Author: Kathy L McFarland

The Word of God powerfully expresses the Things of God in both literal interpretations as well as in its typological expression. This typological approach means that the LORD God reveals things to mankind in ever enlarging ideas that first begins with shadows of things to come. The “Faith of Abel” represents one of these many shadows that unfold from the beginning into the saving Grace through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 4:1–2 (KJV 1900)
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 4:1-2)

The keeper of sheep is given the responsibility to ensure that the livestock is protected. Abel was the first keeper of sheep. Note how Abel is described as simply being born as a brother to Cain, while Cain’s birth was announced dramatically as the parent’s receipt of a man from God.

The status of lesser presence is symbolically represented once again as the young lad David tends to his father’s sheep as the rest of his brothers march off to war. in fact, David arranges for another keeper for his father’s sheep before he goes into battle and confronts Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:20 (KJV 1900)
20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. (1 Samuel 17:20)

Later on, David was taken from the “sheepcote” by the LORD God, and made a great man and ruler to Israel.

1 Chronicles 17:7–8 (KJV 1900)
7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel: 8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. (1 Chronicles 17:7-8)

Guilty David identifies the people of Israel that he rules as “sheep” to the LORD God, unawares of the sin he perpetrated as a result of taking census of His flock.

1 Chronicles 21:17 (KJV 1900)
17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. (1 Chronicles 21:17)

Rachel, another noted keeper of sheep, was identified by Jacob when sighting her at the well giving drink to her charges.

Genesis 29:10 (KJV 1900)
10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother. (Genesis 29:10)

A Psalmist extols the LORD God’s keeping of His people as sheep during the time of wandering in the desert.

Psalm 78:50
“He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.” (Psalm 78:50-53)

In the same manner, He protects protecting His sheep from evil and preserves their souls.

Psalm 121

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” (Psalm 121)

In fact, throughout the Psalms, the people of the LORD God are identified many times as being “sheep,” protected by Him in His pasture as Creator of His flock.

Psalm 100:3
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3)

Dramatic prophesy from the LORD God includes the promise of retribution to the shepherds of Israel who abuse their position, as He declares His love for His scattered sheep that He will one day bring together as His flock once again.

Ezekiel 34:1-16
“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”

“ Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.” (Ezekiel 34:1-16)

Then the Shepherd of the Sheep that changed the way man could approach God comes to the lost sheep, as the Lord Jesus Christ leads His people to follow Him. It is Jesus who defends breaking the law of Sabbath to preserve and heal the life of one lost sheep.

Matthew 12:12
“How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:12).

The Lord Jesus Christ first came for the lost sheep of Israel; yet, His glory fell upon even the Gentiles.

Matthew 15:24
“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24)

The Messiah taught how important each of His sheep were important to Him, and how even the littlest of the flock who strays would be rejoiced when he comes back to the fold.

Matthew 18:13-14
“And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:13, 14)

And on that great Judgment Day, the Lord Jesus Christ will separate the righteous from the wicked, as the sheep from the goats; the sheep will be sorted to his right hand, and the goats to His left. It will be the sheep that inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the beginning.

Matthew 25:32-34
“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:32-34)

The love of Christ shines through his compassion as he sees people without a shepherd, and begins teaching many things to lead them as well.

Mark 6:34
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark 6:34)

What better understanding can a Christian receive of the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and them, than through the revealing Word that speaks of the relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep?

John 10:1-18
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:1-18)

It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ that his sheep recognize and follow after, and He keeps them to eternal life!

John 10:27-28
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27, 28)

The LORD God gave the Lord Jesus Christ to the sheep to keep them.

John 10:29
“My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29)
And in the same way that David gave another keeper his father’s sheep before he went to battle in a shadow of things to come, the Lord Jesus Christ chose Simon Peter to feed his sheep while He was gone.

John 21:15-17
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Abel, keeper of sheep, was the shadow of our Shepherd Jesus Christ that would one day come to guide the people of God toward Him once again. From the beginning, the Faith of Abel, allowed him to represent the things of God that would unfold much later. Abel did not know of the coming revelations, yet, Abel walked intimately with His LORD God. He was not focused upon the harsh rule of God, but rather, upon the Creator whose Creations were worthy of the highest praise and worship, and fit for an offering to the LORD God. It was the perfect “Faith of Abel” that prepared the path for our Shepherd to come and gather His People and bring them to the Kingdom of God.

Thanks be to God!

Up to this point, we have learned that if the LORD God is NOT directing the works of men, then they are NOT “living works.” The means that they are “Dead works” to the LORD God. No matter whether the works are grand and mighty, fully funded with the riches of the world, or the simple and humble acts of compassion and caring of the less fortunate; if the LORD God has NOT directed the works, they are NOT living.

We are reminded of this fact through our study of Cain’s error when he offered the works of his own hands from the cursed ground, rather than from the works from the LORD’s efforts instead. The LORD God told him specifically:

Genesis 4:6–7 (KJV 1900)
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. (Genesis 4:6-7)

The LORD God links Cain’s error to offering unworthy works to Him with being very near to sin that lies at his door. This link of sin to dead works is associated to many different teaching places in the Word of God.

