Cain and Abel: One Way to Come to God
Lesson Text
Our world is broken. People go their own way all the time, leading to acts of evil around the globe. The brokenness that entered the world with the sin of Adam and Eve is exemplified in Cain’s murder of his brother.
Theologians differ on why Cain’s sacrifice was rejected. Hebrews 11:4 distinguishes Abel’s offering as being given by faith, so it seems likely that he was following the examples set by God when the animals were slain to make coverings for Adam and Eve. Scripture is consistent in teaching that faith counted for righteousness is always faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. Abel’s faith looked forward to that promise while our faith looks back on the promise fulfilled. Throughout this lesson be sure to emphasize the importance of coming to God His way—with a heart of faith.
Abel’s faith is shown by the fact that he brought his best lamb. Use this lesson to remind the saved children that God wants them to love Him with all that they are. The good things they do should be rooted in their love for Him. And as they act in love, they are showing their faith.
God’s mercy is also seen throughout this lesson. God was merciful in promising a Savior after Adam and Eve sinned. He was merciful in giving Cain another chance to bring a right offering. And God was even merciful to Cain after his evil act, by placing a mark of protection on him.
Before you teach this lesson, prepare your heart. Come before God like Abel, with a heart of faith—faith rooted in the great mercy of God, who sent His own Son for you.
The following concepts should be clearly conveyed during the club hour:
• Faith: I trust God and what He says.
• God: Merciful—God shows me mercy; He doesn’t give me the punishment I deserve.
• Jesus: Fulfillment of blood sacrifice.
• Man: Obeying God—I obey God because I love Him.
We’re going to play a game. I want you to line up here (show children where to go). When I say, “Go!” you can all start coming towards me. But when I say, “Stop!” you stop. If you don’t stop when I say, then you go back to the starting line. Ready? (Play with children until you have some clear winners. Depending on your location you may need to tell them not to run.) To play the game, you needed to come to me the one way I said by following my directions. Our lesson today tells about some people who had to choose whether to follow God’s directions and come to Him His way or not. Would they do it?
The Bible tells about the first two people God created. They lived in a beautiful garden filled with many wonderful things. Does anyone know their names? (Allow response.) Adam and Eve! God created them so they could have a relationship with Him. He walked with them in the garden and talked with them. It was a perfect place and they enjoyed everything about it.
One day Adam and Eve believed a lie about God and decided they knew better than Him. Rather than obeying God, they went their own way instead. Disobeying God is called sin. At that moment, sin entered the world and has been a part of the world ever since. Sin changed every part of Creation and every person who has been born. Sin changed everyone’s relationship with God. People could no longer be with God like before. And they had no way of getting to God on their own.
But God loved Adam and Eve and all the people He knew would one day be born. He made a promise to Adam and Eve that a Savior would come to take away sin and make everything perfect like He created it to be. God was making a way so people could once again have a special friendship with Him. What an amazing and merciful God, showing kindness even when it wasn’t deserved!
I’m sure Adam and Eve were excited about the promise God made to them. But now they lived in a world filled with sin. It was very different from living in the perfect garden. Life was hard, but there were still some exciting things that happened to them.
One exciting thing was the day their first baby was born! Let’s shout, “Happy Birthday!” (Say with children.) This was the first baby ever born on the Earth! They probably looked with amazement at his tiny fingers and toes. “We’ll name him Cain,” they decided. They must have been proud of that beautiful baby boy and so thankful to God, who had given life to their son. God loved Cain even more than Adam and Eve did!
God also loves you, more than anyone ever could. He is your Creator. He chose how you would look, the skills you would have, and the way you would think and talk and laugh. God gave you everything you needed to be you! He created the world you live in. God loves you very much. (Read 1 John 4:10a.) Before you even knew about God, He knew you and loved you. When you think of how holy (perfect and pure) God is, it is truly wonderful to realize that He loves you more than anyone ever could!
God loved Cain even more than Adam and Eve did.
Later God blessed them with another baby boy. They named him Abel
Adam and Eve must have enjoyed watching Cain and Abel grow—seeing them learn to walk, hearing them learn to talk. As the boys were growing up, they probably had lots of questions about God and the garden.
