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Most people are familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, how one brother murdered his brother, but did you know that after Cain kills his brother Abe,l the story keeps going. What then follows in that chapter is also a tale of two brothers Cain and Seth. 

Over the next few podcasts, I shall not only be looking at the starter point and murder of Abel, but also continue by looking at the ongoing story of Cain and Seth. These two men are important because they set the tone for the human race. It's not too much to say that all of us are like one of those two brothers. So, let's look at the tale of two brothers. 

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain, She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

(Gen 4: 1-2) 

So in the introduction to this chapter, it says Adam had marital relationships with Eve and she conceived and had a child named Cain. Then in verse 2 it says she has another son, whose name was Abel. Abel we are told was keeper of sheep and Cain worked the soil. So, Abel was a Shepherd and Cain was a farmer. There is nothing inherently wrong with either of those occupations. We need farmers to raise food for our families and animals are raised for not just food but for their skin to make clothing. The plot thickens let’s read the next few verses.

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering.

(Gen 4: 3-4)

The brothers are both the occupied with producing fruit and edible plants and caring for animals. So, when it comes time to sacrifice, we are told that they both brought sacrifices. Cain brought the fruit of the ground. Abel, it says brought the first born of the flock and the fattest which could be translated as he brought the best that he had. 

Now it really gets interesting, because we are told in the middle of verse four that the Lord respected Abel and his offering but in the next verse it says  

But on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So, Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

(Gen 4:5)

What is going on, they both brought a sacrifice. It is usually said that Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice and Abel brought a blood sacrifice and that that's the difference. That view I believe is correct, and I shall expand upon that later, but I think there is also something else going on here also. I think in the book of Hebrews helps to explain this for us.

 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

(Heb 11:4)

Interesting, because in order to exercise faith you have to believe what you are told and then act on it. God spoke and Abel trusted God, and believed what God said, and he bought the appropriate sacrifice. And Hebrews tells us because of this he was declared righteous. But Cain decided to do it his way, Cain thought I'm not going to do this God's way I'm going to do give up the sacrifice I want to give up. What's fascinating about that to me is that he was doing something religious. Cain said I'm going to worship God, but my way, not God's way. We will pick up the story from here next time.