In fact, it is one of the six principles that every Christian must be taught for the establishment of the Foundation of Jesus Christ within them:

Hebrews 6:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
(Hebrews 6:1-3)

Note how the six principles of the doctrine of Christ for foundation building are listed exactly:

1. Repentance from dead works (sins)

2 Faith

3. Water Baptism

4. Holy Spirit Baptism

5. Resurrection

6. Judgement

Before we go any further, let us state a fact that you will hear us state over and over in your studies with us:

You are saved through belief in Jesus Christ! You can do nothing to bring salvation to yourself.

SALVATION IS BASED UPON BELIEF!

Now here is where it gets complicated for some sincere Christians because of their defense against false religions that wrongly believe works are necessary for salvation. As a result, many Christians often reject the discussion of works completely, in a false sense that belief is all you need to come close to the LORD God.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (KJV 1900)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

This misguided belief prevents an intimate relationship with Him. The LORD God wills each of His people to do “Living Works” that are guided by Him. When a person is focused entirely on salvation, and does not place importance upon doing His works, then the plans that the LORD God has established are not fulfilled. It is prudent that we discuss the accomplishment of works, and there is no better time than right now, as we learn about the “dead works” that Cain tried to present to the LORD God.

As we study this important topic, keep this in the forefront of your mind:

SALVATION comes from belief in Him.

REWARD comes from works led by Him.

Living Works are acts performed in obedience to the law and movement of God. Those acts done by unbelievers and believers that are against His law, or do not contain His movement, are without life. Man cannot create living works by himself. Man cannot create living works if he is in sin.

Dead Works are just the opposite. They are acts performed in disobedience to the law of God that are without life and inanimate.
At some point, every Christian will be judged for the works they do.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: A Christian’s salvation is not going to be judged; it is clear that a believer had faith if he is standing in the presence of the Lord in Heaven. Salvation is not something a person does, but something a person receives. If there had been no faith, there would be no judgment at the Glory Seat of Christ. Judgment of those without belief will happen later at the Final Judgment Seat of Christ; Faithful Christians receive their Judgment earlier from the Glory Seat of Christ in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

The Glory Seat Judgment will be the place where Christians receive their rewards for the living works they have completed as moved by Him. There are different levels of living works, and different levels of rewards that the Lord will give to the deserving.

2 Timothy 2:19-21
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:19-21 AV)

Note once again how a believer must purge himself of sin, in order to become sanctified and able to accomplish the living works of God.

There are many types of vessels in the great house of Jesus Christ. Each vessel represents the works of a person of Christ. Those works form the great house of Jesus Christ. The vessels of gold and silver bring honor. The vessels of wood and earth bring dishonor. Some works bring honor and some works bring dishonor to the great house of Jesus Christ. If a person purges himself from iniquity, his works shall bring honor to Jesus Christ. If a person is sin-free and does works of honor, he will be made holy and prepared to do even more honorable works for Jesus Christ.

Faith without works is dead. Dead Faith does nothing. Living Faith does works.

James 2:17-18
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” (James 2:17-18 AV)

The Word of God furnishes all Christians to do the living works of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Therefore, those who come closest to the LORD God through righteousness and perfection, void of sin, are in the position of doing the greatest works led by Him.

It is this reality that Cain failed to understand. He honored the works his own hands had produced above the works that the LORD God had made. At that very moment, sin was at Cain’s door. Dead works and sin go hand-in- hand, because it causes a man to think himself superior to the Lord. When a man thinks this, he is emulating the same wicked ways of Lucifer when he declares he is better than God.

Thus, it is profitable for a Christian to understand fully the importance of Living Works directed by God and to have the ability to distinguish dead works that are led by carnal man.

Concept #1 – If you are a sinner without grace, no amount of good works will be rewarded.

Concept #2 – If you are a sinner without grace, you do not get credit by the LORD GOD for any works that you have done in your life.

Concept #3 – If you are a sinner without grace, you cannot be saved by your works.

Concept #4 – A sinner can repent from dead works and be saved by grace of the LORD GOD by, accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

Concept #5 – If your foundation is laid on Jesus Christ, but you have not produced good works that sustain the testing of fire, you will be saved, but will suffer loss.

Concept #6 – If your foundation is laid on Jesus Christ, and your good works sustain the testing of fire, you will be saved and rewarded.

Concept #7 – If sin is present in the midst of your good works, the fire of the Holy Spirit will burn away all impurities. The type of work is revealed by this fire and classified as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.

Concept #8 – If impurity is present throughout your works, you will have stubble, hay or wood which will quickly be burnt away. You will suffer loss.

Concept #9 – If no impurity is present throughout your works, you will have gold, silver or precious stones. You will be rewarded.

Concept #10 – If your works are pure and complete and under the direction of the LORD GOD, the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit, the fire will reveal gold.

