Cain and Abel - where did they get the idea of a burnt offering?

by truthseeker 40 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  truthseeker

  It has always puzzled me why Abel, a herder of sheep, would want to kill his own animals to offer them up to God.

  Prior to the flood, it would be fair to say that no one ate meat. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, but assuming that meat

  was not eaten, why would Abel's offering be better than Cain's offering?

  Some JW's say that Abel knew in advance about the ransom sacrifice, but this can't be true as it wasn't known then that

  a Messiah would come and offer up his own blood and delivered them.

  Genesis 4:2 read: "...And Abel came to be a herder of sheep, but Cain became a cultivator of the ground."

  So from this scripture, Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a cultivator.

  Genesis 4:3 "And it came about at the expiration of some time that Cain proceeded to bring some fruits of the ground as an offering to Jehovah"

  The idea of thanking God for his provisions was not wrong in itself, but what could God possibly want with a bunch of fruit? I have to ask the question

  why prayer was not utilized at this time when his father Adam had a habit of talking with Jehovah in the breezy part of the day.

  Genesis 4:4 "But as for Abel, he too brought some firstlings of his flock, even their fatty pieces."

  What possessed Abel to mistreat and kill his animals? Why would he imagine that spilling their blood could possibly please God?

  Genesis 4:4, 5 answers this question, "Now while Jehovah was looking with favor upon Abel and his offering, he did not look with favor upon Cain and upon his offering.

  And Cain grew hot with great anger."

  Reading this short passage in Genesis suggests that in order of events, Cain was the first to make an offering of vegetable matter, followed by Abel

  who offered dead animals that he was supposed to have been looking after.

  The passage does not indicate why God was pleased with Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's. Perhaps there was competition? That wouldn't make sense though.

  This passage suggests that Abel began the practice of offering up animals as a sacrifice to God, and that God was pleased with the deaths of animals rather than an offering of vegetable matter.

  The question remains - why?
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  SacrificialLoon

  This is what I remember being told why Able's offering was better than Cain's, it was that he just picked any old vegetables while Able picked the best of his flock. Where he got the idea of burning the animal? Maybe he saw one get struck by lightning and thought that was pretty darn cool.
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  OnTheWayOut

  The priestly writers who recorded the story from folklore decided that people should
  appear to be sacrificing goods for God from the beginning. The reason is that the
  priests would be able to accept those sacrifices for the people and benefit from them.

  While it is a bit oversimplification to say this, I believe it holds true- they made it appear
  that God easily recognized the better sacrifices for better blessings, and the priests
  wanted meat and wool as they could grow their own vegetables.
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  truthseeker

  Good point, but where did the idea of "sacrifice" originate from? Weren't there better ways of thanking Jehovah like prayer?
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  OnTheWayOut

  Weren't there better ways of thanking Jehovah like prayer?

  All religions (with a god) to varying degrees say to give something to that god.
  Prayer is good, but more is needed. Some are honest enough to admit more
  is needed for the religion, but many say it is for God.

  WTS clearly says to do acts of worship. Meetings, service, study.
  This was devised when there was a profit in the service (literature sales).
  They still say this because they keep members imprisoned by the doctrine,
  but their message will continue to morph into GIVE MONEY, GIVE MONEY.
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  OUTLAW

  Where did Cain and Abel get the idea of "Burnt Offering`s?".....They went to my Mom`s house for Dinner!.....Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!..LOL!!...OUTLAW
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  MadTiger

  It is the first mention of natural spirituality in the Bible.
  
  Instinct/Intuition.
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  journey-on

  What is required for REAL sacrifice.....BLOOD...DEATH...LIFE! The Cain character represents someone who doesn't

  understand that. He gives up a few squashes and pumpkins. Big deal! Real heartfelt sacrifice requires blood. The

  life is in the blood and what greater sacrifice is there than that?
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  truthseeker

  And this is what disturbs me

  why is the ritual killing of a living organism considered good? Sacrifice it is, but why necessary?
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  truthseeker

  Natural spirituality - the death of an animal?