CAIN'S OFFERING by J. R. Richards

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 23, 1877

CAIN'S OFFERING.

By J. R. Richards

Cain was required to sacrifice the firstlings of the flock, as well as the first-fruits of the ground. By shedding the blood of his offering, he would show faith in the promised Redeemer, whose blood was to be shed for the remission of the sins of all men. But Cain did not consider it essential to obey the Lord implicitly. He must do a little different from what he was commanded to do. Why was it necessary to do exactly as the Lord had told him? Why was not the first-fruits of the ground as acceptable an offering as the firstlings of the flock? Simply because it did not typify Christ. So far as its showing faith in the Redeemer was concerned, it was meaningless. Then he was wroth, and his countenance fell, because the Lord did not accept an offering from him that varied from the requirement.

Men pursue a similar course now-a-days with regard to the Sabbath. The Lord said, “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work.” He pronounced a blessing upon those who keep it, and a curse upon those who disregard it. The reason he gave for blessing and sanctifying the seventh day makes it impossible for the Sabbath to be transferred to any other day of the week. “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore [for which reason.—Webster] the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

The Lord said to Cain, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.” Is it not as great a sin for man to pretend to keep holy unto the Lord a day the Lord has not required him to keep as it was for Cain to fail to typify the blood of Christ in his offering? May we not expect that all men will be dealt with alike in the Judgment? J. R. RICHARDS.

Mattawan, Mich.