Concept #11 – It is very, very good if your works are classified as “gold”. You will receive great reward.

These concepts taken from Scripture make it clear for believers to know the differences, equipping them with the ability to honor the LORD God in the same way that Abel did in the first offering of Living Works!

Now it’s time for application of the “Faith of Abel” into your own spiritual walk with Jesus Christ! What can present-day, faithful Christians learn from the “Faith of Abel” that will change the way they approach the LORD God forever more?

Simply put, the “Faith of Abel” allowed him to know the works pleasing to the LORD God. That same faith principle can be applied to your offerings to Him, guaranteeing His pleasurable acceptance of your righteous worship and praise!

Where does that “faith of acceptable works” come from? Cain certainly didn’t have it. He was a intelligent as his brother, and had a higher status in the family, yet the works he offered the LORD God came from the cursed ground. Rather than learning the deeper things of God through a contemplation of spirit, he relied upon the work of his own hands. Cain’s hands presented gifts to the LORD God that reflected his efforts to produce fruits from the cursed land of the world.

Cain did not want to displease the LORD God. He was surely proud of his works that he had wrestled from the cursed ground with his own blood and sweat. He took that old ground that barely could grow food, and was able to make enough crops of good things to offer God. He did not approach God with a harsh heart; on the contrary, he was giving God the best he had produced with his own hands. Sadly for him, he did not reflect the spiritual nature of the LORD God, nor understand the will of Him, and he created a blunder that many make today.

This terrible mistake is made every time someone believes that the efforts made in this world by their own hands is worthy of offering to the LORD God. Those poor but good folk trying to make a living out of badland dirt; surely their efforts of living the hard-working, blood and sweat life, doing more good than bad in their time in this world must count for something in God’s judgment. Sadly for them, God is offended by the offering of gifts produced with the hands of man from the cursed ground.

Forget the honest offerings of a hardworking but poor and pathetic people. How about the millions and millions of dollars that the rich donate to build the temples and governments and hospitals and charities that bring a higher and better good to the lives of people within this world? The hearts of these benevolent people are real and true in their desires to bring the best of life to people with less to live for! Surely these offerings are accepted by the LORD God as worthy and give Him reason to pronounce them righteous saints!

Clearly, the offerings of Cain show us that these offerings to the LORD God are still offensive! If the works derive from the cursed world, and are accomplished through man’s efforts, they are NOT worthy to be offered to the LORD God.

What about the quiet efforts of simple cultures, who refuse to take life of even the smallest creatures, who walk with soft feet and try to leave as little evidence of their presence on this world while making it a little bit better for others to live? What about the “we are the world” crowd that joins hands across the oceans and gives serious effort to becoming one with all people, protesting war and big governments that separate the people, and supporting one world order united in common cause?

Let’s not forget the brave who fight for the just cause, who die for a nation’s beliefs, or join a group to protest wicked controls; their efforts must surely glorify God! What about the monks and the priests and the religious and the devout church goers who do good everyday with their charities and their prayers?

How about the complicated works of educated masses! Surely all the technology created by man has brought attention to them from an admiring LORD God, who sees them approach His Glory, with their own! Nope to all of them again! God is not interested in the fruits of mankind that come from their effort through the growth obtained in the cursed world!

It is a trap that Lucifer set from the beginning, for people to be tricked into thinking the efforts of human beings were restricted only by the heavy hand of the LORD God. Remember the encouragement the serpent gave Adam and Eve to reach out for the fruits with their own hands. While some truth lay in the potential of mankind to become godlike in their efforts should they ever obtain the ability to achieve eternal life on their own, the LORD God prevented it by placing a guard upon the Tree of Life. Yet, Lucifer has done everything in his power to encourage man to produce and discover and challenge the cursed ground, and make fruits prosper to man’s glory. Often, this message seems to be the only one embraced, as mankind drives harder and faster to figure out how to create life itself without the order established by God, while at the same time destroy the babes in the womb created by Him to live.

So, it should not surprise you that the offerings of mankind will be received with the same offense that the offerings of Cain were once received by the LORD God in the beginning. Either the works of man demand worship from the LORD God, or the LORD God demands the worship of man. It can’t be both ways! The “Faith of Abel” knew this well, and supplied the only offerings that glorified the LORD God fully. Abel was confident that the works must be created, directed, encouraged, placed, established, brought forth, charged, grown, and made fruitful by Him.

If the LORD Gods hands did not create the works, then it was dead, and unworthy to be returned onto Him!

Hebrews 9:14
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb 9:14)

The living God can only be served by living works! Only the LORD God can create life! Only those with the “Faith of Abel” that have confidence in this absolute truth, and trust in Him to direct their ways, can have works created through them by Him! That is the “Faith of Abel” – to confidently know and be moved by the Living God to do the things He wills, even when there is no understanding or no knowledge of the outcome to be. It is through the “faith like Abel” that a Christian brings fruit back to the LORD God that was first planted by Him; and it is that faith that declares a Christian’s efforts righteous before the most Holy LORD God!

