Cain and Abel

 Bible Study Lesson from Genesis 4:1-16

 

2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

 

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

 

3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.

 

4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

 

5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

 

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

 

6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

 

7 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."

 

8 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.

 

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"

 

"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"

 

10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.

 

11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.

 

12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

 

13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear.

 

14 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."

 

15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so ; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over."

 

Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

 

16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way we think, and the way we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Cain and Abel

Extreme Anger of Cain

Ever have a fight with your brother or sister? If you have any siblings I'm sure you have had some real whoppers! I know I have. But, most of the time our differences and sibling rivalry can be resolved without physically hurting our brothers or sisters. Cain took his jealousy anger to the extreme and committed murder - thus making him an outcast in Eden.

Why Did God Reject Cain's Sacrifice?

In these verses, Abel offered a blood sacrifice while Cain only offered fruits and vegetables but it's not clear why God rejected Cain's offering. It could have been that God was not pleased with the attitude in which Cain gave.

Spirit of Giving

When an offer is given grudgingly it does not have the same effect as a gift that is given with gladness. So, it's possible that Cain gave with the wrong attitude and with the wrong motive in mind. God knows our hearts and He knows why we are giving.

We should give of our money, our talents and our time with a willingness to please God and not just because we feel "obligated" to put our "10%" into the offering plate on Sunday.

There are many lessons which come from the story of Cain and Abel such as the banishment from Eden and the mark God placed on Cain - and I encourage you to read all the verses and contemplate the meaning behind each one.

God Gave with the Right Attitude

Let's give back to God with joy. After all, everything we have belongs to Him in the first place. God willingly gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross so that we may live and be forgiven from sin. Our gifts pale in significance but God appreciates them for the thought and attitude in which we give.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Genesis 1:1-2:3 - The Bible Story of Creation