“What was it like living in the garden?” they may have asked.
“It was a wonderful place to live!” Adam and Eve probably would have said. “There were beautiful flowers and sparkling rivers. We had all the food we needed—and no weeds to pull! Life was so good there! And the best part was that God walked and talked with us.”
The boys knew that life wasn’t so easy anymore. They watched their father work hard to grow food for the family. Perhaps they helped Adam in the fields. They knew what it was like to feel hot and tired.
“Why can’t we live in the garden anymore?” the boys may have asked. Adam and Eve must have sadly told their sons what had happened. They could no longer live in God’s beautiful place because they had sinned. But they must have also told their sons of God’s love. He had provided coverings (clothing) for them made of animal skins. The animal had to be sacrificed—its blood shed—to provide these coverings because of Adam and Eve’s sin. God promised them that one day He would send a Savior who would take away sin.
When the boys grew to be young men, they each chose their work. Abel, the younger brother, became a shepherd, taking care of flocks of sheep. He guided his sheep to food and water and he protected them from danger. He probably loved the little lambs and had names for each one.
Cain, the older brother, became a farmer. He worked with the soil, planting vegetables and fruit trees. He worked hard to pull the weeds and water his plants so they would be strong. (Pretend to do with children.) His family must have enjoyed eating the delicious fruits and vegetables he grew.
Perhaps as they were growing up, Cain and Abel watched their parents bring offerings to God. The animal sacrifices showed their belief in God’s promise of a Savior whose blood would be shed to take away sin forever.
When Cain and Abel prepared to bring their own offerings to God, the Bible says Cain went into his field and gathered some of the crops he had grown. He brought these fruits and vegetables as his offering to God.
Abel also brought an offering. He went out to where his sheep were grazing and carefully chose a perfect, healthy firstborn lamb. Abel killed this lamb and offered it to God. He followed God’s way. He believed God’s promise to send a Savior and brought the offering that God required. The Bible says Abel gave his offering to God by faith, believing He is the one true God.
Say with me, “Have faith!” (Say with children.) Abel’s faith made him want to show his love to God.
Wanting to show love to God shows your faith in God. If you have believed in Jesus, you show your love for God by how you live. Today we don’t bring offerings to God like Cain and Abel did, but God still wants you to show your love for Him. You can love God by spending time with Him as you pray, read your Bible, and go to church because you want to, not because you have to. You show you love God by thanking Him for what He’s given you—food, clothing, family, friends, and even your abilities whether you’re good at sports, music, art, building things, or doing homework. You also show you love God when you obey what the Bible says. (Read John 14:15.) Jesus said if you love Him, you will do what He says. Your faith in God shows as you love God. Say with me, “Have faith!” (Say with children.) You show your love for God by how you live. Wanting to show your love for God shows your faith in Him.
Abel’s faith in God caused him to want to show his love for God by bringing the very best. He believed God’s promise and followed God’s way, bringing the offering God required. What did God think of Cain and Abel and their offerings? (Read Genesis 4:4b-5a.)
The Lord accepted Abel and his offering but He did not accept Cain and his offering. Abel’s offering involved shedding (giving) of blood just like God’s example when he killed the animal to make clothes for Adam and Eve. Shedding blood was God’s requirement to cover sin. Abel’s offering showed his faith in God’s promise of the one way for forgiveness of sins God would provide.
But Cain did not follow God’s way. His offering did not show faith. Cain wanted his own way more than God’s way.
People today also want their own way instead of God’s way. That is sin. Your sin makes you want to live life your own way and try to come to God on your own. Maybe there are times you think you know better than your teachers or your parents, so you do what you want instead of what they have told you to do. Or maybe you don’t want to believe the Bible is true because you don’t like some of the things it says. You may become easily frustrated or angry when things don’t go your way. It is sin that makes you live your life your own way instead of listening and obeying the truth from God. (Read Romans 5:12.) Because sin entered the world when Adam and Eve sinned, you were born a sinner, separated from God. That’s one of the consequences of sin entering the world— people are no longer perfect as they were created to be. Sin needs to be punished. The punishment for sin is death—to be separated from God and all His goodness forever. You and I sin and disobey God, going our own way every day.
