The Blood of Abel — Meadow Called Grace

“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.”

— Hebrews 11:4

Cain and Abel. For anyone who grew up in church, hearing these names brings up the well-known story about the two brothers. With Abel being the “good” brother, and Cain very obviously the evil one, they are the antithesis of one another. In one brother, we see the extent that the fall had on God’s creation: jealousy and anger leading to murder—murder of one’s own brother. In the other brother, we see that despite the fall, one could still live a righteous life. We might be quick to say that this is a story about brotherly discord, but in reality, God is giving us a portrait of two types: the righteous and the unrighteous. Although Cain’s story drives the narrative, Genesis 4 is as much a story about Abel as it is about Cain

Although we know very little about Abel, what is written about him speaks volumes. In the account in Genesis 4, Abel has no lines, no direct dialogue, and yet, the Bible says “he still speaks through his faith.” If Abel is still able to speak through his faith, what is he saying?

Throughout history, God gradually revealed His plan of salvation, until it culminated in the Incarnation. So we today, who have the Scriptures, are without excuse. But I wonder what revelation Abel had when he chose to sacrifice a lamb before God. From the passage it’s evident that God conversed with Cain, so likely Abel as well, but to what extent was Abel given a revelation of Jesus? Maybe Abel’s faith speaks the loudest because he had the least amount of revelation concerning Jesus?

In any case, whatever knowledge Abel did or did not have, God was pleased with his sacrifice because of his faith. If God was pleased with Abel because of his faith, I think we would be wise to ask ourselves what Abel’s faith consisted of.

I’ve heard it said that the opposite of faith is fear. Following that thread, if Abel came in faith, we can say he did not come in fear. I don’t think that Abel made his sacrifice with trepidation, with a hope and a prayer and a fingers crossed that God would accept it. And I also don’t get the sense that Abel and Cain were just guessing as to what sacrifice God wanted. Abel didn’t luck into the correct answer–he knew his sacrifice was the one God required. So how was it that Abel was so confident, so faith-filled? We might be quick to assume it was because he “got it right,” unlike Cain who “got it wrong.” But that line of thinking puts Abel’s faith in his own works, which would not have pleased God. Abel’s faith was in God and his faith, of which his sacrifice was a picture, shows us that he knew God’s character.

Abel had faith in a good God. When I was meditating on this passage and wondering how Abel’s faith stood out, I considered all of the things I listed above, and came to the conclusion that Abel must have wholly trusted in the goodness of God. I think Abel knew deep in his spirit that God is good and that if he trusted God, God, who always remains true to his character, would accept his offering and he would be right with God because of it. Abel must have known that his acceptance was wholly dependent on the mercy and grace of God, not on his ability to do religion correctly. His faith was in the goodness of God, not in his sacrifice. Our right standing with God has nothing to do with us–it is the kindness and goodness of God that makes us righteous. Paul tells us this in Ephesians when he reminds believers

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

We, too, can approach God with faith in His goodness and consistency of character.

Abel had faith in an eternal God. I also imagine that Abel had a sense that there was more than just this life here. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, it brought about death–eventual death of their physical bodies, but also spiritual death. Abel’s sacrifice shows us that he had a sense of the eternal nature of God and that his eternal life (Abel’s) was dependent on God. Abel did not have a complete picture of how this reconciliation would be made possible, but he believed that God would somehow restore his eternal life if he obeyed and trusted God in the action of his sacrifice. Abel’s sacrifice points toward the sacrifice of Jesus that reconciles all who believe to God.

20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

We, too, have an innate sense of the eternality of God and the Bible says that “[God] has set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We can choose to believe that the sacrifice of Jesus will give us eternal life.

