Driven from the
garden they had loved, at the mercy of a frightening world in which they two
were the only human beings, Adam and Eve set up a home. Cain was born, then
Abel. Both parents hoped that one was the Deliverer promised by the Lord.
It was not to be.
Verse 4: "And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was
a tiller of the ground."
The boys grew into
different occupations--Abel, a shepherd; and Cain, a farmer. All day long, Abel
watched over helpless sheep, caring for the sick and tending the lambs: and all
day long, Cain worked, sweated, planting seeds, pruning bushes, and harvesting
the fruit that came from his labors.
Right off, we see
contrast.
There's nothing
wrong with being a farmer. But let's take into account Cain's inward
disposition as opposed to Abel's.
"Cain and Abel,
the sons of Adam, differed widely in character. Abel had a spirit of loyalty to
God; he saw justice and mercy in the Creator's dealings with the fallen race,
and gratefully accepted the hope of redemption. But Cain cherished feelings of
rebellion, and murmured against God because of the curse pronounced upon the
earth and upon the human race for Adam's sin. He permitted his mind to run in
the same channel that led to Satan's fall--indulging the desire for
self-exaltation and questioning the divine justice and authority." PP 71.1
Take another look at
the boy's occupations. Cain spent his life working for fruit--for the results
of his hard labor. He spent his life working for pride.
Abel spent his time caring for sheep--for others weaker and more dependent than
he. He spent his life working for others.
Mrs. White says that
Cain and Abel represent the two classes of men (people) that will be in the
world until the end of time (PP 72.5). One class will spend their life for
works, for pride, for self--and the others will spend it for others, for the
lost, for God.
We all know the
story.
Verse 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."
Cain's offering:
rejected. Abel's offering: accepted. Why?
Abel had sacrificed
a lamb. Abel showed by his deed that he believed in a Savior.
Cain, by his
offering, showed that he felt no need; and indeed, who would be surprised?
"Pride feels no need." (FLB 133.2)
And then comes verse
8: "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew
him."
Anger. Fury.
Jealousy. Rage so great that it caused the death of innocence, of faithfulness,
of honor and purity. A young man's blood--the first murdered follower of
Christ--seeps into the ground, and Cain looks rebelliously heavenward and asks,
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
It's a sad story.
Cain is driven from his family, and fathers a world full of wicked and perverse
people that eventually drive God to flood the earth and start over with Noah
and his descendants. Abel? His name is remembered as faithful and true, the first
martyr for Christ's sake.
What struck me
wasn't Cain's wickedness; although that horrified me.
It was the import of
the differences in the boys. One, a servant of the most High; the other, a
servant of the prince of darkness.
Abel, in modernity,
was a tender shepherd of lost souls. He cared for the weak and the sick; he
helped those who needed help; he watched over little children. He laid on the
alter of sacrifice the best he had for the sake of showing Christ his fidelity.
And then, while trying to reason with his religious but rebellious brother,
lost his life. Yet, he gave it up willingly.
I can but say this
one thing.
Lord, make me Abel--even unto death.
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