Now Adam knew Eve his wife,

and she conceived and bore Cain and Able. Able was a keeper of sheep, and brought of the firstborn of his flock as an offering to God (Genesis 4:1-4). Sacrifice in its broadest sense is the act of giving up something,  especially in order to get or do something else. In the ancient world sacrifice to gain favour or forgiveness with a deity was widespread and seems to be instinctive within human nature.  In the book, that is thought to be the earliest of all the Biblical writings,  Job offered burnt offerings to God just in case his sons had “sinned and cursed God in their hearts” (Job 1:5).

Able offered the firstborn of the flock, and as such no doubt it was the most precious,  the most valuable, and it represented a significant sacrifice. Later sacrifices under the Law were always the firstborn,  unless that animal had a defect  (Deuteronomy 12:6; Exodus 12:5). It was regarded as an insult to God to present anything that was less than perfect.  We are not told if Abel's offering was an attempt to make up for some sin, or that had even sinned. It appears to be a thanksgiving offering, and something given voluntarily.   

The universal instinct to sacrifice lead the ancients to sacrifice their children through the fire to the god Molech. Apparently they beat drums to drown out the child's screams. The rationalization went something like this, “the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul” (Micah 6:7).  There is something diabolical about such a doctrine,  and it was expressly forbidden to ancient Israel (Leviticus 18:21).  The Lord made it clear this was abhorrent to Him,  and that such things were not in his heart for mankind to do (Jeremiah 7:31).   Many with a false view of God have likewise supposed that He is some sort of demanding tyrant.  Others have committed atrocities that was never in God's heart, but were nevertheless supposedly done in His Name.  

The idea of the “fruit of my body for the sin of my soul” was somehow compelling, and ancient Israel certainly fell into it at times. It was and is true that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Nevertheless, there was there was a flaw in the logic of it. In particular,  since all humanity inherited the sin nature from Adam, the sacrifice would not have been without blemish and so not acceptable to God.  The only acceptable sacrifice was  “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19).

As followers of Christ, who voluntarily sacrificed His life for us, we are called to voluntarily lay down our lives for others (1 John 3:16). We are called to be living sacrifices, to continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. We are admonished to not forget to do good and to share, “for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15, 16). We are never more like God than when we voluntarily make such godly sacrifices.
 
Lord Jesus, one of my heroes,  Heidi Baker talks a lot about being laid down lovers of God. She lives is Lord, and her life continually challenges me. But it's the only reasonable response to Your tender mercies  (Romans 12:1 NKJV).  So we offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving this morning Lord,  and we give You all the honour, glory and praise,  in Your precious Name Amen