Cain and Abel - Genesis 4:1-4:13 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is at the door; And its desire is for you, but you must master it. Preschool - Kindergarten Preparation: www.calvarywilliamsport.com www.calvary-kids-pages.com www.kids.djswilliamsport.com The first murder - murderer his own brother at that how could he, why would he? These questions come to mind when we study this lesson. There appears to be some kind of inner struggle going on here with Cain. God seems to know about this struggle, and warns Cain that if he continues in this condition (Genesis 4:7), that it will take over (rule) him (Romans 1:28-32) and God even provides a way out you must master it. What is there to learn in this lesson, and how do we relay that to the children we are teaching? Anger is one; God asks Cain, (Genesis 4:6), why are you angry? Taking our anger to God and let Him handle it instead of trying to handle it ourselves. Making choices is two - What are the consequences of our choices, whether good or bad? Jealousy is another. All three of these actions children understand. We may not quite understand how Cain could murder his own brother, but we can understand the actions that lead to his murder. Teacher s Devotion: The Blood of Abel Genesis 4:10 The Lord said, What have you done? The voice of your brother s blood is crying to me from the ground As if the crime of murder was not atrocious enough, Cain compounds his sin with a lie. When the Lord asks him about Abel s whereabouts, Cain tells God that his brother s location is unknown to him (Gen. 4:9). Furthermore, he addresses the Creator flippantly, claiming no responsibility for the well being of his kin. Moses original audience would have been especially disturbed by this account. First, an Israelite s brother had the primary responsibility to rescue him if he was in trouble (Lev. 25:47 55). Cain does the opposite of what this obligation requires, revealing the flagrancy with which he breaks the covenant. Secondly, Leviticus says life is in the blood (17:11), and so the most defiling substance possible is the shed blood of an innocent person. Thus, Cain s sin is particularly grave. Again he refuses to repent when confronted with his sin. Cain is graciously given a chance to confess his iniquity, but he is too hardened to submit. John Calvin comments on how this passage warns us when we are convicted of sin. Though the Lord no longer confronts us audibly, let those, therefore, whose consciences accuse them, beware lest, after the example of Cain, they confirm themselves in obstinacy. We must not harden our hearts as Cain did. Cain futilely imagines he can hide his trespass from God, for Abel s blood cries out for justice (Gen. 4:10). The verb rendered crying in verse 10 is the same word used elsewhere to speak of the pleas of those who have met injustice (Ex. 22:22 23). When the Judge of all punishes Cain (Gen. 4:10 11), He demonstrates in practice what He promises by His word that He always hears His faithful servants cries for vindication (Ex. 22:22 24; Ps. 135:14). This promise is fulfilled in Christ who was vindicated by God in His resurrection (Rom. 8:11; 1 Tim. 3:16). His blood also cried for vengeance, and this plea was satisfied when sin and death were conquered. For the saints, the blood of Jesus speaks a better word than Abel s (Heb. 12:24). Its just demand on believers is met at Calvary where, in bearing our penalty, the blood that destroys the wicked becomes for us a cleansing flood (9:11 14; 1 John 1:7). Psalm 90:8 is a powerful reminder of our Lord s all-seeing gaze. Though we might think we can sin in secret, God knows every evil deed we commit, even if no one else on the planet finds out. How have you transgressed the Lord in private? Do you honestly believe our Creator is not watching every thing you do? As you go about your daily business remember that God sees everything you do, and therefore your best attempt to hide your sin is useless.

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Bible Story Genesis 4:1 4:13 Cain and Abel Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."

Talk About It! Ask these questions: 1. What are some ways that we can control our anger? Possible answers: Take a deep breath and cool off, prayer talk to Jesus 2. What did God say in this verse? If you do what is, will you not be accepted? Right or wrong 3. Do you know the difference between right and wrong? 4. Answer the following questions whether they are right or wrong: Tammy called me a bad name, so I smacked her? (Wrong) Tammy opened the door for me so I said thank you? (Right) Tommy never offered me a piece of his candy, so I m not going to talk to him anymore? (Wrong) Tommy and I picked up all of our toys before going to bed? (Right) Jason got upset because the teacher paid more attention too Brian? (Wrong) Jason prays before every meal? (Right) Amy missed the school bus, so she stayed home instead of calling her dad to take her? (wrong) Amy helped mom clean the dished after dinner? (Right) Genesis 4:7 Memory Verse If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is at the door; And its desire is for you, but you must master it.

Craft Bookmark How To Make A Chain Of Slavery 1. Cut strips of paper this big 2. Write on each strip one of the sins that chain us up as slaves of sin. 3. Stick the first strip of paper into a loop. 4. Thread the next strip through the loop like this 5. Tie yourself up in these chains of slavery, as you pray in Jesus Christ s name, break the chains. Game Game and game board www.calvary-kids-pages.com/pdf/cainandabelgame.pdf

Children s Devotion An Acceptable Offering! Cain and Abel were the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was a farmer and grew lots of fruits and vegetables, while Abel was a shepherd, taking care of sheep. A time came when both Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord. Cain brought some fruit that he grew and Abel brought a firstborn lamb from his flock to the Lord. While it may not seem like any problem, there was actually a big problem. God refused to accept Cain s offering, while He gladly accepted Abel s offering of his lamb. This made Cain furious with his brother and one day when he had the opportunity he killed Him. God had to punish Cain and sent him away forever. But why did God accept Abel s gift and not Cain s, and why is Abel called a man of faith in the Bible? The problem is that Cain tried to offer to God the things that he produced from the ground. That is kind of like when we try to tell God how good we are and how He should accept us because of the good things we do. But Abel brought the firstborn of his flocks. This is a picture of Jesus who is God s only son. This offering was acceptable to God because it pictures Jesus. Abel didn t produce the sheep, but rather when it was sacrificed, its blood would cover his sins, just like Jesus blood removes our sin. So Abel came to God by faith and Cain came to God through his own works. How sad that Cain s heart was so far from God that he would kill his brother. Could Cain have brought an acceptable offering to God? The answer is yes! He could have traded with Abel the produce from the ground for a lamb from Abel s flock. What we learn from Abel is that when we come to God we have to come to Him through faith in His son Jesus. We can t come to Him and try to convince Him of how good we are and how we deserve to go to heaven. Only if our sins are forgiven by Jesus can we have a relationship with Him. Let s always remember to come to God through faith in Jesus!