Chapter 4

Here in this chapter, we have Moses showing his Israelite readers the effects of the Fall. Chapter 3 was the cause, chapter 4 is the effect.

He also traces for his readers the two lines of humanity---the line of Abel  and the line of Cain. We read of their pursuits and priorities in life.

Ge 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD."

2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

3  And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.

4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,

5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

 Abel and his offering was acceptable to God because it was done in faith.

There is no question that both of them learned about the tunics of skin that God made for their parents. No doubt, Adam and Eve told them about it. An animal had to be sacrificed to cover their parents' sin and shame.

Abel was not disobedient to this revelation, he did well, as an expression of his faith, he "brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat." It was a sacrifice that pointed to the substitutionary sacrifice of the coming Deliverer.

Cain, apparently, saw no need of it. He was disobedient to the revelation and brought a bloodless sacrifice instead.

Moses is teaching his Israelite readers the importance of a blood sacrifice for sin.