Abel had faith in a relational God. Ultimately, everything about Abel’s faith shows us that he knew God and had a relationship with God. God’s eternal nature is evident to everyone, but God’s goodness, or the scope of it, cannot be known unless you have a relationship with Him. Abel’s faith, which was evidenced in how he lived his life, tells us that he completely trusted and relied on the Living God. As I have been walking with God, the more I know Him, the more I trust Him, the more I, on a practical level, place my faith in Him, the more I have seen and experienced His goodness. The Psalmist tells us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Experiencing His goodness only comes through a relationship with Him.

His faith is not the only thing that the Bible says speaks..

Genesis 4:10

10 Then [God] said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

I find the personification of Abel’s blood interesting in these verses. If his blood cried out, what did it say?

Abel’s blood cries out for justice. The Bible is clear that God hates murder (see Genesis 9:5, Exodus 20:13, Proverbs 6:7 for just a few of the many verses). God hears the blood of the innocent crying out and He is grieved by it. As Christians, we should care when the innocent are killed, whether it be unborn babies, genocide, or simply an individual whose life was taken at the hands of another. This should grieve us as it grieves the Holy Spirit. If you find yourself unmoved by the loss of life, pray that the Holy Spirit sensitizes your heart to this. Or if you find yourself turning a blind eye because you feel helpless and think you cannot exact any change, remember that we must cry out to God and lament on their behalf. We must cry out for justice to the God who sits on the throne, the Worthy Judge and the Just King.

“I don’t have the capacity to see these problems solved
I take comfort knowing that my God is still involved.1”

Often, there is little that we as individuals can do for those who have been murdered. But as believers, we have peace that God, in his infinite wisdom, will bring about justice. And we must remember that only God brings about true justice. This doesn’t mean that we sit idly by, but it does shape our attitude, our actions, and our perspective.

Abel’s blood cries out as a witness. Abel was murdered because of his faith. John tells us in 1 John 3 that Cain murdered Abel “because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” Abel serves as an example of the persecution those with faith will experience. Right from the beginning, we see that the way of God and the way of the world are in opposition with each other. This opposition did not go away when Jesus came. Jesus told his disciples that the world hated Him and that the world will hate His disciples (John 15:18-25). John echoes this same teaching in his epistle saying, “Do not be surprised if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13).

The reality is we will face opposition from the world simply because of our faith. The truth of Jesus is contrary to the lies that make up the world. By nature, those in darkness hate the light, so when you live in the light, the world will hate you. This is certain. In my part of the world, this might mean that I have to endure a mean tweet, being canceled, some ostracism, or possibly a loss of a job. But, in certain parts of the world, Christians are being persecuted for their faith–from jail, to death. In the Western church, we fail to talk about this aspect of being a Jesus-follower because it is not as glamorous. We often believe that we should only focus on the abundant life that Jesus’ promises in order to draw people from the world in. Jesus’ light will draw people in but it will also cause those in darkness to hate us. This is a dichotomy that we have to hold in tension.

While it does not seem encouraging to be told that the world will hate you, we can be encouraged that God sees the injustice and the persecution of the righteous and will count those who suffer as worthy of God’s kingdom. This is the encouragement Paul gives the Thessalonian church, who was facing immense persecution:

4 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. 5 It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels, 8 when he takes vengeance with flaming fire on those who don’t know God and on those who don’t obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious strength

As believers, we realize that our hope is not in this present world, but in Jesus and his eternal Kingdom. This reality is what shapes our faith and perspective on our present sufferings.

“And just in case you forgot, Christ will come at the right time,
A divine King bringing perfect justice to judge all mankind.1”

Another passage in the Bible speaks of Abel’s blood:

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

Like Abel, Jesus was innocent and was slain. But rather than crying out for justice, Jesus’ blood satisfied the justice demanded for our sins. His blood paid for atonement. And Jesus, rather than crying out, mediates on our behalf. Romans 8:

33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. 34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

God’s justice would demand my life for my sin. I am the guilty one. And yet, Jesus, the innocent one, gave His life. His blood does not demand my justice, but rather makes me innocent before God. His blood, indeed, says better things and He has been exalted because of it. Glory to Him forever and ever, amen.