Genesis 4:1–5 (KJV 1900)
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Two brothers with two different gifts brought to their LORD God as offerings to honor Him. We already have seen how Cain’s gift was offered to God from the fruits of natural life labor from the cursed ground. Abel, however, brought a totally different type of offering to Him. His offering was the “firstlings” of his flock; the choicest of the herd of sheep that Abel watched over.

Abel was just as intelligent as his brother Cain. They were brothers, and they received the same amount of smarts from their parents. Yet Abel figured out the best gift to offer the LORD God, while his brother Cain figured out the absolutely worst gift to give to Him. What was the difference between the gifts? Abel’s gift was life created by the LORD God; Cain’s gift was fruit created by man from cursed ground.

When the offerings are defined as life from God in Heaven vs. fruit from man in cursed ground, the differences are profound! “No intelligent man would ever offer fruits from a cursed ground, when the choicest, most perfect gifts of God-created life are available. Yet that is exactly what happened (and something we see happens even in the offerings today!) One brother figured out what a perfect offering to God would be, and the other had a completely wrong idea about what would please God.

Since Abel and Cain both used intelligence to prepare their offerings to Him, and both desired to bring offerings to the LORD God, and both sought the LORD God’s pleasure, then what difference in their thought processes changed the offerings? The motive is apparent:

While Cain brought his personal works as a present to Him; Abel brought the works of God. Cain knew the LORD God as an oppressive master who had condemned mankind to toil and labor; his fruits came from the toil of his hands and were given in the most stubborn and arrogant way to his God in order to keep punishment away.

Abel knew the LORD God intimately. He knew the LORD God in his interior parts. Abel knew that he could not do one work, or create one thing from the cursed, dying ground that would be pleasing to the LORD God. Abel knew that it was only the creations of life by the LORD God that could honor Him. Products of the cursed, dying ground would never be worthy of a gift given to Him. Abel confidently knew that it could only be the purest forms of life, created by Him, that would magnify His glory, and be accepted as a blessing.

While Cain thought of the LORD God as an oppressive master who kept His thumb upon mankind to make their life tough, Abel looked upon Him as all-knowing, all-powerful, always present Creator of all things, filled with glory that mere man could never duplicate. Abel was filled with humbleness, awe, love, worship and respect toward the LORD God, while Cain’s heart flowed with resentment, fear, arrogance and entitlement.

Don’t ever be fooled with the nature of the gifts offered to the LORD God. Abel’s gift and Cain’s gift were purposely chosen, with full intelligence and intent. Abel chose to offer the only gift worthy to be given to the LORD God; it was only the perfect creation of life by the LORD God that was worthy to be given.

Abel did not assume all life to be equal in worth and glory, however. He chose from the “firstlings of the flock and the fat thereof.” It was the untainted, pure first creations of life that held the most potential to worshipful offering, and it was the first creatures of the created flock which were given back to God in awe-filled worship of Him by Abel.

This confident knowing of the offerings pleasing to the LORD God defines the “Faith of Abel.” There is only one way that anyone can have this type of faith. A true worshipper of the LORD God must worship Him from the inward parts, and know His nature intimately. Offerings given to the LORD God must always reflect His glory; only life works created by Him have this potential. Those with the “Faith of Abel” know that the gifts derived from the curse land and handiwork of man will never please the LORD God.

Hebrews 11:4
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” (Hebrews 11:4)

It was this perfect offering to the LORD God, a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, which proved to the LORD God that Abel was righteous. Abel sacrificed the best of life given to him by his LORD God, by offering it back to Him in worship, and God knew him through his gift.

Abel loved the LORD God without promise of eternal life. Abel worshipped the LORD God with the awe and respect of a righteous man without regard to entitlement or promises that would benefit him. He worshipped God through his offerings of the best of life without expectations of anything to follow. Unlike Cain who expected reward from God for his hard work in the cursed ground, Abel gave back to Him because he intimately worshipped the LORD God.

It is that same “Faith of Abel” that gives believers today the ability to confidently offer the fruits of His works that will please the LORD God. It is these faithful offerings that reveal the righteousness of those whom offer the most excellent sacrifices, and offer the shadows of deeper faith that we will explore next.

Genesis 4:1–5 (KJV 1900)
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:1-5)

There are several good hints to the state of Cain’s mind at the time of his offering. Let’s take a look at the deeper meaning of the words surrounding the offering, and see if we can reach the mind of Cain even deeper!

Cain was a “tiller of the ground.” English readers often picture Cain as an honest and hardworking farmer, producing crops that feed the masses. After all, farming is one of the noblest efforts made by working man that provides sustenance for all. Present day, it is an honorable profession with the Salt-of-the-earth good people of the land, participating in a task invaluable to society.

