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It’s Up to You, January 18
Genesis 4:1-5
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
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Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, differed widely in character. Abel had
a spirit of loyalty to God; he saw justice and mercy in the Creator’s dealings
with the fallen race, and gratefully accepted the hope of redemption. But Cain
cherished feelings of rebellion, and murmured against God because of the curse
pronounced upon the earth and upon the human race for Adam’s sin. He permit-
ted his mind to run in the same channel that led to Satan’s fall—indulging the
desire for self-exaltation and questioning the divine justice and authority....
These two brothers erected their altars alike, and each brought an offering.
Abel presented a sacrifice from the flock, in accordance with the Lord’s direc-
tions. “And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” Fire flashed
from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. But Cain, disregarding the Lord’s
direct and explicit command, presented only an offering of fruit. There was no
token from heaven to show that it was accepted....
Abel grasped the great principles of redemption. He saw himself a sinner,
and he saw sin and its penalty, death, standing between his soul and communion
with God. He brought the slain victim, the sacrificed life, thus acknowledging
the claims of the law that had been transgressed. Through the shed blood he
looked to the future sacrifice, Christ dying on the cross of Calvary; and trusting
in the atonement that was there to be made, he had the witness that he was
righteous, and his offering accepted.
Cain had the same opportunity of learning and accepting these truths as
had Abel. He was not the victim of an arbitrary purpose. One brother was not
elected to be accepted of God, and the other to be rejected. Abel chose faith and
obedience; Cain, unbelief and rebellion. Here the whole matter rested
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Patriarchs and Prophets, 71, 72
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