The Sacrifices of Faith
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
4/10 Reading Portions: Leviticus 14; Psalm 17; Proverbs 28; 2 Thessalonians 2
Genesis 4:3-5
In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
OFFERINGS
Two offerings were brought before YHVH God. Cain’s offering came from the labor of his hands, from the fruit of the ground. Some have suggested that the reason it was not accepted by the LORD was because it did not come from the shed blood of innocent animals. Offering of our labors are acceptable to God (Rom 12:1; Heb 13:16). Offerings from the fruit of the ground are also acceptable to God (Lev 2:1-16; 6:14-23; 23:13; et al). The reason that Abel’s offering was acceptable and Cain’s disregarded was because Abel offered his in faith, as it is written:
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. Hebrews 11:4
Cain did not offer the fruit of the ground by faith in the Messiah to come. As we had considered in yesterday’s devotional thought, Cain was literally a “slave to the ground,” or in spiritual terms, he was surrendered to the life of worldliness. The labor of his hands expressed self-exaltation. It was as if he was saying by his offering, “God, look what I’ve done for you.” This is not the heart or attitude of the child of faith. By faith, we sing exuberantly the words of Augustus Toplady’s 1775 poem,
“Not the labours of my hands can fulfill Thy laws demands.”
For Cain, that early in the creation’s history, it was trusting in the promise of the Messiah to come, not in his own efforts. For you and me since Jesus has already come, it is in our trusting in Christ’s righteousness imputed to us, in His substitutionary atoning death removing our penalty, in His resurrection and ascension empowering us to live in newness of life for Christ, and in waiting patiently for His return. Hallelujah! What a Savior!