Take care with that literal interpretation that applies today’s definitions! A “tiller” is a lesser work that is indicated by our English word “farmer.” The Hebrew word for “tiller” is “abad.” This word describes a tiller as one that is a “servant to the land.” This land is the same ground that the LORD God cursed for the disobedience of Adam.

Cain was a servant to cursed land!

What does a servant to cursed land do?

The Bible tells us exactly his duties and the fruit of his effort. He will sorrowfully labor in trying to produce crops with the land, but it will be unsuccessful. No good fruits would come from cursed ground! The only crops from the land will be thorns and thistles and herbs. That’s exactly what the LORD God said would come from the cursed ground!

Genesis 3:17–19 (KJV 1900)
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:17-19)

The product of the cursed land would be an inferior product from that which was possible. No longer would the perfect fruits of the LORD God grow into the magnificent trees providing the spiritual needs of mankind. Now only thorns and thistles and herbs will come out of the ground, and barely supply the natural life needs of mankind.

What could Cain have been thinking to bring to the LORD God the inferior fruits of thorns, thistles, and herbs from the cursed fields that he labored as a servant? Why did he offer a gift of the imperfect produce fit only for a servant of the cursed land for natural life consumption? What must he have been thinking? Again, the Word of God reveals a portion of exactly the motive behind the offering given by Cain. The evidence is revealed through his emotional reaction to the LORD God’s disapproval of the offering Cain brought.

Genesis 4:5
“But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4:5)

The LORD God saw the offering that Cain brought to Him, and he looked away from it. It was not worthy as a gift to the almighty LORD God. It offended Him. Cain’s reaction to this rejection was an extreme anger toward the LORD God. Cain reacted with angry offense that the LORD God would dare reject a gift produced by his servant labor on the cursed land! The Hebrew word for this anger is “charah.” While “wroth” describes his reaction perfectly in old King’s English, a newer use of the word would be “wrath.” Cain was INCENSED and HOT and ANGRY; the Word described his action as “very wroth,” and the “very” says it all!

Cain’s anger led to his countenance falling. He had once looked upon the LORD God in a favorable way. However, the moment his offering was rejected, he turned away from the LORD God. His countenance was no longer seeking the approval of Him, but rather, focused upon the unfair treatment of God toward his effort. Just as today’s wicked interpretations of the account of Cain’s offering suggests, Cain surely argued that God was unfair and treated him poorly, and as a result was a God that was unworthy of his attention.

Even in the midst of extreme anger and rejection, the LORD God tried to bring Cain to understanding. He tried to teach Cain.

Genesis 4:6-7
“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee [shall be] his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” (Genesis 4:6, 7)

Cain would have nothing to do with the teachings of the LORD God. He was angry, and he purposely turned from Him because he did not get approval for his offering.

What could Cain have been thinking? Evidence strongly suggests that Cain thought the fruits of his servant labor from the cursed ground were more worthy that the fruits of God’s creation from above. Unless the LORD God accepted Cain and his offering, unless God bowed to Cain’s will, there would be no relationship between them forever more.

That is what Cain was thinking.

Genesis 4:8–16 (KJV 1900)
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. (Genesis 4:8-16)

We can’t begin to know all they knew, since perfected intelligence has gone downhill from the first sin, and the Word of God records a limited account of these things. However, we have enough smarts left inside our 21st century minds to surmise some pretty accurate knowledge of what the first family knew, when the evidence within the Word of God is examined.

Adam and Eve knew the LORD God, and His expectations for them. They were able to speak to God, and hear His Words, and be in His presence before they betrayed Him with their disobedience. They were intimately associated with His walks in the Garden, and knew His nature and His will and His love for them.

Genesis 2:15 (KJV 1900)
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it… (Genesis 2:15)

Genesis 3:8 (KJV 1900)
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

They knew the LORD God’s expectations for them to be fruitful, multiply, replenish, subdue, and have dominion over the earth.

Genesis 1:28 (KJV 1900)
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:28)

Adam knew the names of all the Creations of the LORD God, because he named them as the LORD God brought them to him. They lived in the most beautiful of all created gardens, and walked among all of the perfection that God made.

Genesis 2:19–20 (KJV 1900)
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:19-20)

Adam knew the woman that was created from a rib of his body by the LORD God. He recognized that the woman was part of him, and named her woman, because she was taken out of him.

Genesis 2:21–23 (KJV 1900)
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (Genesis 2:21-23)

They knew how to multiply the earth by knowing each other intimately. Adam knew that the child conceived by their union was actually given to them by the LORD God, and not just the father and mother’s creation alone. While the parents union formed the fetus, it was the surge of God’s power within the womb that created life given by Him.

Genesis 4:1
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” (Genesis 4:1)

Adam and Eve knew that there were two trees whose fruit was prohibited to eat. Scripture records these were the fruit that gives knowledge of the difference between evil and good, and the fruit that gives eternal life. One tree, the fruit revealing evil and good, was eaten by Adam and Eve at the tempting of Satan in the form of a serpent. After eating the fruit, Adam and Eve understood their nakedness and separation from the LORD God as a result of their disobedient actions.

