Who Is Who in the Holy Bible: Abel

From the Wednesday Bible study series. The slides are on the Bible study page.

THE NAME. Abel (Hebrew), Genesis 4:1-8. The name comes from the Hebrew word hebhel, meaning breath, or it may come from the Assyrian word for son.

VITAL STATISTICS. Where: outside the Garden of Eden, present-day Iraq or Iran. Occupation: shepherd. Parents: Adam and Eve. Brother: Cain.

KEY VERSES. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of him that he was righteous, and God testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through faith he still speaks. Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4:4.

STRENGTHS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Abel gave the first acceptable offering to God. He was the first righteous man (Matthew 23:35), the first member of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, the first shepherd, and the first martyr of truth.

LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF ABEL. God evaluates both our motives and the quality of what we offer Him. When we give to God and to others, we should give with a joyful heart because of what we are able to give: our best in time, money, possessions and talents. Like Abel, we must obey God regardless of the cost, and trust God to make things right. God knows all things and recognises the innocent person, and sooner or later rewards everyone according to their works.

RECAP. Abel was the second child born into the world, but the first to obey God, and the first to present God a well-pleasing sacrifice. He was killed by his jealous older brother Cain. We should not worry about how much we are giving up, for all things are God's in the first place.