Faith can move mountains

“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.” Hebrews 11:4

Why was Abel’s sacrifice better than Cain’s? This is a valid question. By all appearances Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices that seemed to be satisfactory. If you look though at the attitude of the heart of each person you begin to see a pattern in the narrative which may not be apparent at first. It says in Genesis 4:3-7:

“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”

First of all, Abel gave of the first-fruits of his flock and also offered the fat which represents the abundance of his flock. This fat would produce a very fragrant aroma when burnt on the altar. Cain on the other hand brought some of the fruit of the soil. I cannot tell from what is given but my guess is that it was not the first-fruits or even a representative sampling of his crops. Beyond this though, looking at the response of God--who judges the hearts of men--it would seem that Cain’s motive was not right when he gave his offering. His attitude was not correct. Many times, we give without any thought to what we are doing, but just out of ritual observance, or perhaps we are expecting to get accolades for how much we are giving, and it is merely pride that is motivating us. God is not looking at the material content, but the attitude of the heart when we give. Like is says in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

It is not in the amount that we give, but the attitude of the heart. Cain’s attitude was revealed when he was told that his offering was not looked on in favor. He responded in anger and he was jealous of his brother. The Lord told him when he responded in anger that if he were to do right, he would be accepted. He warned him that sin was crouching at the door, but that he must rule over it. He had been warned so that he could overcome it, but unfortunately, he succumbed to the evil desire that was lurking in his head. Faith is able to move the highest mountains, turn deserts into fountains—even change the course of history. In this case though, Cain did not act in faith.

Abel on the other hand is mentioned in Hebrews 11 as one who exercised faith correctly. Abel offered up his first fruits--the best of his flock. He also offered up the fat, or the abundance to God as a burnt offering. We need to offer up our lives as our first fruits like is says in Romans:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

Abel was operating in faith, giving to the Lord with an attitude of proper worship. He was giving out of the goodness of his heart. We need to do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that we can perform the works of faith--giving to God our entire being thinking of others above ourselves. We should be like Paul when he said: “even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:17) We should rejoice when others are rejoicing and mourn when others are mourning. This way we are exercising the kind of faith that Abel was commended for. God receives the offering of faith. He will see your heart when you offer your gifts to the Lord. He will recognize what you have done, even if it is just giving a cup of water in His name. It says in Psalm 18:25 that “to the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless.” He will be with us always, even unto the ends of the earth. He will see us as the pleasing aroma of Christ when we look to the Author and Perfecter of our faith and shed off all of the needless weight and the sin that so easily entangles us. He is faithful and He will always be faithful. Let us run this race to win! God Bless You!

“Faith can move the highest mountains,

Turn deserts into fountains

And part the mighty waters of the deepest sea.

Faith can make a broken heart mend

Bring the rain from heaven

Faith can even change the course of history.” Denny Correll