Sacrificial Offerings
Fallen man, because of his guilt, could no longer come directly
before God with his supplications; for his transgression of the divine
law had placed an impassable barrier between the holy God and the
transgressor. But a plan was devised that the sentence of death should
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rest upon a Substitute. In the plan of redemption there must be the
shedding of blood, for death must come in consequence of man’s sin.
The beasts for sacrificial offerings were to prefigure Christ. In the
slain victim, man was to see the fulfillment for the time being of God’s
word, “Thou shalt surely die.” And the flowing of the blood from the
victim would also signify an atonement. There was no virtue in the
blood of animals; but the shedding of the blood of beasts was to point
forward to a Redeemer who would one day come to the world and die
for the sins of men. And thus Christ would fully vindicate His Father’s
law.
Satan watched every event in regard to the sacrificial offerings
with intense interest. The devotion and solemnity connected with
the shedding of the blood of the victim caused him great uneasiness.
To him, this ceremony was clothed with mystery; but he was not a
dull scholar, and he soon learned that the sacrificial offerings typified
some future atonement for man. He saw that these offerings signified
repentance for sin. This did not agree with his purposes, and he at once
commenced to work upon the heart of Cain, to lead him to rebellion
against the sacrificial offering which prefigured a Redeemer to come.
Adam’s repentance, evidenced by his sorrow for his transgression
and his hope of salvation through Christ, shown by his works in the
sacrifices offered, were a disappointment to Satan. He hoped forever
to gain Adam to unite with him in murmuring against God and in
rebelling against His authority. Cain and Abel were representatives
of the two great classes. Abel, as priest, in solemn faith offered his
sacrifice. Cain was willing to offer the fruit of his ground, but refused
to connect with his offering the blood of beasts. His heart refused to
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show his repentance for sin, and his faith in a Saviour, by offering the
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