The Truth in Biblical Symbols.

You can learn answers to life’s greatest questions through FREE informative Bible guides.  CLICK LINK FOR YOUR FREE GUIDES. 


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).