Early in the book of Genesis, immediately after the Fall, we find the story of Cain and Abel, the first two children of Adam and Eve.

To the natural eye, this may look like a mythical tale of murder, prompted by the envy flowing from unwarranted favoritism expressed by God… but that is only to the natural eye.   The purpose of the story, and how it fits in perfectly to the mosaic of salvation through grace is evident if you take a second look.

In Genesis 4:3-5, we read:

“And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  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:  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

Many have asked whether  this was just an arbitrary and capricious mood of the LORD, to favor the offering of Abel over Cain.  Many of us may relate to the sense of injustice and basic unfairness of Cain’s offering, one which took him the whole harvest season to produce, being spurned in when compared to Abel’s offering, which was simply a lamb from his flock.

However, one must keep in mind, that just previously, to Adam and Eve, the Lord had declared the soil cursed, and that it would only be with great toil, sweat and “work” that fruit would be brought forth.

In these two offerings, we have the most concise and overt schematic as to how mankind can approach God.   On one hand. we have the hard labors from the sin-stained earth, our own vain efforts to try to please God.   On the other, it is simply the lamb- the first born- whose life was given that Abel might approach God without fear, and in complete confidence of acceptance and comity.

This theme is the metanarrative of the entire Bible-  that mankind’s works, which Paul calls “the Law” throughout his epistles, cannot, nor ever, earn us right standing with God.  Our best efforts, if we are to think of them as merits which God must repay with his favor, are just as “filthy rags” before him.   Mixed with our own sin, they testify against us, and will never earn us anything but condemnation.

On the other hand, God provides a lamb, a physical  one, in the case of Cain, and throughout the levitical system of sacrifice, to serve as a type or foreshadowing.  And in our case God has provided the “true” lamb of God, his first-born son Jesus.  Jesus is our offering before God which makes us acceptable before the Lord.   Our works can’t do it.  Our church attendance, and giving to charity won’t do it.   But we have free, and absolute favor before God through Christ, our lamb of God.

So in these few short verses, it is not a picture of the capriciousness of God that is being communicated-  it is a analogy of the primary theme of the entire Bible- that your works and best efforts cannot achieve for you favor before God.  It is only by grace, through faith in the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.