Abel’s Sacrifice – Part One
Hebrews chapter 11, the “Hall of Faith” chapter begins with the sacrifices of Cain and Abel.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Other than the “by faith” part what is it that sets Abel’s sacrifice apart from Cain’s? Some have said that it is because Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice where as Cain’s was a grain offering. Not!
Genesis 4:3-5 (NASB) So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4Abel, 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; 5but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.
The argument that Abel’s sacrifice was a blood sacrifice and was therefore better does not hold true. At the time of these sacrifices there was no set sacrificial system. The standard of the blood sacrifice was yet to be established. In fact, one could argue that Cain’s sacrifice was more costly because he offered of that which he ate. At the time of Cain and Abel every man and animal were vegetarians. Meat eating was not established until after the flood of Noah (see Genesis 9:2-3).
The key to understanding what sacrifices are acceptable to God is found in what is said and what is not said in these verses. In verse 3, “Cain brought an offering to the Lord.” The NIV says that Cain brought “some of the fruits of the soil.” Of Abel’s sacrifice it is said that Abel, brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. Abel’s offering is a thoughtful offering. The language of verse three indicates that Cain’s offering is not carefully selected but is simply an offering. However, Abel’s offering is from the first born of the flock and the fat portions. Offering the first born testifies to Abel’s faith that God would give him a second born. The fat portions were the select portions for the sacrifice. It is the fat that makes your steak smell so good on the grill. The reason that steak tastes better at Ruth’s Chris Steak House is the fat that it contains. Restaurants buy steaks that contain more fat because they realize that fat makes it taste better. We have developed the concept that fat is bad because we know it is not good for our arteries. God doesn’t have to worry about His arteries, so fat is a good thing to Him. The sacrifice is a sweet aroma to Him.
Abel’s offering was one of faith because of his selectiveness. He gave to God the best of the best. Cain’s offering was an offering, but that’s about all we can say about it. Abel’s offering was a type and shadow for Christ not because it was a blood sacrifice but because of the worshipful and faithful spirit with which it was offered. Christ is the Firstborn of the Father. The Father offered Him in faith that there would be a second born – you and me. We are God’s second born when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. So what sacrifice can we offer to God today? Psalms 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
Watch for the next blog on Cain’s response to God’s rebuke.
Your servant,
John