Walking in Faith Series - Abel - An Account of Murder and an Ageless Legacy
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Hebrews 11 describes a hall of fame for people throughout the Bible that had extraordinary faith in God.
This is the 1st devotional of a series I've entitled "Walking in Faith" that will take a deep dive look into each of the people who earned a place in the hall of fame described in Hebrews 11. We'll look at the lives of each of these people, what earned them a spot in the Hebrews 11 hall of fame, and what that means for us thousands of years later.
We'll begin the series with the first account listed in that hall of fame, which is the account of Abel.
Who Was Abel?
From what we've seen described in the book of Genesis, Abel was your every day average Joe. He didn't live a fancy life or have aspirations that one might consider extravagant.
Below are a few additional quick facts about Abel -
- Abel was the 2nd born child of Adam and Eve (born after Cain).
- Abel was a keeper of sheep (shepherd). His brother Cain was a tiller of the ground (farmer). – Gen 4:2
- He was the 1st person ever murdered.
What Earned Him a Spot in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame
Abel’s faith was evident in the quality of His offering. Abel had faith that God was who He said He is, and that God would reward Him for His righteous actions.
As Mentioned in Hebrews 11:4 (NKJV) -
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
What This Means for Us
Below are a few key takeaways that struck me when reading through the account of Abel.
1. Abel's account is one of simplicity. From his occupation to the way in which he displayed his faith, Abel demonstrated that we don't need to be "extraordinary" in order to have extraordinary faith.
2. Abel's faith was demonstrated, not just internalized. Because Abel had faith in the sovereignty of God, and that God would reward those who act righteously, he intentionally gave the best of his flock as an offering. He didn't just think or talk about his faith, he acted on it.
3. Abel was rewarded for his faith with God’s acceptance and an ageless legacy that remains to this day recalling his act of faith. And just like Abel's faith, our faith will also be rewarded with God's acceptance and an ageless legacy. This legacy might not be described in the Bible, but it will forever live in God's account of us, and those who God chooses to bless using our testimony of faith.
