The Truth in Biblical Symbols.

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Read Genesis 4:3-7. What do their two different sacrifices symbolize?

The sacrifices symbolize the difference between attempting to work one's way to heaven represented by Cain’s offering and the realization that salvation is by grace alone, made available to us only through the merits of a blood sacrifice which is the symbolism of Abel’s offering.  Abel’s offering pointed toward eventual salvation through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

There was a difference in the offerings they brought: Abel’s was a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s.  “…the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect…” (Genesis 4:4-5).   

Cain’s offering was only a sacrifice of acknowledgment that God was the creator.  But, Abel brought a sacrifice of atonement, for his sins.  Blood was shed. Abel was admitting to God that he was a sinner and he was looking to God for salvation.

Abel offered in faith, and Cain did not.  Abel, in faith to God’s word, offered with an eye to do God’s will, but Cain did not submit to God’s will.  Abel’s offering was an act of faith in response to the knowledge that they both would have received from God in regards to sacrificial offerings and what God required of them. 

If it was supposed to be an offering of atonement for their sins, which the scripture leads the reader to believe, require the spilling of Blood. Abel was obedient to what God had instructed them to do in order to atone for the original sin of Adam and Eve and Cain was not. This is made evident by God respecting Abel and Abel’s offering and rejecting Cain and his offering.  

The scripture indicates that they knew what they were supposed to offer, instruction they would have received from God.  Abel was obeying God where Cain was continuing to do what his parents originally did.  

The Old Testament, continually points toward the Great Sacrifice that was to come, that of Jesus’ sacrificial giving of His own life on our behalf to absolve us from our sin.  Leviticus 17:11 is the Old Testament’s central statement about the significance of blood in the sacrificial system instituted by God. God, speaking to Moses, declares: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”  (Leviticus 17:11).

The Potter's Clay! What Christian truths are symbolized?

What crucial truths are taught from these verses and the symbolism found there? (See Gen. 2:7.)

Jer. 18:1-10 
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.  Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.  Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

We are like the clay in the potter’s hand, even though we are “marred”, God can make us perfect if we have faith in Him.

Isa. 29:16
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not?  Or, shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

They had no just views of truth. They deemed mere formality to be all that was required. They attempted to conceal their plans even from God; and everything in the opinions and practice of the nation had become perverted and erroneous.

Their perverseness was as if God should be respected as much as we are, that is, as if God was no more qualified to do anything than we are.

Isaiah is showing the right that God has to do with his creatures what he thinks is right.  We have no right to complain because, like the potter He is our Creator. It is absurd for us to complain to God as if He has no intelligence, and no right to make us as He does. It would be absurd for the piece of pottery to complain of the potter as if he had no skill as it is equally absurd for us to complain to God as if He did not have any wisdom.

Isa. 45:9
Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

Potsherd means broken piece of pottery, representing fallen man.   The scripture is saying that we should let the people who are broken, struggle, with the others that are similarly broken here on earth, we are not to fight and argue with them.  We are supposed to go to God for understanding, but when God does give us an answer we are not to question the answer.

Isa. 64:8
But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Their condition then had been produced by God as clay is molded by the potter, and they would be returned and restored entirely by Him – We have no power to restore ourselves than the clay had to the power to reshape itself. We are totally in his hand and at his disposal the being that transforms us.  Go has the power to mold us as the potter has the power to mold the clay.

We have been formed by God, and we are dependent on God to make us what He wants us to be. This whole verse is an acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God. It expresses the feeling which all have when under conviction of sin; and when we are sensible that we are exposed to the divine displeasure for our transgressions. It is then we feel that if we are to be saved, and it is by the mere sovereignty of God.

Rom. 9:18-21

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

We can rest assured that, despite the reality of human free will and free choices, and the often calamitous results of abusing that free will, in the end, we can hope in the absolute sovereignty of our loving and self-sacrificing God, whose love is revealed on the cross. Evil won't triumph; God and His love will. What a hope we have!

Whatever other truths are found in the image of the potter and the clay, it does teach us the ultimate sovereignty of God. That is, however hopeless the situation might seem to be, the symbolism of the potter and the clay shows us that ultimately, despite the wrong or even willfully wrong decisions that people make, the Lord is in control of the world, regardless of appearances now.

A SONG OF GOD’S MAJESTY AND LOVE

It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures, including mankind.  Unfortunately it is the transgression of God’ law that brought death and suffering into the world.  The good news is that the world, though fallen is not just sorrow and misery.  Nature provides messages of hope and comfort.  We find flowers on thistles and roses on thorns.  God's love among a fallen man is all around us.  All we need to do is open our eyes and our hearts.  We are placed in a position through our connection with Christ to be worthy of the name, "sons of God".

I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wondrous works.
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

All Your works shall praise You, O Lord,
And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
The Lord preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

(Psalm 145, New King James Version)