An important aspect of worship is our asking God for forgiveness of sin. This devotional reading looks at the Old Testament ceremony of sacrifice and how that applies to Cain and Abel.
Nuggets
- Both sons worshipped the One true God but in different ways.
- We aren’t really sure what time to which the verse was referring.
- While each brought offerings, they were different.
God must have been the one to initiate sacrifices. He is very specific as to what is acceptable worship and what isn’t.
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Devotions in the The Influence of Sin series
Two Offerings Given
“When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Abel also brought a gift — the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock ...” (Gen. 4: 3-4 NLT)
Both sons worshipped the One true God but in different ways.
If we stop and think about it, we realize that we aren’t told how Adam and Eve worshiped God in the Garden of Eden. All that we can glean from it is that they regularly met with God.
In other words, the most important thing is being in God’s presence.
But that is one thing we lost in the original sin. Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, so they lost that presence.
We don’t know how long after the eviction this sin took place. If we would describe is based on child development stages, I would say sin was probably still a child — a teenager at the most.
That being said, I would envision Cain and Abel to be teenagers at the youngest, somewhere in their 20s at the oldest. Yes, that would have them born before the regions sin, but we know God’s Word isn’t always chronological.
Once an animal was sacrificed to make clothes for Adam and Eve to cover the original sin, a sacrificial system could be set up. We talked about Moses writing down oral tradition of creation.
The sacrificial system was a foreshadowing that we need blood to cover our sins. The only blood that could do that once and for all was through Jesus shedding His blood on the cross.
Maybe God did give instructions, but Moses didn’t record the oral tradition on sacrifices. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t initiated.
I know. We would have thought Moses was all-inclusive on the laws. But maybe he wasn’t as inclusive on what we would call ceremonies.
We can’t gloss over the fact that Adam and Eve raised their boys to worship God. They must have had regular Shabbat times He instituted this at the end of creation.
Those times would have included being in His presence and sacrificing to Him.
Adam and Eve would have shown them the right way to offer sacrifices. That would include how to pick the sacrifice (without blemish) and how to offer it. They would have seen how God accepted it.
That brings up the question whether this was the first time a sacrifice was not accepted. Was this an ongoing issue, or was it the first time?
We don’t know. That is something for the UNR book – understanding not required.
When It Was Time
“And in ketz yamim [end of days or last days] it came to pass, that Kayin [Cain] brought of the p’ri haadamah [the fruit of the earth] a minchah [offering] unto Hashem [God]. And Hevel [Abel], he also brought of the bechorot [firstborn] of his tzon [goats and sheep] and of the chelev [fat] thereof …” (Gen. 4: 3-4 OJB).
We aren’t really sure what time to which the verse was referring.
Now, we think of the end of days as the Day of the Lord. This earth will pass away, and we will be called to Paradise to live eternally with God. That is one meaning, since we are all here today, that didn’t happen.
It also refers to the Messianic time. But then all the way up to the crucifixion, Jews thought the coming of the Messiah would be the Day of the Lord. Again, still here or has come and gone.
The third meaning is the one that makes sense in this passage. It means a significant historical endpoint.
It doesn’t necessarily mean harvest. It does mean a transition from what was to a new normal.
How would this apply here? This will be the first instance of God dividing and separating. Those disobedient to God would be driven away from the obedient.
God doesn’t do this to be mean. He does this to remove some temptation from us.
It is just like when God drove the current inhabitants out of the Promised Land. “You must destroy all the nations the Lord your God hands over to you. Show them no mercy, and do not worship their gods, or they will trap you” (Deut. 7: 16 NLT emphasis added).
God wanted those who may lead His people astray to be removed.
Bottom line is God removes those who do not believe and obey Him.
Cain Presented Some Crops, and Abel Brought the Best Frstborn Lambs
While each brought offerings, they were different.
In this instance, both sons wanted to take the fruits of their labors and honor God. Cain offered some of his crops, and Abel offered a firstborn lamb.
To put it this way, Cain and Abel both came to the Lord for mercy and salvation. They agreed that God deserved their worship and adoration.
There has been some discussion as to whether these were gifts (as the New Living Translation says) or sacrifices.
We should want to give gifts to God – over and above our sacrifices. “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’” (II Cor. 9: 7 NLT).
But sacrifices have a specific purpose. Only blood can cover the stain and guilt of sin. That wouldn’t be relegated to a gift. Our confession wouldn’t be seen as a gift.
Alexander – I think, if I read it right – said that there would be no way that slaying an animal would be seen as a gift to God. We talked about God using the animals to make clothing for Adam and Eve after the original sin. He would not give an animals’ life lightly.
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Only blood can cover the stain and guilt of sin. That wouldn’t be relegated to a gift. Our confession wouldn’t be seen as a gift.
It is our duty to give sacrifices. In the Old Testament, I see that as their form of confession.
Whenever it was, it seems like the boys offered their respective offerings through the same ceremony.
Bradford dove into what the Hebrew words meant. Minchah is interpreted differently in Genesis than in Leviticus.
In Leviticus, minchah is the grain offering. In Genesis, minchah is the sacrifice animal.
Bradford felt that meant sacrifice here, not designating what that sacrifice was. This may just reflect an evolution of the Hebrew language.
Bradford clarified that the emphasis was placed on the way the sacrifice was offered, not what was offered. He wrote,
“In other words, its not so much about it being grain, as it is that it is meant as tribute, or a gift to God. So in both of the first two types of sacrifices we’re studying, the ‘Olah [burnt offering] and now the Minchah [grain offering], part of their basic essence is that they are gifts to God. But, they are also REQUIRED gifts…..which is the nature of tribute.”
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We are not told why it wasn’t accepted here. Later, we are told why Abel’s sacrifice was accepted. “It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith” (Heb. 11: 4 NLT).
Making the Connections
How should we offer our sacrifices?
- We should acknowledge that it is our duty to offer sacrifices to God.
- We should perform that duty with a faithful heart without seeking personal gain.
- The sacrifices must be an expression of our true worship felt all the way in the soul.
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We are expected to worship God in who we are. Cain and Abel brought sacrifices from who they were – their occupation.
Think about it. God gives us an occupation as a calling. Ness noted that it is a sin for us to live without a calling.
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I can see that. If we live without a calling, that means we are living without God. Living without God is a sin.
How Do We Apply This?
- Examine our offerings to God to ensure they come through faith.
- Recognize that it is our duty to make sacrifices to God.
- Work to raise our family to understand their duty toward God.
- Understand our obligation to give offerings to God.
- Present to God our offerings a worship to Him.
Resources
Father God. You want our praise and worship. Most of all, You want our lives to reflect You Help us to give ourselves to You daily so that we can become more like You. Amen.
What do you think?
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