Hebrews 11:4 (HCSB)
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
In Chapter 11, “the Hall of Faith”, the writer of Hebrews pulls out example after example of true faith from historical Old Testament people. In each of their stories, we can see how their faith was not simple belief, but action taken in response to a declaration, a command, a promise, or a prophecy from God. In every case, they took God at his word and acted as if He meant every syllable He had said (which He did!).
The first exhibit is Abel (Genesis 4:1-8). Most people look upon Abel as a tragic figure, the first murder victim in the world. But the focus of the writer of Hebrews is different. He sees in Able the first person in history who is declared to be accepted by God because of his obedient sacrifice, obedience that the writer sees as faith.
Ever since the first sin by Adam and Eve, people had learned that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). God showed Adam and Eve how to sacrifice animals after their sin to symbolically pay that death penalty, and clothed them with the skins (Genesis 3:21), not just as a covering for their nakedness, but as a constant reminder of the steep cost of sin and rebellion.
In Abel’s case, when he brought a sacrifice to God, he brought fat portions from the first born of his flock. But Cain, being a farmer, brought fruits and vegetables. He brought what he had on hand instead of bringing the sacrifice God required, which would have cost him more time and labor. And he figured that, since it was what he was willing to bring, what he had available, that God would simply accept it as “good enough”.
But it wasn’t what God required, what He had commanded as an appropriate sacrifice. So, the sacrifice of Abel was accepted, because it was an act of faith, believing God’s command and acting in accordance with it, while Cain’s sacrifice was rejected.
Even so, God urged Cain to bring the correct sacrifice so that it would be accepted. God did not want to reject him but could not accept him until he had acted in faithful obedience. Instead of obeying, however, he lashed out at his brother and killed him.
The lesson the writer of Hebrews draws from this is that true faith acts in obedience to God commands instead of rejecting them, or merely seeking one’s own way to be accepted. And he shows that the example of Abel, though it ended tragically shows the way forward for everyone in God’s Kingdom.
Father, it is a tragic fact that so many people today refused to act in faith so that they can be saved. Instead of bringing you the sacrifice You have not only required, but have provided, the poured-out blood of Jesus, they try to make their own way, to bring a sacrifice of their own choosing, figuring that it will be “good enough”. Some come bringing their good works or religious rituals. Others bring prayers and penance. Still others bring their worship of other gods, the gods of their fathers, figuring that You will reward their sincerity and receive their worship as “good enough” even though it is directed toward another. All these are the sacrifice of Cain and cannot be accepted by You, because, regardless of the sincerity with which they are presented, they are not what you have required. Help me, Lord, to never substitute what I have determined will be “good enough” for what you have commanded. Let me rely solely on the death and resurrection of Jesus for my forgiveness, my salvation, so that I can be saved and accepted by You. Amen.