Cain, Adam and Chava's firstborn went through a very deep crisis. His offering to the Eternal wasn't welcomed. The problem was not that The Eternal didn't like what he had to offer, but the motivation in his heart when he did it. The Eternal sees what is in the heart and what lies behind actions. To Him, it is not as important what you do as why you are doing it. Cain brought an offering but this wasn't welcomed. The verses we are dealing with say that the Eternal didn't look at Cain and his offering. First, it is about Cain, and then, his offering. The Eternal wasn't pleased with Cain and that is why He couldn't receive his offering. What was Cain's problem? His motivation wasn't the right one. He sought after his own interest and not the Eternal's. He presented an offering because of himself or to show off but not because he had an upright heart before the Eternal. The Eternal is not impressed by exterior actions that lack kavanah – a right intention.

What you do is not the most important thing before the Eternal, but why you are doing it.

Now, the Eternal who cannot be fooled, wanted to take advantage of the occasion and teach Cain a lesson of critical importance that could have saved his life and his brother's. In some way, He expressed his disliking both of Cain and his offering. But Cain, instead of searching his heart and changing his attitude – make tshuvah – opted to follow his evil inclination - the yester harsh - and gave place to an anger that burnt inside him such that his countenance fell. The Hebrew text literally reads that his face fell. What happens when the countenance falls? I think that three things happen; first, facial expression falls caused by a change of positioning of the muscles; second, a downward or wayward look; and third, the head is tilted downwards.

When anger filled Cain's soul, he couldn't show a joyful or happy face. His body language spoke the truth of what he had inside. The Eternal asks him why he's burning with anger and why his countenance has fallen. In this way, He gave him a chance to reflect upon and change his attitude – to make tshuvah – but instead of hearkening to the Eternal's correction, he decided to follow the path of evil. The Eternal gave him a very precise word in order to prevent him from continuing on the path of death but to choose life. With that word, Cain would have been able to choose another path. How? By making an inner choice to change his attitude. The Eternal said that Cain had the possibility of subjugating what wanted to take control of his being. Cain could have subjugated his anger and prevented his countenance from falling. Cain had been created to have control in this world and also in his inner world where a battle between good and evil was taking place. HaShem gave him the key to get out from the cage of sin. How could he have done that? By choosing the right thing and saying no to anger, envy and eagerness to harm his brother. It was all about an election. What great power did Cain have in himself! HaShem gave him the authority to subjugate sin in the very moment that evil was creeping in his soul.