By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

Hebrews 11:4

When we think of the story of Cain and Abel, it is all too easy to lose focus of Abel thanks to the protagonist actions of Cain. But Abel’s sacrifice was accepted while his brother’s offering was rejected.

You know the rest of the story. Since Cain was unhappy with God, he killed his brother. Makes sense, right? I do wonder how often I redirect my anger toward the innocent. In this instance, Abel was that innocent one.

Nothing in the Geneses account (Genesis 4:1-16) indicates that Abel was anything but a man who was righteous in his pursuit of God. He “brought the firstborn of his flock” meaning that his offering cost him something, while Cain brought an offering of “the fruit of the ground.” It makes me wonder what kind of offering Cain actually brought to the Lord? Could that be at the root of his darkened heart?

The writer of Hebrews commends Abel’s faith and John describes him as righteous (1 John 3:12). He was the first of many righteous victims and maybe that his why “though he died, he still speaks.”