Have you ever been intrigued about your family tree? There are so many ways these days to discover our family heritage and where so many of our traits come from. Today while reading our passage, Genesis 4:1-16, I was struck with the fact that the Family Tree is only 4 people long! That is it! There is no need for the internet or any amount of searching for finding the background of this family. They are all right there in front of each other.
- Father – Adam
- Mother – Eve
- Brother – Cain
- Brother – Abel
Abel is our focus today.
Abel was the second son born to Adam and Eve. He was the first martyr in the Bible as well as the first shepherd. Very little is known about Abel, except that he found favor in God’s eyes by offering him a pleasing sacrifice. As a result, Abel was murdered by his older brother Cain, whose sacrifice did not please God.
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Able also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
Genesis 4:2-5
Why did God look with favor on Abel and why did Cain feel dejected? Genesis 4:6-7 explains why…
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Cain should not have been angry, both he and Abel knew what God expected as the “right” offering. Both Cain and God knew that he had given an unacceptable offering. God knew that Cain had given his offering with a wrong attitude of the heart. But, God offered Cain a chance to make it right and warned him that the sin of anger would destroy him if he did not master it.
The story ends with Cain killing his brother Able because of jealousy. Able became the first man to be martyred for his obedience to God.
Even though Abel died a martyr, his life speaks today of his faith. He is the first name mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11.
It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.
Hebrews 11:4
Abel teaches us what it takes to have a right relationship with God. Abel was not considered to be righteous because he was good. He was considered to be righteous because he believed that if he offered God a proper sacrifice, God would forgive him of his sins.
Abel and Cain grew up in the same family. They were brothers and taught by the same parents. But, it is apparent from Genesis 4 how different they were. These two brothers show us that obeying god is a choice. We all face these choices everyday. Most often we know the right thing that God would have us do. But, sometimes we (just as Cain did) choose to go against the will of God. Cain already knew the way to life because his parents taught him. Nevertheless, he chose to rebel against God and kill his brother.
Abel made a choice to become a righteous man. He committed his life to the way of God no matter what happened.
Both of these brothers made a different choice. Abel chose life. Cain chose death. We all have a choice to make. May we all be like Abel and have the faith to endure and choose to please Jesus.