“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ”
(Heb 9:12, NKJV)
In the previous teaching we discussed the prototypical meaning Cain and Abel carry, and that their relationship symbolizes the complex nature of the difference between the spiritual and the fleshly man. Despite all the differences between Cain and Abel it is especially important to note that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted, whilst Cain’s was not (Gen 4:3-4). Both brought something symbolic of their niche, the one as cultivator of the land and the other as farmer of livestock. Heb 11:4 explains what had happened – “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts …”
In the teaching of Day 17 we explained that faith is not a blind act – it is based on something that God has said. According to Rom 10:17, faith lies in hearing, and being obedient to what you have heard. If Heb 11:4 thus states that Abel made a better sacrifice through faith, it is because he had done what God had asked – a sacrifice of blood. That Cain knew that he was supposed to go to some trouble to bring the sacrifice is clear from his reaction – “And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’”
If one knows what God is asking you to do, and not heeding to that voice, you walk the way of Cain (Jude 1:11). In 1 John 3:12 the whole history is encapsulated as follows – “not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.”
An innocent sacrifice brings justification.
Obviously the blood of the animals that were sacrificed was incomplete, and it had to be continually perpetuated – “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.” (Heb 10:2). Verse 4 delays this indefinitely – “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
A greater, more excellent sacrifice was needed. although the sacrifice of Abel was thus symbolic of good things (Heb 12:24), it was still necessary to obtain the sacrifice of blood of another innocent Lamb, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:19) which brings “eternal redemption” (Heb 9:12), which speaks of the “best, the more excellent” (Prov 12:26, Rom 2:18; 1 Cor 12:31).
Righteous blood (Matt 23:35) has a voice; God stated this when Abel’s blood called from the ground (Gen 4:10). Abel’s blood speaks of better things (Heb 12:24). The blood of the martyrs calls out with a great voice (Rev 6:9-10). When the book of Hebrews then starts with “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son”, it is His righteous blood that has become a voice. His blood has a voice!
- Sela: Pray through Ps 29.
- Read: Lev 3; Ezra 10; Isa 43
- Memorise: Isa 43:1-2
