Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Cain and Able and true offerings

Many know the story of Cain and Able. The story of these two brothers is found in Genesis 4:1-16, Cain was a tender of the Land and his brother Abel watched the sheep. One day both brothers bring an offering to the Lord. The Lord accepts Abel’s offering but rejects Cain’s. Cain gets jealous and kills his brother.

The Bible gives no explanation as to why Cain’s offering is rejected. All that is said by God about the matter is found Gen 7-8 “if you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Was God rejecting Cain’s offering because he had not done well as stated in the first part of the verse? Or was God rejecting Cain for the Sin not yet committed as forewarn in the last half of the verse.

Even though the passage of Genesis 4 seems to focus on the interaction between God and Cain, I want to know more about Abel. Why did he decide bring the type of offering? Yes he was a herdsman so it would only make sense that meat would be his offering to God. But why the first born and they fat portions?

I cannot help but think how Abel’s offering of an animal resembled God’s killing to make garments to clothed Adam and Eve, revealing his grace and mercy. Abel’s offering may have been regarded for the fact that his offering was in remembrance of God’s good will. Something his brother Cain’s offering may have not symbolized.

The story of Cain and his brother Able can be applied to how we give to God. Giving to show that we remember what God has done for us and how thankful we are for his grace and mercy.

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