March 7 Hebrews Hall of Faith – Cain was not Abel
Hebrews 11:4
“The Righteous shall live by faith…” means both trusting God and reflecting that trust by making “sacrifices.” Curiously, we have no written instruction from God to the first family to make a sacrifice to Him. If He did not direct the family of Adam and Eve to make an offering, they may have connected the dots of their parents’ clothing (the skins of an animal they had named), with proper “Christ crafted” covering for shame. (Gal. 3:27) God made those clothes. (Gen. 3:21) An animal had to die for Adam and Eve to have their shame hidden. It must have been a tragic sight for both the man and the woman. Wearing those clothes was a constant reminder of their sin, shame, loss of a pet, and yet it showed God’s mercy.
The animal had died not the two of them! Jesus’ words “Do this in remembrance of Me” come to mind. (Luke 22:19) As we commune, we regularly remember our sin and God’s grace.
Besides God hearing the blood of “your brother Abel crying out” to Him (Gen. 4:10), there is another voice from blood. “The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” (I John 1:7) That divine truth has a vocal element. The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12, a chapter mainly about discipline, includes a potent verse on audible grace: “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Heb. 12:24)
Jesus’ speaking of mercy overpowers the guilt we “hear” in our memory. It is faith that turns God from hearing only accusations crying out against us, to hearing “Father forgive them.…”
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus’ absolving blood.
Our memories remember forgiveness. Thank You, Father, that Jesus is our “Advocate,”
the One Who “speaks for us.” His voice of love speaks better than any possible
self-righteous thing I can say. Praise the Lord! Amen.
