Genesis 4:3
‘In process of time (or ‘at the end of days’), it came to pass that Cain brought, of the fruit of the ground, an offering to the Lord. But Abel…brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of its (best ) fat. And the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering!’
Genesis 4:3f.
Calvin comments Cain and Abel “followed a kind of life in itself holy and laudable…. The cultivation of the earth was commanded by God; and the labour of feeding sheep was not less…. They had been well instructed by their father (Adam ). The rite of sacrificing, more fully confirms this…. It proves that they had been accustomed to the worship of God….
“The first men…had been deprived…, when they we re prohibited from the tree of life…. Yet had been so deprived of it, only so that a hope of salvation was still left to them — of which they had the signs in sacrifices…. The Apostle (Hebrews 11:4) refers the dignity of Abel’s accepted sacrifice, to faith . It follows…he had not offered it without the command of God.”
Hebrews 11:4 states: ‘By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he (Abel) obtained witness that he was righte ous, God testifying about his gifts. And by it, he (Abel) being dead, yet keeps on speaking.’
Calvin comments: “The sacrifice of Abel was more ac ceptable than that of his brother, only because it was sanctified by faith …. The fat of brute beasts did not smell so pleasantly, that it was able to please God by its odour…. The words of Moses are, ‘God had respect to Abel and to his gifts.’ From which we may readily conclude that his sa crifice pleased God, because he himself was pleasing to God. Where did his pleasing come from …, than that he had a heart purified by faith?….
“It is also a matter of faith, that God bore witnes s of his concern for Abel no less after his death than in his life. In saying that although he is d ead he still speaks…, it was an especial evidence of God’s love toward him that God was concerned for hi m in death…. From this it is clear, that he was thought of as one of the saints of God whose death is precious to Him.”
On Genesis 4:2f , Calvin’s comment continues:”God has always been l ike himself…. He deemed those sacrifices of the first age acceptable …. They had spiritually been offered to Him…. The command respecting sacrifice, was given to the fathers from the beginning…..
“The Jews foolishly imagine…the oblations of Cain were unacceptable, because he defrauded God of the full ears of corn…. (But even) the s trong scent of burning fat, could not conciliate th e divine favour to the sacrifices of Abel …. Being pervaded by the good odour of faith, they had a sweet-smelling savour.” As Calvin remarks in his Institutes III:14:8, ” ‘the Lord had respect to Abel and to his offering’ (Genesis 4:4)…. Respect to Abel, before He had respect to his works.”
All this occurred ‘ at the end of the days’ ( miqqeets yaamiym ). That also points forward as to how we too should serve the Lord — at the end of o ur days. Not by mere rote, but by faith!