Hidden Heroes of the Bible: Abel

This is a series I wrote several years ago on another site.

Hidden Heroes of the Bible: Abel

We hear a lot about role models and heroes these days. Former Congressman John Kasich wrote a book about heroes of everyday life. Also he once hosted a television show, on Fox, about the same subject. I guess old or young we all need heroes in our lives. This even applies to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. The eleventh chapter of Hebrews gives a list of several people who were heroes in God’s eyes. All these people share one thing in common, they all had faith.

The first man listed, in this chapter was Abel. "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 being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews 11:4 (KJV).

Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve, and by occupation he was a shepherd. There came a time when he and his brother Cain brought sacrifices to the Lord. Abel brought the best of his flocks. Cain, being a farmer, brought the best of his crops. God blessed Abel’s offering, but rejected Cains because it was a product of man’s handy work. God offered Cain a second chance, and even a blessing. Instead Cain slew his brother. Just remember that the first murder was a result of one’s dedication to God. Able is the first martyr.

Cain went into the land of Nod, and founded an ungodly race of men. His descendants worked with brass, invented the first musical instruments, and founded the first city. It was named Enoch after Cain’s son.

Adam and Eve had a third son named Seth. It was this son who was given Abel’s blessing. Noah was a descendant of Seth, which means that we are all descendants of him. All the children of Cain were drowned in the great flood.

After the flood Noah blessed his oldest son Shem. Abraham came from the lineage of Shem. Judah, Abraham’s great-grandson, was promised that a mighty lion would come out his tribe. The Lion of Judah is Jesus Christ.

Even though Able lost his life, his blessing lived on. It was fulfilled through Jesus, and the cross. Jesus warned that those who kill, God’s children, would pay the price. "That upon you may come righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the righteous blood of Abel unto the blood of Zecharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." Matthew 23:35 (KJV).

Like Cain, we are guilty of shedding innocent blood. All of us are to blame for Jesus’ death on the cross. However we do not have to make the same foolish decisions. Abel sought God’s blessings, and in turn several generations were blessed.