The reason God accepted Abel's gift over Cain's is because Abel's was from the first fruit. Proverbs 3:9-10Genesis 4:4 tells us that Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock. Genesis 4:3 tells us that Cain just brought an offering of the fruit of the ground. A pastor named Robert Morris taught me this and much more.
Both Cain and Able acknowledged God existed. But at least two critical aspects of the consequences of eating the fruit God had forbidden were disregarded by Cain and regarded by Able and that is why God disregarded Cain and regarded Able.
The first major difference is how the curse upon the ground in Genesis 3:17 is regarded:
...Because thou... hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Cain disregarded the fact that his earthly labors were under a curse and could only bring sorrow until he died, while Able had regard for God's words concerning the ground.
The second major difference is how the awareness of our nakedness must be dealt with before God in Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Fig leaves and plant fibers like cotton are adequate to cover the visible nakedness men and women see when looking at each other, but is completely inadequate for covering the nakedness that still makes us hide from God after we put those things on.
Skins from an animal meant that God had killed an animal and possibly tanned it. In any case, God shed the first blood ever shed on planet earth in order to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness before Him. Cain had no regard for that, but Able did.
Even though animal sacrifice wasn't adequate to fully restore humanity's ideal relationship with God, Able recognized that God had made the first move toward real reconciliation by shedding blood and designed his offering to call that to mind and remember that before God. The Lord's supper serves that purpose now.
1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Hi , I believe that Abel's gift was accepted because it was a blood sacrifice . Later on in the law of Moses we see that God decrees that everyone offers the same thing . The rich don't offer more ,so that no one can boast or feel proud of their offering as everyone offers the same thing . Therefore no one feels inadequate or jealous or proud when it comes to what they offer God .
Amen. Abel acted on faith demonstrated by obedience.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17.
I believe these verses suggest that offering the firstling of his flock was being preached. "Faith comes by hearing"
I agree that Abel's quality of faith was different than Cain's.
Why this was so, we do not know.
But God did find Abel's sacrifice (and faith) acceptable but not Cain's.
Some things we will never know for sure, especially that both Cain and Abel were born to and raised by the same parents who knew God and were so near to the creation time. I do wonder about the others siblings of these two. Did they have faith like Abel?
Perhaps some, but not all.
Guessing that Seth did. And how many siblings did Abel have at this time or how many during Seth's life?
The first major difference is how the curse upon the ground in Genesis 3:17 is regarded:
...Because thou... hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Cain disregarded the fact that his earthly labors were under a curse and could only bring sorrow until he died, while Able had regard for God's words concerning the ground.
The second major difference is how the awareness of our nakedness must be dealt with before God in Genesis 3:21
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Fig leaves and plant fibers like cotton are adequate to cover the visible nakedness men and women see when looking at each other, but is completely inadequate for covering the nakedness that still makes us hide from God after we put those things on.
Skins from an animal meant that God had killed an animal and possibly tanned it. In any case, God shed the first blood ever shed on planet earth in order to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness before Him. Cain had no regard for that, but Able did.
Even though animal sacrifice wasn't adequate to fully restore humanity's ideal relationship with God, Able recognized that God had made the first move toward real reconciliation by shedding blood and designed his offering to call that to mind and remember that before God. The Lord's supper serves that purpose now.
1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Amen. Abel acted on faith demonstrated by obedience.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17.
I believe these verses suggest that offering the firstling of his flock was being preached. "Faith comes by hearing"
God bless.
I agree that Abel's quality of faith was different than Cain's.
Why this was so, we do not know.
But God did find Abel's sacrifice (and faith) acceptable but not Cain's.
Some things we will never know for sure, especially that both Cain and Abel were born to and raised by the same parents who knew God and were so near to the creation time. I do wonder about the others siblings of these two. Did they have faith like Abel?
Perhaps some, but not all.
Guessing that Seth did. And how many siblings did Abel have at this time or how many during Seth's life?
Great questions
We know there's not much given.
I believe the emphasis on those verses is the obvious instructions and faith in the offerings.
And you're right the world could have been populated with thousands at that point, They could have been hundreds of years old.
Thank you.
Gis bless.
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