Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realised that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. (NIV)
Adam and Eve found themselves naked as a consequence of their disobedience, and promptly covered themselves with leaves. God, evidently, found this covering inadequate and employed the skin of an animal (or animals) to do a proper job. Invariable the blood of the animal(s) was shed.
Sin, Adam's disobedience - Romans 5:19 and Eve's deception - 1 Timothy 2:14, came first and then blood (shed because of the sin) followed to produce a covering (the skin). In other words, the shed blood was a result of sin. It was shed to pay for their sin and to restore them back to fellowship with God.
Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world to pay for the sins God knew you and I would commit. Can you see why we ought to have absolute confidence in its power? God always does a perfect job. You can be sure that God, foreseeing the need for the blood, has also made sure that it is sufficient for our every need. That is why it was shed.
Romans 3:23-25 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished (NIV)
God has presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his (Jesus) blood. The shed blood of the animal(s) demonstrated God's forgiveness and Genesis chapter 4 confirms that fellowship between God and man continued but this time on the basis of the blood.
God was already drawing on his "insurance policy" and neither man nor satan fully understood it.
Genesis 4:3-7 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 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 master it." (NIV)
From the above facts we can safely deduct that Cain and Abel knew about the need to offer a sacrifice to God. They were also aware of the right way to do it. Notice that it was Cain and his offering that God disapproved of.
Cain was knowingly doing something wrong. Considering the fact that Abel's sacrifice was accepted by God and in the light of Genesis 3:21, it seems apparent that the right offering (or sacrifice) was the blood sacrifice. Cain for some reason refused to offer the right sacrifice. God actually told Cain (verse 7) that if he had done "what is right" his offering would have been accepted. Abel's offering was right and it was accepted
Our fellowship with God is based on the blood of the Lamb of God slain from the creation of the world. The lamb is the ?right? and ?only? sacrifice acceptable to God. The account of Cain and Abel sheds light on this fact.
Cain rejected the blood and allowed sin to dominate him. A fact that is still valid today. When we refuse to accept the power and authority of the blood, either knowingly or ignorantly, we open the door to satan and sin. Cain went on to kill Abel and from that event we can learn another truth about the blood.
Genesis 4:8-11 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. (NIV)
I have no doubt that Cain was completely ignorant of the power of the blood when he killed his brother Abel. What a shock he must have got to hear (of) Abel's blood crying out from the ground.
How could he have known that the blood speaks!
Here we see a parallel between the Abel's blood and Jesus' blood. Innocent Abel's death was a result of sinful Cain. Jesus death was a result of sinful man. Abel's blood cried out, bringing God's attention to a crime and undoubtedly seeking justice. The blood of Jesus also cries out seeking God's attention, not for justice but mercy.
Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (NIV)
As we talk about blood here, take your eyes off the physical blood (Red blood cells etc.) and fix them on spiritual blood. Blood in this context is another word for life. The life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11)
It's similar to when the bible talks about the heart (Proverbs. 6:21, 26:45) The heart in the Bible does not refer to that organ on the left side of your chest but rather the "spirit" of man. The real you - the inner man.
Now this gives us a better understanding of what happened in Genesis 4. Cain killed Abel's body but not his Spirit. Abel's spirit, or better put, Abel's life cried out from his blood, because the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11)
In like manner Jesus' blood or Jesus life' cries out continuously for you when you recognise, accept and receive his death on the cross for you personally. There was nothing Cain could do to stop the blood of Abel seeking God's face, demanding and receiving judgement against him. Likewise there is nothing satan can do to stop the blood of Jesus crying out, demanding and receiving judgement and victory over him (satan) on your behalf.
Cain knew nothing about the speaking power of the blood when killing Abel just like satan knew nothing about the redemptive power of the blood when crucifying Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:2-10).
We can summarise the above facts like this.
Consider the following scriptures in the light of this.
Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (NIV)Revelation 12:11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (NIV)
Notice they all mention the speaking nature of the blood.
The account of the Passover gives us even more insight into how to take advantage of the blood of Jesus.
Questions
1. Why did Adam and Eve find themselves naked after disobeying God in the garden of Eden? - Roman's 3-25
2. How did the skin of animals help in restoring man's fellowship with God? Genesis 3:21 Genesis 4
3. Why was Cain's sacrifice not acceptable to God? - Genesis 4:3-6
4. How can we offer sacrifice to God today? - Hebrews 13:15-16
5. What advantages can satan take over Christians ignorant (or carefree) of the power and significance of the blood? -Genesis 4:7-8
6. Can you explain Genesis 4:10 and its significance to the born again Christian today? Hebrews 12:24
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