As we mature in our Christian thought, God leads us to see the “why” in what he does. Of course, like any new Christian years ago, I started my Bible reading by going start to finish, reading Genesis first. Chronologically, Genesis is first, but to draw an analogy, it's would be like reading the process for making nuclear fission before knowing the uses of nuclear power. Wouldn't it be great to know what the “point” of the Bible is before reading all about that point? What is the “point” of the entire Bible? From page one the “point” is Jesus Christ!
All of the “Old Testament” points toward Jesus, but you can't understand that until you read the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Because John starts with an explanation of Jesus at the creation, it needs to be read first. After reading the four gospels and the remainder of the “New Testament” then go back and read the “Old Testament”. With each passage ask “What's this got to do with Jesus?” You'll find that Jesus is the “nuclear power” which the entire Bible explains!
One of the early Bible stories is about Cain and Abel. Abel gave an animal offering to God and Cain gave a grain offering. God was displeased with the grain offering, but honored the animal offering.
Genesis (KJV) 4:3 “And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4And 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: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him”.
On the surface it would appear that God was unfair with Cain would it not? Assuming the animal and grain sacrifice had equal food value, then they both likely gave the same amount. As a young Christian I didn't understand why God was so displeased. Now I understand!
What's this got to do with Jesus?
Hebrews (KJV) 9:12”Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
The shedding of blood is a picture of the shedding of Christ''s blood when he died in our place. When Abel sacrificed that animal it's blood foretold of the day when Jesus would be the final sacrifice for all. Somehow God put it in Abel's heart (because he was righteous) to understand the efficacy of the shedding of blood. Throughout the “Old Testament” (OT) the shedding of blood was the acceptable, honorable and righteous method of sacrifice. In the “New Testament” (NT) we finally see that without the shedding of blood sins are not forgiven:
Hebrews (KJV) 9:22” And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Whereas in the OT blood was the “picture” of Christ's blood, in the NT the actual shedding of Christ's own blood was the vicarious sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. What's the connection to Abel?
Hebrews (KJV) 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
Abel's heart was more righteous in his sacrifice. He understood what the “blood” meant and that blood was the only acceptable sacrifice. Apparently, Cain didn't have as close relationship to God as Abel did and didn't understand the importance of the “blood”. Whereas Abel was in communion with God and pious in his sacrifice, Cain was aloof from God and was flippant in his ritualistic sacrifice. To have an acceptable sacrifice Cain, if he had been in communion, would have paid Abel for one of his prized rams and sacrificed the “blood”. Little effort would be expended to make an acceptable sacrifice. His sacrfice just wasn't that meaningful for him.
This has two things to do with us. We must offer an “acceptable sacrifice”. What is an acceptable sacrifice?
Romans (KJV) 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
You don't have to kill and animal and sprinkle its blood. You give yourself! You dedicate your life to Christ who has already shed his blood, the necessary sacrifice. You accept his blood sacrifice which he made for you and you do it with a contrite and repentant heart. It's so important that you sacrifice yourself with a right heart because God can see through ritual and superficiality since he's omniscient, he knows your mind and heart.
Is God fair? Yes! He requires you to be righteous, to love and follow Him. If you cheat Him or disrespect Him you get what you deserve. Cain was cast out. Don't let yourself be cast out.
There's another “picture” in the Cain and Abel story: It's a picture of the “Greatest Commandment”! You are to love God with all your heart and love our neighbor as you do yourself. Jesus said that. Cain not only didn't demonstrated love for God, but also murdered his brother … so much for keeping what is the greatest commandment. (The command hadn't been published yet, but it was still God's intent).
Now do you know why you need to understand the need for nuclear fuel before learning how to make it? This is analogous to knowing why you need Jesus before you read about his coming. Read John. Read about Jesus. Then when reading the OT always ask “What's this got to do with Jesus?”
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