Read: Genesis 4:1–12
Bible in a Year: Job 41–42; Acts 16:22–40
By faith Abel still speaks. Hebrews 11:4
In June 2004, at a Vancouver art gallery, Canadian cross-country
skier Beckie Scott received an Olympic gold medal. That’s interesting,
because the Winter Olympics had been held in 2002—in Utah. Scott had won
bronze behind two athletes who were disqualified months later when it
was learned they had used banned substances.
It’s good that Scott eventually received her gold, but gone
forever is the moment when she should have stood on the podium to hear
her country’s national anthem. That injustice couldn’t be remedied.
Injustice of any kind disturbs us, and
surely there are far greater wrongs than being denied a hard-won medal.
The story of Cain and Abel shows an ultimate act of injustice (Gen.
4:8). And at first glance, it might look like Cain got away with
murdering his brother. After all, he lived a long, full life, eventually
building a city (v. 17).
But God Himself confronted Cain. “Your brother’s blood cries out to
me from the ground,” He said (v. 10). The New Testament later recorded
Cain as an example to avoid (1 John 3:12; Jude 1:11). But of Abel we
read, “By faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead” (Heb. 11:4).
God cares deeply about justice, about righting wrongs, and about
defending the powerless. In the end, no one gets away with any act of
injustice. Nor does God leave unrewarded our work done in faith for Him.
Father, as Your Son taught us to pray, we ask that Your kingdom will come, Your will be done to change this broken world. Thank You for redeeming us.
Sin will not ultimately be judged by the way we see it, but by the way God sees it.
© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries
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