Cain wanted his own way more than God’s way. Instead of showing faith in God’s promise, Cain chose to come to God his own way. God was displeased with Cain’s offering.
When Cain saw that God had accepted Abel’s offering but rejected his own, he was furious. He was jealous of his brother and angry with God. His feelings showed on his face in a dark, angry scowl. Can you show me what an angry scowl looks like? (Do with children.)
God asked Cain, “Why are you angry and why do you look so mean? If you do what is right, I will accept you.” God knew why Cain was angry, but He was giving Cain a chance to make things right. God promises to respond to those who come to Him in faith! God loved Cain. He was encouraging Cain to come God’s one way—to bring an acceptable offering and not let sin control him. Even though Cain didn’t deserve it, God was showing him mercy by giving him a second chance. But Cain had to come God’s way for forgiveness.
You also must come to God His way for forgiveness. In God’s perfect plan, He kept His promise to send a Savior. God’s one and only Son, Jesus, came from Heaven to Earth to live as a man and die on a cross to save you from your sin. Because Jesus is God, He is perfect and sinless. He is the only one who could take your punishment. God punished Jesus for all the sinful things you have thought, said, and done. The sacrifice of animals and the shedding of their blood described in the first part of the Bible was a picture of what Jesus would do for you on the cross. God no longer requires the blood of animals. Jesus—the perfect Lamb of God—bled and died as the final sacrifice for sin. (Read 1 Peter 1:18-19.) When Jesus bled and died, He was the perfect lamb sacrificed for you. He made it possible for your sin to be forgiven. After Jesus was buried, He came alive on the third day. This is called His resurrection. Today He is still alive, living in Heaven as ruler of everything. God accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for your sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection made the way for you to be right with God and have a close relationship with Him like Adam and Eve had in the garden. Jesus is the one way God has provided for you!
Say with me, “Have faith!” (Say with children.) You must come to God His way in faith to be forgiven.
Cain had to come God’s way for forgiveness. God was giving him a second chance. God told Cain the one way to be forgiven but Cain refused. In anger and stubbornness, Cain turned away from God.
Cain’s anger and jealousy toward Abel continued to grow. Then one day while they were out in a field with no one else around, Cain did a terrible thing.
Cain refused God’s way and murdered his brother Abel.
Although no people were around to see what Cain did, God saw it. God said to Cain, “Where is your brother?”
“I don’t know where he is,” Cain lied. “Must I take care of him?”
God wanted Cain to admit his sin but Cain would not. His stubborn, sinful heart still refused God’s love and forgiveness.
Then God said, “Cain, what have you done? Your brother’s blood calls to me from the ground. From now on, the ground will no longer be fruitful for you. Your hard work will bring only small crops. You will become a wanderer, with no place to call home.”
“My punishment is too much for me!” cried Cain. “As I wander, those who find me will know who I am and kill me!”
But God again showed mercy to Cain. Even though Cain had done nothing to deserve it, the Lord placed a mark of protection on Cain so that people would not harm him.
The next words in the Bible are very sad ones. (Read Genesis 4:16.) What great sadness sin had brought into Cain’s life! Cain had ignored God’s one way and chose to go his own way. He refused to admit his sin and come God’s way for forgiveness.
Will you come to God His way for forgiveness of your sin? Sooner or later sin always brings unhappiness and it separates you from God and His goodness. But God loves you and has provided the one way for you to be forgiven. Instead of trying to take care of your sin your own way, put your faith in Jesus. Believe what God has said and trust in Jesus as your Savior. (Read John 3:16.) If you will believe, trust completely, in Jesus and what He’s done for you, you won’t have to perish—be separated from God forever. You will be forgiven and have everlasting life—a new life with God that starts now and continues forever. Will you believe in Jesus as your Savior today? Please bow your head and close your eyes. If you would like to know more about believing in Jesus as your Savior, show me by looking up at me. (Acknowledge responses.) You may all open your eyes. Those of you who looked up may meet me (designate time and location) and I can show you more from God’s Word about what it means to believe in Jesus.