"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" (Hebrews 11:4).
The story of the brothers, Cain and Able referred to here, is told in Genesis 4. Here, as in Genesis, the details are stark and sparse. Our curious minds want more details; we want more information on the difference between the two offerings. Why was Able's offering better than Cain's? Over the centuries, proposals have been offered; the most common that Able offered blood, pointing forward to Christ.
But the sparse details should cause us to focus on what is here, not on curiosity satisfaction. What we know is that Able had faith and, according to Genesis, that he brought an offering from the firstborn of his flock. We also know that God counselled Cain, "Do what is right and then you will be accepted" (4:7).
The end of Hebrews 10 helps our understanding. There, God is quoted, "But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back" (10:38). The reference here is to the Israelites who, hearing of the size of those who lived in the Promised Land, doubted that God could give it to them. They shrank back trying to return to Egypt. But they did not make it, dying in the wilderness. Faith says, God can do this and acts accordingly.
Able leads the way in faith, as such, he still speaks today. He was declared righteous because of his faith, not his actions. Yet, his faith propelled him to do what was right. His righteous acts were not an effort to grain credit with God, rather, they arose out of his faith in God's Word. It says in Genesis that Able gave of his firstfruits, implying a trust that God would provide enough for tomorrow.
Sometimes, we are inclined to limit faith to the big occasions in life, like when we are invited to help with a new church plant, or go on a mission trip, or give up a lucrative income to go into church work. Certainly, these things take faith. But the more common and more frequent acts of faith come in an ordinary day: putting God first, using his name respectfully, carving out time for rest and spiritual renewal, honouring those in authority, refusing to harm other people with word or action, expressing our sexuality as God intended, respecting other people's property, speaking the truth, and refusing to covet other people's stuff.
These are not easy things to do, as they are contrary to the way that many folks live. Yet, believers follow them because they are God's word and will for this world. With them, we lay up treasure in heaven. The warnings against the way of Cain echo down through the ages, "The Lord hates the sacrifice of sinful people. But the prayers of honest people please him" (Proverbs 15:8). "Seek good not evil, that you may live…I hate, I despise your religious festivals…Away with the noise of your songs! But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:14,21,23,24).
The danger is always that we focus on the actions: do enough good things and God will be happy. But God sees and tests the heart. Able believed in God's invisible Word and lived accordingly. He trusted God; as a result, he did what was right. It was his faith for which he was commended. His faith in God, led his life. Let the Holy Spirit test your motivations. Ask the Spirit to deepen your faith.
As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
