Abel's Sacrifice, Cain's Offering

Friends,

Today I want to repost a blog that I published by in 2010, but with a new twist to it.  Originally I titled the blog "Two Brothers--Two Offerings", but as I was reading back through this blog it came to me that it really wasn't two offerings, but rather, a Sacrifice by Abel and an Offering by Cain.

A sacrifice speaks of that which cost someone dearly.  On the other hand, an offering is just that: something that is offered.  In my mind it is like a tip, or something that is extra.  One can be nonchalant as they give an offering, but no one could be this way while presenting a sacrifice.

Abel truly rendered a sacrifice of firstfruits; Cain offered something casual, something other than and less than what was required.

Here is this story about two brothers, one sacrifice and one offering, with two very different results.  The brothers names were Cain and Abel; they were two sons of Adam and Eve.  Let's take a look at their story, it is found in Genesis 4:2-9 (NRSV)

2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it." 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"

Strangely enough this question comes after two offerings are brought to the Lord by two brothers, Cain and Abel. God accepts Abel’s sacrifice and rejects Cain’s offering. Abel had brought of the firstlings of his flock and Cain had brought "an offering" of the fruit of the ground. Notice, the Bible didn’t say that he brought the firstfruits, but rather, “an offering” from the fruit of the ground.

Cain knew what was required but didn’t bother to do it. He got mad because God rejected his offering and he took it out on his brother Abel by killing him. In a nutshell, he was jealous because his brother’s sacrifice was accepted but his offering  his was not.  So instead of getting mad at himself for not doing what he knew to do, he got mad at his brother insomuch that he killed him.

I would also point out the fact that if you are willing to rob God of what’s His, you probably wouldn’t have a problem with lying either. Cain didn’t. God said: “Where is your brother, Abel?” Cain said, “I don’t know”. That was a lie. Cain had just killed him. He knew he was dead. Then he asked God a question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” He was basically saying, "I’m not responsible for him."

Cain's words have come to symbolize people's unwillingness to accept responsibility for the welfare of their fellow brothers and sisters. 

There are lots of hurting people out there. Some of them are outsiders so to speak, they don't know God.  Then there are those who are insiders; they know God, but have been hurt.  I'm not talking about those who are always pouting about something for attention.  But those hurting who you will never know about, unless the Spirit reveals it, because they mask it so well. 

We are our brother's keeper.  The Word tells us to:15 Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. 16 Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. 17 Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. 18 If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. 19 Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."  Romans 12:15-19 (MSG)

Have a blessed day!

Michael D. Sanes
Pastor, The Harbor Worship Center