Introduction to Today’s Story: God had placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the garden and told Adam that he and his wife could eat of every tree except that one. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, tragic consequences followed — their spirits became darkened and fellowship with God was broken. They hid from Him. They had turned their God-given dominion over to Satan, and humankind began a downward spiral as did nature. Although God came to their rescue, because of their fallen nature they had to leave the Garden of Eden and live under the curse. The far-reaching consequences of their sin affected all of humankind. We’ll see that sin nature spilling over into their own family when their firstborn son, Cain, commits the first murder recorded in the Bible.
Finding Nuggets
- What did Cain do when he sinned? Why do you think he did that?
- Why do you think Cain killed his brother?
- Have you ever been jealous of a brother, sister, or friend? If so, why?
Digging Deeper
- Many Bible stories are about how families dealt with each other and God. Do you think that the way people get along with each other says something about their relationship with God?
- After Cain killed Abel, God began by asking Cain questions such as, “Where is your brother?” and “What have you done?” God also asked questions after Adam sinned in Genesis 2. Why do you think God did this instead of just telling Cain He knew that he had killed his brother?
- Cain felt that God was unfair to him and favored Abel. Most people today see their sins as reactions to injustice of the world or unfairness of others. How do you handle situations when you feel you aren’t treated fairly by people or by God? What do you think this reveals about your heart?
What did the storyteller do that made the greatest impact for you in this story?
Today’s Story
Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!” Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.
When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground. When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?”
“I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood. No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him. So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
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