They also knew that the Tree of Eternal Life was barred from them by guarding Cherubims and flaming swords, preventing the eating of that fruit.

Genesis 3:24
“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24)

At that point, Adam and Eve had perfect intelligence, knowledge of good and evil, and only needed to have eternal life to become gods.

Genesis 3:22
“And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:” (Genesis 3:22)

The knowledge that Adam and Eve possessed as a result of their lives moving in the midst of God’s perfect creations, does not stop as a result of their sin against Him. In fact, it was their sin that gave them new understanding of the LORD God, their Creator. At the time of their disobedience, they saw His anger, judgment, and punishment come to bear upon them.

All participants in the sinful acts against God were punished by Him. Eve’s sorrows were multiplied in childbirth, and her husband was placed as head over her.

Genesis 3:16
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” (Genesis 3:16)

The serpent was made to crawl upon his belly, destined to eat dust all the days of his life, and enmity placed between the serpent and the woman, and his seed and her seed.

“And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 4:14, 15)

However, it is the specific punishment given to Adam for his disobedience that becomes an integral clue to the account of Cain and Abel’s offerings to God; it gives the key to understanding the motives of both boys’ motives later on.

Genesis 3:17-19
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed [is] the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat [of] it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou [art], and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

Note the words “cursed is the ground.” No longer was the ground a producer of the best fruits by the moving of the LORD God. From that moment on, the cursed ground would produce thorns and thistles; it would take the sweat and hard work of the man to bring forth food fit to eat. Death would be brought to man as a result of his sin against God, and he was cursed to become the same dust that he was created from!

Adam heard the punishment meted out by the LORD God. He had perfect intelligence, he knew he had done wrong in his disobedience, he knew the power of God, and he knew the punishment that was given. Moreover, he heard the cursing that was placed upon the LORD God’s creation!

What first was created in perfection was changed to imperfection by the Creator with His curse. The ground would no longer feed mankind with enticing flavors and fruitful growth without great effort. THE GROUND WAS CURSED!

Genesis 3:17-19
“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:17-19)

Which brings us to the point of this part of the lesson…it’s time for you to make an assumption. Here are your two choices:

1. Either Adam and Eve told their sons Cain and Abel about their experiences in the Garden of Eden, and how they came to be kicked out of the Garden as a result of their disobedience, and the resulting punishment by the LORD God. In other words, they passed on their knowledge, gained by experience, as all other forms of life pass survival knowledge to their offspring.

2. Or Adam and Eve chose to keep Cain and Abel in the dark concerning the things of God, and never spoke about the “curse” that was placed upon the earth.

Only one assumption, however, comes with support in the Word of God. If Cain and Abel are presenting offerings to the LORD God, they must surely have knowledge of His Things. Therefore, it is apparent that Adam and Eve had shared the knowledge of the LORD God with their sons, and all parties were familiar with the past punishments given by God to those who approached him with sin. If they had not been made aware of the past experience of their parents, then Cain and Abel would not have offered gifts to the LORD God. Their offerings to Him are strong evidence that their parents had told them of their intimate relationship with the LORD God before and after the fall as well as His will for the boys to serve Him.

In direct words, Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel were fully aware that the LORD God had “CURSED” the ground, as punishment for sin. Cain and Abel were intelligent human beings, and knew the accounts of the beginning Creation of the LORD God. They were raised by their parents to honor Him and offer gifts to Him because He was their God. It was the possession of this intelligent knowledge of God’s will, passed on to the boys by their parents, that reveals the awful and arrogant sin of Cain, and the righteous and glorious offering given in faith by Abel.

Genesis 4:3-8
“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”

“And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” (Genesis 4:3-8)

Hebrews 11 is known by both serious and casual Bible students as the “Faith” chapter. The words flow into meaningful moments of past examples of Biblical faith in a profound capture of past faith. The reader can’t help to recognize the awesome display of faith development without any need for deep interpretations to realize this effect.

Hebrews 11 has deeper meaning, however, than first meets the casual reading. It contains a map for serious and mature Christians to lead them to a deeper faith in their natural and spiritual lives. It is multi-layered and has deep path that is going to take us into many different areas that will add to our knowledge of faith. More importantly, it promises to prepare our souls to meet these troubled times with a confidence of knowing the things we know conform to the Truth of God.

The secret to learning the deep things of Hebrews 11:1-40 require us to travel throughout the Word of God. It is the entire Word of God that frames faith:

Hebrews 11:3 (KJV 1900)
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)

Hey! Why does this verse speak of “worlds” in the plural? Let’s look at the definition of the Greek Word:

Worlds – 172 αἰών (aiōn), ῶνος (ōnos), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; ≡ DBLHebr 6409; Str 165; TDNT 1.197—1. LN 67.143 era, a unit of time as a particular stage of history.

