In Hebrews chapter 11 the writer gives us a listing of what we sometimes call “God’s Hall of Faith.” The first great example of faith is the second son of Adam and Eve, Abel. He, along with his older brother, Cain, are introduced to us in Genesis 4. There we read concerning the backgrounds of these two sons. Cain is a “tiller of the ground,” a farmer, and Abel is “a keeper of sheep,” a shepherd (Genesis 4:2). Both occupations are noble. Then we read of their intention to worship the God of heaven.

 

It is important to remember that both Cain and Abel intended to worship God. Cain offered “of the fruit of the ground,” a produce sacrifice, and Abel offered “of the firstlings of his flock,” a sheep (Genesis 4:3-4). They intended to do the same thing, worship God. They offered sacrifices in order to accomplish that purpose. There is even indication they both offered the best they had as a sacrifice to God. Yet, the Genesis account informs us that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but refused to accept Cain’s sacrifice (Genesis 4:4-5).

 

The writer of the book of Hebrews informs us that Abel offered “a more excellent sacrifice” than Cain and he also enlightens us as to the reason behind God’s acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice. “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).

 

Abel’s sacrifice was “by faith.” How can we know if something is “by faith,” or not? The apostle Paul reveals how faith is acquired when he writes, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Bible faith is more than just mental assent. It is preceded by first of all hearing God’s word and it is demonstrated by obedience of God’s instructions. Jesus also taught obedience must be accompanied by love for God in order for the deed to be acceptable. “If ye love me, keep my commandments … He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me...” (John 14:15, 21). Abel is recorded in “God’s Hall of Faith” because he heard God’s word concerning the offering of acceptable sacrifices to God and he obeyed with love.

 

Abel’s acceptable sacrifice to God was an animal sacrifice. It was a sheep, therefore a blood sacrifice. God has always required a blood sacrifice to be offered for the forgiveness of sins, even before the giving of the law of Moses (Hebrews 9:22).  Such sacrifices looked forward to the time when the ultimate blood sacrifice would be offered, the sacrifice of the Son of God for the sins of mankind. On the cross of Calvary our Lord’s blood was shed so we might have the hope of eternal life through obedience of the gospel (Hebrews 9:13-14; Romans 1:16).

 

A tragic result of God’s favor toward Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s was murder. Cain killed his brother and then tried to hide the evidence. When God asked Cain, “Where is Abel thy brother?” Cain replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). God already knew of Cain’s murderous deed, but He evidently wanted Cain to come face to face with his own wickedness. God said, “the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10).

 

The apostle John used this event to teach concerning the love we are to have for one another. He wrote, “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:11-12).

 

Also, our Lord Jesus Christ spoke concerning Abel while He was rebuking the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He condemned them for being no better than their forefathers who persecuted and killed the prophets even while they proclaimed their faithfulness to God. Jesus said, “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar” (Matthew 23:34-35). Our Lord, as well as John the apostle, proclaimed Abel as “righteous.” So, we have the testimony of God the Father and His Son concerning the righteousness of Abel. Is it any wonder that the writer of the book of Hebrews would say of Abel, “he being dead yet speaketh” (Hebrews 11:4)? What a tremendous testimony of obedience by faith!

 

As was true with Abel, so it is true for us today, faith must be preceded by attentively hearing God’s instructions through His word, it must be followed by obedient action and love, in order to be acceptable with God (Mark 16:16). Are we following the example of Cain or Abel?