As we continue in the book of Genesis we will focus on both the first sin and the first animal sacrifice for sin, we will also include verses on why Abel's offering was accepted by God but Cain's was not. Hopefully this study will edify many who are confused in this part of God's Word.
Let us review what happened after sin entered into the world through Adam and Eve:
Genesis 3:7
"they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."
Genesis 3:8 "And Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden."
Sin in the Bible is oftentimes described as 'Nakedness'. It is meant to teach us how serious God views our sin and the need of a covering for it.
Now let us proceed with a verse taken from Hebrews 9:22
"And without the shedding of blood is no remission (of sin)."
This above verse is very important because in it God tells us what is needed for sin. God revealed this first to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:21
"Unto Adam also, and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." Gen. 3:21
The above is the first example of an animal sacrificed to cover sin. We would see this sacrifice repeated again and again throughout the Old Testament. The animal sacrifices were meant to teach man how grievous sin is and what God himself tells us he requires for sin, which is . . the shedding of blood. We read that God made a covering for Adam and Eve with the animal skins. These animal sacrifices were to point us to the Savior who would shed his blood for us and be our covering for sin. The garment he would clothe (cover) us in is his own righteousness. Without this covering of Christ's righteousness we could never stand before a holy God, but now God does not look upon our sins, he sees only his Son!
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10
Let us turn to Genesis 4:2-5
2 "Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground."
3 "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
4 "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 "But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
We should now understand why Cain's offering of the fruit of the ground was rejected by God. Since it was bloodless it was not what God required. Cain in his rebelliousness rejected God's only plan of salvation.
Abel ( a keeper of sheep), in contrast did what was right in God's eyes and brought the sacrifice he required, which was the firstborn of his flock and the fat portions (that which burns most quickly rep. of fire, holiness.)
Once again, these sacrifices are a picture ('a shadow or type') which points us to the true Lamb of God who would be sacrificed (on the cross) for his sheep, his flock. This is what God's people in the O.T. understood and laid their hope upon. Christ was the firstborn of the dead:
"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." Col. 1:18
Abel (a picture of the spiritual man) knew he was a sinner but had faith in the One who would eventually come to take away the sins of the world:
"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
Cain is a picture of the man of the earth who is rebellious and angry towards God. He does not come before God with the only sin offering that God accepts, which is Christ, the true Lamb of God.
Hebrews 10:4
"For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."
We now have Christ:
"But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Hebrews 9:26
