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NASB | Genesis 4:4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 4:4 But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the LORD had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering; [Heb 11:4] |
Bible Question:
By the time we get to Leviticus, we are reading about "sin sacrifices" and the "blood being the life". This seems to imply substituting the guiltless animal for a man's sin. In Gen 4 we seem to be reading about offerings as gifts to God. Where has the change taken place, if at all? |
Bible Answer: I tend to disagree about Genesis 4. Note that both brothers gave out of their livelihood. Abel's gift was accepted. Cain's was not. It is my hunch that, in regards to sacrifices, there were some guidelines in place even at that time. Abel followed these. Cain did not. You might make the argument that Cain's problem was only his attitude, and because Cain and Abel did not sin in the same way that their parents did, they were not guilty at all. I think Cain's wrong attitude was reflected in his wrong action. I find it interesting that in Genesis 3:21, the Lord made garments of skin for Adam and Eve, but it never says what happened to the animals. Where did these come from? Here's my point: there are some things that happened back then that we aren't told.(e.g., What kind of animal died to provide clothing for Adam and Eve? or When did God tell Cain and Abel not to murder? Murder was wrong back then, but we are never told that it was.) Although the Mosaic Law was not yet given, we know that God did give some instructions - "don't eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil". In Genesis 6:5,"...the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (NASB) They were wicked - they did things contrary to God's desire. From Adam to Moses, Death reigned. (Romans 5:14). Sin needs to be covered for people to come to God. That's what Abel's sacrifice did, and Cain's did not. |