God defies our human thinking and logic and therefore
can produce something that is more then perfect.
Cain and Abel
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
– Genesis 4:1-7 (NKJV)
1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
– Genesis 4:1-7 (NIV)
1 Then Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she became pregnant. She bore a son and said, “By the Lord’s help I have gotten a son.” So she named him Cain. 2 Later she gave birth to another son, Abel. Abel became a shepherd, but Cain was a farmer. 3 After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the Lord. 4 Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5 but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why that scowl on your face? 7 If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”
– Genesis 4:1-7 (GNT)
After reading the last few passages, most people will ask themselves…Is God fair? The answer would be – God is GOD and therefore he makes the rules and need NOT be questioned on what is fair, for he is always correct.
Their Similarities
- 1. They’re Brothers
- Bible says that they were brothers, Cain born first and then Abel. While having the same parents we can assume that they also probably had the same upbringing.
- 2. Worked with their Hands
- One taking care of animals and the other tilling the soil and growing crops.
- 3. Worship God
- Both knew God and the importance of worshiping him and this was presumably instilled into both of them by their parents.
- 4. Both brought a sacrifice.
- Cain brought his crops and Abel brought his animal before the Lord.
Their Differences
- 1. Their Age
- Bible says Cain was born first and then Abel. Wisdom does not always reflect with age.
- 2. Type of Sacrifice
- Cain brought his crops and Abel brought his animal before the Lord.
- 3. Acceptance
- The passage explains that the sacrifice which Abel brought was accepted but Cain’s was not.
Understanding The Sacrifice
3 After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the Lord. 4 Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering.
– Genesis 4:3-4 (GNT)
Some people might look at this and think
“Does God not like vegetables?”
Man tends to always see what is on the outside… but God sees the inner most workings of our heart and he knows what our heart condition is, in everything that we do for his service.
Cain brought some of his harvest, but Abel brought the “First” lamb born and gave the “best” parts. We need to understand that by killing his first born lamb, Abel understood the risk in that there might not be anymore lambs born. He didn’t wait for a 2nd or 3rd to be born before choosing and thus put all risk aside in order to give the best of the best which he personally had.
22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
– Hebrews 9:22 (NIV)
Abel’s sacrifice was more acceptable because it showed the condition of the human heart and of the human race. Knowing that we have sin and fallen short of God’s glory and knowing that the only way to repair that relationship which had been broken was for blood to be shed.
Keep in mind that the old testament reflects the occurrence of continuous sacrificing and the shedding of blood because it covered our sin for a period and therefore had to be continued over and over. Until God provided A More Perfect sacrifice with his only begotten son. The first born among men, the only one worthy, with out spot or blemish, tempted in all ways but with out sin, for purpose of being a final sacrifice for all our sins past present and future, through the shedding of his blood.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
– Hebrews 11:4 (NIV)
God desires obedience over sacrifice.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
– Psalms 51:17 (NIV)
7 If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it.”
– Genesis 4:7 (NIV)
Things to Remember:
- Always remember in the back of your mind when reading passages from the bible, that God is GOD and he loves us more then we can truly comprehend.
- Adam and Eve’s process in being clothed in skin was the first account of a sacrifice in the bible.
- Be thoughtful and careful what names you give your children.
- Abel’s sacrifice was a type and shadow of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
- Because of Jesus we no longer need to make sacrificial offerings.