Two Offerings (2)

(Part 2 of 3)
What were the results of the offerings of Cain and Abel? The
Bible tells us that “the Lord had respect unto Abel and to
his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not
respect” (vv. 4-5). God accepted Abel and his offering, but
not Cain and his offering because Abel pleased God in
accordance with the way of salvation established by God,
while Cain tried to please Him through his own flesh.
Cain's offering implied that even though man had sinned and
was fallen, he did not need to die; rather, he could work on
his own and use the labor of his work to please God. Man
thinks that the leaves he cultivates can cover his shame and
produce from the land can be offered to God to please Him.
Cain relied upon his works to come before God; he had not
passed through death. He thought he could please God by his
own effort. But God did not look upon it and would not accept
it.
Abel's offering seemed to say, “O my God, the skin You have
ordained enabled me to be a proper man. I now offer You the
fat under the skin to please You. The skin is for me and the
fat is for You.” Both the skin and the fat are the results of
death. Only through death could Abel obtain skin to clothe
himself, and only through death could he obtain the fat to
offer to God.
(Continued tomorrow).