June 26 - Two Offerings.

Genesis 4:1-5
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”
 
Cain and Abel were the first two sons of Adam & Eve. They were the first children to be conceived and born into this world. And as brothers often are, they were competitive with each other. Both wanted to bring a sacrifice unto the Lord.
 
Cain was a man who tilled and prepared the ground to bare crops. He was proud of his work, and chose to use his work within his offering.
 
Abel worked in the fields keeping watch over his flock of sheep. He also chose to use his work in his offering unto the Lord.
 
The Accepted Sacrifice – Genesis 4:4b
“…And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:”
 
Abel’s offering was different because his involved the shedding of blood. It was the blood that was accepted. For without the shedding of blood there is no remission. He not only chose to slay one of his flock, but it was a “firstling”. Abel brought the very best thing he had in order to give it back to the Lord. He had faith that the Lord would provide, and gave the Lord his best because He felt the Lord was worthy of nothing less. Abel was confident in the blood’s atonement, which speaks of Christ’s atoning blood for us.
 
The Rejected Sacrifice – Genesis 4:5
“But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”
 
Cain’s sacrifice was from the work of his hands. He was dependent upon what good he had done and his own ability; therefore the Lord did not have respect for his offering. Cain was confident in himself and his works, which speaks of a works salvation. It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but through the precious blood of Jesus Christ that we find salvation. Because Cain’s sacrifice did not include the blood, the Lord was not pleased. He has no respect for any other means of salvation other than the blood of His Son.
 
Which brother do we relate to today? Which sacrifice do we depend on?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
 
 
Bible Reading:
I Chronicles 5-6 |  Philippians 3  |  Psalm 147
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