by the fat offerings they put in, the loud and melodious singing or the many things they offer to God while living a life of disobedience to God, they are deceiving themselves.

What about our offerings of worship? Are they pleasing to God? They are not, if we are not living according to God’s word. “Remember to walk worthy of God who has called you” (1Thess.2:12). For “God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness”(1Thess. 4:7).

So our God is never partial or unjust. He has a reason for whatever He does.

“Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you, be very careful  what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe” (2 Chro.19:7). “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne” (Psa. 89:14).

Lily Abraham