The use of the word brings our attention to time periods (ages). Throughout the history of mankind, the LORD God has brought forth His creation, His Will, and His Way in steps. Each period He has revealed more of Himself than the one previously; however, that revelation does NOT come from anything that can be seen! And, if it can be seen, then can stir false faith.

Imagine for a moment that you are among the first people created by the LORD God in His Image. During the beginning of civilizations there were probably more false gods than there were people. They had a god for everything, and centered their lives superstitiously upon pleasing their false idols for good luck in their life. Over the years, these false gods were credited with great powers and most everybody believed in at least one of them. Cultures and civilizations were formed by the belief in these false gods and mankind flourished. Their false gods were worshipped in statues, idols, carvings, and pictures.

The LORD God was God over all things, including the false gods that man had created. He was unseen, yet HE WAS CREATOR! Only the Creator of the worlds could have dominion over those worlds, that that was our LORD God!

So, if you’re still imagining yourself back in those days, think of what it must have been like. The LORD God moved His Spirit through you, and you knew that there was an all-powerful, all-knowing LORD God, that was more powerful than any other that your neighbors and friends worshiped, but, He was unseen. Belief in the LORD God, Creator of all worlds, required a believer to have faith:

Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

The early believers had evidence of the Creator within themselves, but it could not be shown to others. Either you were created by God, and implanted with His image, or you were not. Those who did not have God could not have faith. Those that were created in His Image knew Him, without seeing Him.

It should not surprise you that the first proof of faith in Hebrews 11:1 speaks of the Creator and His Creation, and the forming of the various ages of belief, through the Word of God. Philosophically speaking, that is the basic beginning of faith; for a Creation to exist, there must be a Creator. For ages of belief to have evolved, there must have been a Director. Isn’t it interesting today, how they are trying to remove the LORD God and Jesus Christ from the creation process! Why? Because their false gods have no power over one who creates and directs all things in existence!

Cain and Abel – Sons of the Most Intelligent Parents

The Lord wants the mature Christian to learn the details of each of these faith situations accounted in Hebrews 11 deeply. When these deeper things of faith are applied to a mature believer’s walk with Christ, the path will become more easily navigated regardless of tough times.

That is the secret to the study of Hebrews 11! How do we practice our faith? One doesn’t think about faith in those terms, do they? Either you have faith or not, and that is dependent on God whether He gives it to you!

WE ARE NOT USING OUR FAITH FULLY! If faith of a mustard seed can move the mountain to the sea, then surely the works produced from the great faith given to us is unlimited! Yet, we often stand with the babes in Christ and walk with Him in the same manner as they do.

What if the LORD God has given you an extra dose of faith in your maturity? What if the LORD God is now teaching you how to use this extra faith, to bring greater works and glory to Him? What if these different studies of our elders, is not so much study of the old guys of past, but rather, as a key to open up that extra faith He has blessed you with?

It is that deeper understanding of the strong faithful walk of those in the beginning that will lead to our own lives being touched with deep faith. Our study of Abel will begin that process, as we look at each of those mentioned in Hebrews 11 with an eye toward emulating His faith.

Adam and Eve were NOT monkeys. They were created by the LORD God in His Image, possessing their souls formed by the breath of God (Genesis 2:7). They were living examples of created perfection, with an intelligence that far exceeded de-evolution of mankind that followed them as a result of the sinful nature.

If one were asked to name the most intelligent person that ever existed in mankind, scholars might name Einstein, Newton, Archimedes, Aristotle, Plato, Franklin or DaVinci. Present-day intelligent thinkers might include Jobs, Hawkins, or Gates; yet, all of their brain-power put together was not as perfected as the first brain of the first man and woman that the LORD God created.

Evolutionists form their conclusions that man “evolves” into a greater being through a series of unproven acts of life adapting to their environment in ever-increasing improvements. Evolutionishs are wrong. Mankind is not evolving, but rather de-evolving!

The mind of Adam was perfect in every way. He possessed the highest level of intelligence that any man would have on this earth, because it was perfectly created by God. From the moment that Adam and Eve chose to sin against God, and were cursed to a natural life away from the LORD God, de-evolution of the intelligence potential of mankind began. Generations to follow would be lesser smart, as the perfect mind was watered down by sinful natures.

Developed intelligence of our present-day world has always relied upon knowledge given before, as building blocks of thought are stacked, one upon another. Misguided philosophers point to this process as proof of increased intelligence; in fact, it merely points to increased development of knowledge based upon knowledge as it is revealed and unfolds. It is “cleverness” of some notable men and women that lead to advanced developments; while a measure of intelligence is observed in these clever people, it does not offer proof of increased intelligence. Rather, it is evidence of the Creator moving increased attention to new ideas, not an increase of intelligence that is being expressed. How great the mind must have been in the first created people for de-evolution to still allow the development of the technology we have today!

Before you can understand the faith of Abel, you must first realize the perfect intelligence that his parents, Adam and Eve possessed.

