This drawing came from a Bible published in 1846, wow that's old! Cain and Abel are illustrated here in various scenes from the Bible. This kind of illustration was typical in times when many people did not know how to read. But there is something not quite right here...
In the upper left, Cain and Abel are offering their gifts up to God on altars, although the artist was incorrect in his drawing of Cain's offering. He should have shown Cain burning vegetables here instead of a lamb. So he missed the whole point of the story. Because Cain offered the things up to God that he had grown himself, his offering has been often interpreted by many Bible teachers to be of lesser quality. The offended Cain became so angry with his brother's success that he killed Abel. (This murder scene appears lower at the front of the illustration.)
The scene on the right is of God the Father chastising Cain for his offering or it could be God confronting Cain for murdering his brother. It's interesting that the Bible says Cain believes that he is being corrected for making a bad offering because it represents his vanity. But God doesn't tell Cain why he has made a lesser offering at all, He simply tells him that he must try harder next time to do what is pleasing.
So why did God prefer Abel's offering? Biblical scholars tell us it is because the lamb sacrificed at his altar reminded God of Jesus, who is the sacrificial lamb i. e. the perfect offering.
In the upper left, Cain and Abel are offering their gifts up to God on altars, although the artist was incorrect in his drawing of Cain's offering. He should have shown Cain burning vegetables here instead of a lamb. So he missed the whole point of the story. Because Cain offered the things up to God that he had grown himself, his offering has been often interpreted by many Bible teachers to be of lesser quality. The offended Cain became so angry with his brother's success that he killed Abel. (This murder scene appears lower at the front of the illustration.)
The scene on the right is of God the Father chastising Cain for his offering or it could be God confronting Cain for murdering his brother. It's interesting that the Bible says Cain believes that he is being corrected for making a bad offering because it represents his vanity. But God doesn't tell Cain why he has made a lesser offering at all, He simply tells him that he must try harder next time to do what is pleasing.
So why did God prefer Abel's offering? Biblical scholars tell us it is because the lamb sacrificed at his altar reminded God of Jesus, who is the sacrificial lamb i. e. the perfect offering.
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