Cain & Abel

Genesis 4:1-16

Even in the murder of Abel and the curse afflicted on Cain for acting on such sin, God’s intention to redeem humanity’s current (and rapid) descent into hopeless despair and utter darkness is on display. There is a clear injustice done among His people in the world, amongst the few people in the world. This injustice is known, of course, by our all-knowing God, yet it also foretells the coming atonement of Christ and the picture of righteousness we ought to live into ourselves.

Cain murdered out of pride-filled envy of His brother, who received favor over him. Why is this immediate difference in favor? Hebrews 11:4 tells us, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” The distinction between Abel and Cain in their offerings is not merely the contents of their offering but the content of their hearts. Thus, Abel, making sacrifices in faith, is counted as righteous.

In Genesis 4:11, we see the blood of the innocent is powerful before the eyes of the Lord and not soon forgotten by Him. This a foreshadowing of Christ, as again in Hebrews we read “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (v.12:24). Both men were killed by murderously jealous men giving way to their sinful desires. Yet in Christ, we have salvation, as His innocent blood atones for the sin of those who believe in Him; that sin itself would be judged, and God’s people be given grace, redemption, and salvation. Praise God that He remembered us in this work of Christ. Though sinners like Cain, now in Christ, God remembers our sins no more.