Our pastor encouraged us to give a larger portion of ourselves to God in prayer during Lent, making certain that we do not simply offer him our leftovers.
Abel tended sheep. His brother, Cain, tilled the ground. If we take a look back to this primeval period in time, we see that only fruits from trees and plants bearing seeds were permitted as food for human consumption. Animal food was not eaten.
Sacrificial worship was offered here for the first time after the fall. Some believe this proves that meat was consumed before the flood. Why would Abel have been praised for offering the fattest of his firstlings if he was not used to eating them? However, this sacrifice was not connected to a meal, as would come later in the Levitical law. Only bloodless sacrifices would apply there. It’s hard to imagine the slaying of an animal for sacrifice, if not previously allowed. The practical purpose of making warm clothing of skins may have permitted the killing of animals.
Some biblical scholars believe that after the fall God may have commanded Adam to shed the blood of innocent animals, and to burn part or all of the animal to atone for sin. They argue that worship was Divinely appointed from the beginning and not left to human design.
What if the origin of sacrifice was not a command of God, but instead tied to the fact that man experienced separation from God and was designed to satisfy his felt need for fellowship with God? Cain felt the need, too, otherwise he would not have chosen to sacrifice at all. Their offerings expressed their gratitude to God for all that he had given them and their desire to secure his Divine favor.
A clear distinction existed in the objective of these two offerers. The persons making the offering were different. The offerings they brought were different. One was a sacrifice to acknowledge God’s goodness in providing food from the ground. The other was a more excellent sacrifice of shed blood for atonement of sin. The two offerings were received differently because each brought an attitude towards God which determined the selection of their gifts. Sacrifice was intended to show the dedication of the heart to God, not the presentation of a gift to God.
Abel believed that life itself is forfeited to God by sin, and that only by an act of mercy can life be restored to the penitent heart. Confessing his sin and sensing gratitude for God’s mercy, Abel offered the fattest firstlings of his flock, the very best he could bring. The lambs he brought forth were free of disease, blemishes, and defects of any kind. Abel’s thanks sprang up from the depth of his heart. He came displaying sincerity and humility.
Seeking the benefit of God’s mercy for his sin, Abel’s sacrifice was accepted. The Lord testified to his acceptance of Abel and his sacrifice to all present there, including Cain, either by his expressed word or by a visible sign from heaven. Most likely, he consumed the sacrifice by fire, God’s way to signify his acceptance of sacrifices.
Cain might have had faith in God’s existence, power, and prosperity, but lacked the penitent turning to God, in humility, and acceptance of his mercy. He did not bring his first fruits, but only a portion of the fruit of his grounds. Cain merely offered his sacrifice to stay on good terms with God in order to preserve his current blessing. His offer expresses the barren faith of one who feels entitled. Because of his proud heart, Cain and his offering were rejected.
What really made Abel’s sacrifice more excellent and suitable than Cain’s was that it had more in it. It was fuller because it was filled with faith. The best reason to devote ourselves more fully to prayer during Lent is to show God the extent of our desire to be with him and our faith in his ability to bless us with the favor of his forgiveness.
Becoming Biblical 