Contrasting Two Blood Types

"...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

-Hebrews 12:24

Cain thought that no one had seen him kill his brother Abel. After all, there were only a handful of human beings living on the earth during this time. Plus, Cain and Abel were the only ones in the field. Cain thought he had gotten away with the perfect murder. But someone was watching Cain. Someone always watches us when we sin. Even though Abel was dead, the Lord says in Genesis 4:10 says that Abel’s blood is “crying to me from the ground”. Blood had been shed; a sin had been committed. Abel was crying out for retribution and justice against his murderer. The Lord heard his cry.

Fast forward thousands of years later to Hebrews chapter 12. The author writes of the blood of Christ, through which was made a new covenant with God’s elect. The author writes that the blood of Christ “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel”. The author contrasts the blood of Abel, which cried out for justice, with Christ’s blood, which reaches out with redemption and salvation.

There must be a punishment for disobedience, no matter how small the sin. Abel was punished by banishment, estrangement, and curse. Praise the Lord that we do not suffer the fate of Abel when we sin! Justice and retribution for our cosmic crimes against God have already been accomplished through the blood of Christ, which blankets us with redemption and salvation. That is what makes the blood of Christ greater than any other shed blood.

 

Refusal to Obey the Lord Leads to Hideous Sin

 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”

After Cain had offered an unpleasing sacrifice to the Lord, the Lord had warned Cain to bridle his anger. Like a lion stalks its prey, sin was waiting for the proper moment to ambush and pounce on Cain. The Lord had warned him to be vigilant and ready to reign over his emotions. 

Instead, Cain foolishly did not heed the Lord’s advice. He acted on his emotions and plotted a plan to get back at Abel (and the Lord). Cain lured his brother into the field where he knew that they would be alone. Then, he killed Abel. This pre-meditated murder was the first homicide in the history of mankind.

The Lord, being an omniscient and omnipresent God, knew exactly what Cain had done. He not only knew that Cain would commit this horrible crime against humanity, but in His sovereignty, He seemed to plan for this evil to occur. Therefore, His question to Cain was strictly rhetorical, and Cain responds in a spirit of sarcasm, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The rest of the story is that the Lord cursed Cain and his descendants for these hideous sins. The Lord banished Cain from the land of his parents, making him wander the earth. He also made farming, something that came easy to Cain, difficult for him and his generations. From then on, Cain’s formerly successful farming methods would have no effect.

When we are confronted with our sin, let us not act in a spirit of sarcastic cynicism as Cain had done. Instead, let us come to the Lord with a heart full of repentance. If we confess our sins, the Lord has promised to forgive us (I John 1:9). Furthermore, let us prevent even more sin by taking the Lord’s advice and practicing self-control over our emotions.