Cain and Abel

by Joey Davis

During the afternoon service that celebrated our new program, Window to the Future, I presented a lesson on the differences between the sacrifices of Cain and Abel. It is obvious from the scripture that there was a difference between the sacrifices.

In an attempt to build up a straw man, I said that Cain and Abel were given very little instruction as to how they should sacrifice to God. The truth of the matter, and what I intended to say, was that up to this point in scripture, we have no record of God either instructing Cain and Abel to offer a sacrifice or any specifics as to how that sacrifice was to be made. That being the case, how could God reject the offering of Cain?

In Hebrews 11:4, the Hebrew writer states that "by faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. . ." It was Abel's faith that led him to offer God a pleasing sacrifice. The question remains. . . Abel's faith in what/whom?

We know that faith is the "substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen." ( Hebrews 11:1) This is the context of the proof verse in verse 4. It stands to reason that the Holy Spirit is inspiring the writer to record that Abel, as well as Cain, was given some insight into what would be a pleasing sacrifice to God. According to verse 1, there was some evidence as to what God desired from this matter. Abel used this evidence to be faithful to his Master.

I still believe that the major difference between the sacrifices of Cain and Abel has its most stark contrast in these brothers' understanding of, and attitude toward, God. Cain's was an offering of arrogance and Abel's an offering of dependence. Cain offered God an offering that showed God what Cain had accomplished. Abel's offering was a demonstration of his recognition of what God had accomplished.

True sacrificial praise is when we acknowledge God's accomplishments in and through us.

It is my understanding that several have made comments on this subject (yet only one has said anything to me ( Matthew 18:15). I hope that I have not done any irreparable damage. Please pray for me and my family as we attempt to serve the Master.