Genesis 4:4

Abel.. brought of the firstlings of his flock.

Abel likewise brings the products of his own labor, but brings. sin offering, and "the fat thereof" to be burned upon the altar, as afterwards directed in Numbers 18:17. In these two offerings we have the first recorded in history. There is no statement that God had commanded them, but there is not the slightest reason for supposing that worship would have been offered in this way if it had not been directed. Good men would never have thought of obtaining the divine favor by offering an innocent victim; it could never have occurred to them that. great atonement was finally to be offered, of which every sacrifice was. prophecy and. type. Inasmuch as we find, from the very beginning, such men as Abel, Noah and Abraham offering sacrifices with the Divine approval, we must conclude that they did it in obedience to the command of God. There is. more positive evidence. "By faith Abel offered unto God. more excellent sacrifice than Cain" (Hebrews 11:3). Now the simplest element of faith, the one test and proof of faith, is bowing to God's authority with implicit confidence in his word. Noah, Abraham, and the other ancient heroes of faith named in the chapter, all demonstrated their faith by obedience to the word. It is certain, therefore, that Abel did just what God commanded, and therefore that God had directed just such worship as he offered. Nor can there be any doubt that Cain, like many modern religionists, modified the worship to suit himself.

The Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering.

In some way the divine approbation was manifested; how we are not told, possibly as in the trial between Elijah and the priests of Baal. Paul says, Hebrews 11:3, that "God testified of his (Abel's) gifts." His offering was made in faith, that is, in childlike obedience to the declared will of God.. great deal has been said about Abel's faith in Christ,. matter of which nothing is known and which is improbable, as the Christ-hope was yet undeveloped. His faith was in God and his word. He had learned that he was. sinner and God had told him how. sinner ought to come to God for forgiveness. He obeyed, thus showed his faith, and was justified.