Rabbinic Humor 🍺

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Why was God pleased with Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s? Does God like lamb more than veggies? Did God like Abel more than Cain?

The answer isn’t obvious. But like all Bible stories, the picture becomes clearer when you look a little deeper. First, look at the text… Abel offered the “fat portions” from the “firstborn of his flock.” Cain offered “some of the fruits of the soil.”

Abel gave the best of his best, but it appears that Cain may have just whipped something up. Still, both men offered God a portion of what they had. Why should the difference matter so much?

The answer becomes clearer in the New Testament: “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous … And without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:4–6)

To give up something valuable for God takes faith… a trust that God will still provide for you. Abel demonstrated that faith through his offering. Cain’s heart was clearly not in the same place. Perhaps that was reflected in the Bible's description of his offering, but it was confirmed a few verses later by his jealousy and the murder of his brother.

Look at that guy in the comic... He's got the jokes, the longest beard, and a posse of rabbis hanging on his every word. I know guys like that. I'll never be that guy, try as I might. Fortunately, the qualities that impress people don't necessarily impress God. The key to pleasing Him can be summed up in one word: faith.