Abel

Abel's story is heartbreakingly short. He's the second son of Adam and Eve, and he doesn't get many verses in Genesis before his life is cut short. But despite his brief appearance, Abel has had an outsized impact on biblical theology and is referenced multiple times throughout both testaments.

Abel was a shepherd, and when the time came to make an offering to God, he brought "fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock." The emphasis on "firstborn" and "fat portions" suggests he gave the best of what he had. God accepted Abel's offering, and the text contrasts this with Cain's offering, which wasn't received the same way. Whatever the exact reason for the distinction, Abel is consistently described as someone who got it right — his offering reflected genuine faith and respect.

The tragedy is that Abel's faithfulness cost him his life. His older brother Cain, consumed by jealousy and anger, lured Abel into a field and killed him. Abel had done nothing wrong. He simply offered his best to God, and his brother couldn't handle not receiving the same approval. It's a painful illustration of how other people's unresolved issues can have devastating consequences for the innocent.

After Abel's death, God told Cain that Abel's blood was "crying out from the ground." That image — innocent blood having a voice — becomes a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The writer of Hebrews says Abel "still speaks, even though he is dead," and Jesus referenced Abel as the first in a long line of righteous people who were killed for their faithfulness.

Abel is sometimes called the first martyr — someone who suffered or died because of their devotion to God. The New Testament book of Hebrews places him first in the famous "Hall of Faith" chapter: "By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings." His story, though brief, raises questions that run through the entire Bible: Why do the faithful sometimes suffer? Why does doing the right thing sometimes provoke violence? And does God see and care when innocent people are harmed? The Bible's consistent answer is that He does — Abel's blood still cries out, and it's still heard.