Cain and Abel

Cain and Abel

Good morning Class.  Happy Sabbath.

Question of the day: What book or story has had the biggest impact on you (aside from the Bible)?

This morning we are going to tackle two chapters of Genesis.  I hope you had a chance to read, Genesis chapter 4 and 5.  The story we know from Bible story books and even from Spirit of Prophesy has a lot of detail that is not included here in the biblical story.  So for today, we are going to stick with what is here.  It doesn't take away from what we can learn, so I challenge you to look at just what is written here. 

Chapter 4 opens up with Adam and Eve making love and the first born of this earth being born.  Can you imagine that moment.  

Cain, first born and followed by Abel.

We don't know much about them, we don't have a picture of their relationship except that they were different.  

One was the agriculturist, and the other was the zoologist.

Right here from the beginning we see how siblings can be different.  

How are you different from your siblings? 

Are differences good?

What do the differences teach us, when growing up together?

How can and does the Deceiver use those differences?

So, these very different men bring different gifts to God. 

Gifts that reflect who they are.  

Now, we have heard reasons why these gifts were displeasing to God, however....it doesn't say in the scripture why...just that it displeased God.

Now the fact that when this was written, everyone knew what the law was, what kind of offering you were supposed to bring to God, so it is a safe assumption that is why God didn't approve of Cain's gift.

What are some possible reasons that Cain brought produce and not a lamb?

What are some of the reasons that keep us from bringing to God what he is asking you to bring as an offering?

What is it that is keeping you from coming and confessing to God what he is asking you to confess?

Do we see ourselves in Cain?

What happens to Cain when God is displeased with his offering but pleased with Abel's?

Who is Cain angry with?  

Why is it that God is displeased with him but he kills Abel? 

What is wrong with this? 

Why do we often take out our anger on those around us? 

Why didn't he get mad at God? 

He took out his frustration on His "perfect" little brother.  Have you ever been that way with a sibling, or spouse, or child?

"The brighter the heavenly light that is reflected from the character of God's faithful servants, the more clearly the sins of the ungodly are revealed, and the more determined will be their efforts to destroy those who disturb their peace" PP (White)

God comes back and asks Cain, "Where is your brother?"  Obviously God knows so, why does He ask?

What famous line comes next?

"Am I my brother's keeper?"

I find it interesting that Cain didn't just say, "No, I don't know where he is."  Instead, he asked a question.  Have you ever dried to deflect with a question?  

What is his question?

What does being a "brother's keeper" mean?

Perhaps this question highlights his guilt.  

He was not his brother's keeper but his brother's murderer.  The exact opposite. 

How did God respond?

Why didn't God just give him the death penalty? 

Instead, what did he do?

Last week when Adam and Eve sinned and were ashamed, God made them clothes from skins, to cover their shame.

When Cain's offering displeases God, he gets angry at his "good" brother and kills him.  God does what?  He places a mark on him so that no one will kill him.  

He grants him protection. 

REALLY? 

What kind of a God does that? 

Cain even has offspring.  

What are some of the big takeaways from this story? 

What are the life application lessons?

Where do we see the redemptive story?  

Know Love.

Live Love.

Share Love.

God is Love!