In the Midrash the following legend is related: When, at the conclusion
of the seventh day, the sun had set and darkness had spread over the
earth, Adam was afraid that the world was now coming to an end. But the
Almighty caused him to find two stones, by means of which he produced
light. On seeing this Adam was full of joy, and although he had himself
produced the spark, he felt that it was to his Creator and Master that
thanks were due, and gave expression to his feelings in the words,
“Blessed art Thou, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who createst
the light of the fire.”
Thus the legend traces the beginning of Divine Worship to the first
man; and, in fact, the desire to commune with the Creator and to give
outward expression to the inner feeling of reverence and allegiance is
so general that it seems to be part of man’s nature.
In a different way this feeling was expressed by the sons of Adam, by
Cain and Abel. They brought presents to the Lord, probably accompanied
by words of praise and prayer. No essential difference is noticed by us
in the offerings of the two brothers; each of them brought what seemed
best in his eyes. And yet the offering of Cain was rejected, whilst
that of Abel was received favourably. An important lesson it is that
Scripture teaches here at the very threshold of the history of
sacrifices. It is this: The value of an offering does not lie in its
outward appearance, in that which is open to man’s judgment, but in
something that is known to the Omniscient alone, in the heart of him
who approaches his Creator with a gift, in the motives which prompt him
to do so, and in the feelings which accompany that act. From these
beginnings the two forms of Divine Worship, Sacrifice and Prayer,
gradually developed.