Sibling Rivalry

 A Series on Living by Faith
Genesis 4:1-8; Hebrews 11:1-4
(Use the link below to read the verses.)

 [Hebrews 11 is a recounting of the Heroes of the Faith. Even though they never saw what they had been promised, each person is commended for living “by faith”. At the end of these commendations, Hebrews 12 tells us, “Therefore, because you are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… to throw off sin; to run with perseverance; to fix your eyes on Jesus”. In other words, to live “by faith”.]

  

Did you have a sibling rivalry growing up? I did. It was with my sister who is six years older than me. At the time, I had a very short, explosive temper, and apparently she knew how to trigger it. 

On one occasion, I remember throwing a table knife at her as she ran down the hall. Just as she slammed the bathroom door behind her, the knife stuck in the door. Not one of my better moments.

 

Sibling rivalries can lead you to do terrible things. Take Cain and Abel for instance. They were one generation removed from the Garden of Eden; from living in harmony with God; but also, from original sin. The result was the first recorded murder in the Bible. Here’s what led up to it.

 

³ After some time Cain brought some of his harvest and gave it as an offering to the Lord. ⁴ Then Abel brought the first lamb born to one of his sheep, killed it, and gave the best parts of it as an offering. The Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, ⁵ but he rejected Cain and his offering. Cain became furious, and he scowled in anger.          GNT

 

 That anger led to Cain’s murder of Abel!

 

What else do we know about the two brothers? Cain was older, and was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd. They both brought offerings to the Lord, so they both believed in Him. Then why did the Lord accept Abel’s offering but not Cain’s?

 

It appears that Cain’s offering was more of an afterthought; something that he did out of religious obligation, or possibly out of competition with his brother. But for Abel, his offering came from the heart. He gave the Lord the best that he had. Hebrews describes the difference like this.

 

⁴ By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.  NIV

 

Abel’s faith was in what he had never seen. You can imagine that his parents, Adam and Eve, may have talked about life in the Garden of Eden, and what it was like to live in union with the Lord. They may have instilled faith in the promises of a redemptive God so that Abel gave his offering by faith.

 

Therefore, whatever we do, let us do it for the Lord; let us do it from a pure heart; let us do it by faith that the Lord has provided redemption through Jesus. And in living by faith, the Lord will be pleased with us.