1. Man was created to have dominion over all other life created by the LORD God.

Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26)

2. Man and woman were created in the image of the LORD God. (Genesis 1:27)

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

3. God blessed them.

Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)

These three facts are solid proof that Man and Woman were created highly intelligent with a likeness to God Himself. Then God commissioned them to be fruitful and multiply, and subdue the earth. The LORD God had given the intelligence to be able to do these things He assigned them to do. Adam and Eve understood completely the works God gave them to do. They knew that God required more than their peaceful existence. He expected them to take the things in their environment, and produce fruits from their efforts. They knew their duty to multiply mankind, and they knew how to subdue the earth. God DID NOT tell them to subdue the earth, and expect them to figure it all out on their own. He knew He had given them the intelligence to know exactly how to do the things He Willed.

Then God gave them every food they would need to feed their effort upon this earth. He provided for their spiritual and natural well-being. He had given them perfect intelligence, a perfect environment, and a perfect life. It was good.

Genesis 1:29-31
“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:29-31)

The LORD God gave the intelligent Adam the responsibility of dressing and keeping the most perfect Garden ever created in Eden.

Genesis 2:15
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)

The LORD God formed a perfectly intelligent Eve out of a perfectly intelligent Adam as a helpmate.

Genesis 2:18
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

In fact, the smartest of all men to have ever existed, Adam, was given the privilege of naming every other life form that the LORD God had created. It wasn’t just because God was telling Him what to name them. He was that smart!

Genesis 2:19
“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” (Genesis 2:19)

There was only one thing that their perfect minds lacked, that prevented them from being like a god themselves. They did not know the difference between good and evil. That one piece of knowledge was kept from them by a loving LORD God, who delighted in giving His perfect creation the best of everything, without the knowledge of the worst of all.

Genesis 3:1-5
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5)

The dumb act of a very blessed and perfect man and woman was their disobedience against the LORD God, when they ate of the prohibited fruit of the tree.

Genesis 3:6-7
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (Genesis 3:6, 7)

It was a result of that moment of stupidity, that mankind was forever cast out from the perfect life, in the perfect garden, with the perfect intelligence and the perfect works to glorify God.

Genesis 3:16-24
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:16-24)

Adam and Eve were on their own, thrown out into the world, still beholden to the LORD God to be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth. Though their perfection was marred by sin, and de- evolution of mankind initiated into the genetic code of future generations, they still remained very smart. In fact, they were smart enough to begin the works the LORD God had commissioned them to do, in spite of His rejection because of their disobedience.

Cain and Abel were born from their union in the first acts recorded after their expulsion from the Garden. That is how intelligent people think, you know. When you anger the powerful LORD God, you do everything you can to please Him once again. The smart parents of Cain and Abel begin to multiply the earth. Their perfect intelligent genes, tainted with the sin of their parent’s actions, were passed genetically. Cain and Abel were the second most intelligent people in the entire Creation of the LORD God, in the past, present or future!

This one fact, the extra-ordinary intelligence of Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel is usually NOT applied to the interpretation of the beginnings of mankind. Rather, a cynical view of created mankind as monkey people have been developed with the “Evolution Theory” mixed together with the taunting of carnal pretend smarts, and a decidedly prejudiced view taken concerning these things. These false theories have been exploited for so long by so many, that certain assumptions are made in the study of the beginnings of mankind as it is related to Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel.

These FALSE assumptions include:

1. Adam and Eve were barely more than monkeys. This theory wrongly concludes that whether the “evolution theory” can be proven or not, there is enough genetic likeness to conclude that Adam and Eve were more beastlike than developed 21st century man. Thus, Adam and Eve had the intelligence of lower beasts, and were unable to discern the things of spirit and nature that intelligent evolved man is able to do today.

2. Since Adam and Eve were on the lowest rung of thinking man, their offspring were dumb like them. Many wrong theorists point to the stupidity of the first generations of Adam and Eve as the reason behind so many of the mistakes they made toward the LORD God. They suggest that no matter how hard Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel wanted to please the LORD God, their intelligence was so limited in a monkey-like reasoning, that there would be no way for them to know the will of Him.

3. This wrong assumption then proceeds to bring man-curses to an arrogant God that makes his people jump through hoops, without giving them knowledge of how to do it. “How could Cain have known that his sacrifice would be displeasing to the LORD God?” they ask as they attempt to prove their point that God is uncaring. It pleases Lucifer well for these charges to be brought; it is the same charges leveled against the LORD God by the serpent in the Garden of Eden that led to the fall of mankind!

Genesis 3:4-5
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:4, 5)

These false assumptions must be removed from the understanding of a serious Bible student that is searching for the Truth. The LORD God did not create imperfection, and rely upon mankind to develop it into perfection. On the contrary, God created perfection, and it has been de-evolving since the first disobedient acts of man. Thus, Adam and Eve, Cain, and Abel were the most intelligent human beings to ever live upon this earth. When that fact is applied to the study of the Faith of Abel, the deep things of God begin to reveal themselves to those searching for the Truth of Him!

Footnotes:

Swanson, James. 1997. In Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament), electronic ed. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.