Genesis 2:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

For decades preachers and teachers told me that the flaming sword was keeping us from God.

Genesis 4:6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If that is true, then how did the Lord speak to Cain about his feelings of rejection? The first words recorded to have been spoken to sons of man were in connection to sacrifices.

As we go on with this study on God’s plan to remove the obstacle of sin in our relationship with God it is important to consider first occurrences as important messages in that plan. Just as we learn a new language, this faith language, the basics are covered first. Just as we teach our children to say mommy or daddy in recognition of relationship, these first lessons are important.

As we move on in greater detail about God’s plan, sacrifice is going to be a recurring theme, and it is one of our earliest lessons given to us in this plan. The issues of sacrifices are not always simple. While I want to break down these issues to the bare essentials for easy consumption, I cannot cover all the aspects in one devotional.

God’s prescription for sacrifices is recorded in the Levitical laws. Sacrifices were performed in Genesis but it was not until the Levitical laws were given that those sacrifices were tied to the covenant promises of God. That is an important distinction.

Romans 7:7b Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

The law is a mirror to show us we are sinful.

Genesis 4:2-5 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Respect and acceptance is the issue here. God did not demand a sacrifice of Cain and Abel. It is not clear why Cain and Abel thought it was necessary. We can second guess motive until we exhaust every aspect and we will still not know the truth. I will not offer up a suggestion.

What is known is that the actions of Abel were respected. Why respect was shown might very well be in the issue of emulation. God provided a sacrifice of blood, Abel provided a sacrifice of blood. Respect to Abel’s sacrifice is telling us that emulation of God’s actions is respected.

Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Emulation unto salvation is at the heart of God’s respect of Abel’s sacrifice because it pointed at the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, the lamb, Jesus Christ, and the spilt blood of Jesus Christ. The issues of emulation are at the forefront of service in Christ Jesus.

John 5:19, 8:38 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Emulate.