Scripture Reference: Genesis 4:1-16, With Abel, God came first.

He gave God
25 the firstborn lambs and the best of his
flock. The Lord accepted and welcomed
Story Overview: Two of Adam and this offering.
Eve’s sons were Cain (a farmer) and
Abel (a shepherd). Abel was faithful and Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered
offered the best meat from his best lamb God a better sacrifice than Cain did.”
in his flock to God as a sacrifice. Cain Abel believed and trusted God so fully
offered some produce from his crops as that he was glad to give the best he had.
his offering to God. God was pleased Perhaps Cain brought his offering
with Abel’s sacrifice but not with Cain’s. unwillingly because he thought he had
This made Cain so angry that he killed to. Then he was angry and disappointed
his own brother, Abel. In punishment when he found that God did not want
God banished Cain from the area he that kind of worship.
knew as home.

Suggested Emphasis or Genesis 4:7 indicates that God gave Cain

Theme: God wants us to always do our a second chance to obey. But instead of
best when we serve Him just like Abel taking God’s advice, Cain became angry
did. and murdered his brother. Cain was now
openly rebellious.
Background Study:
When God asked Cain where Abel was,
Adam and Eve followed God’s even though He knew the answer, God
instructions to multiply and fill the earth may have been giving Cain the
when first Cain, and then Abel were opportunity to confess and repent. But
born. Cain became a farmer and Abel Cain’s rebellion continued as he denied
became a shepherd. The name “Cain” knowing where Abel was.
comes from a Hebrew word meaning
make or get. Here that word is God pronounced a curse on Cain and his
translated “Brought forth”. To put it into labours that caused Cain to express
English, Eve said, “With the help of the great anguish—but not repentance. Cain
Lord I have gotten a man, so I will call complained that his punishment was too
him Gotten.” much. The ground would not favour him
with good crops, God would not look on
The name “Abel” means a breath, a sigh, him with favour, and anyone who saw
or a trifle—almost nothing. We are not him might kill him because he was a
told why Eve chose that name. When murderer. Apparently Adam and Eve
they were grown, Abel was in the had other children by this time, and
profession of raising sheep; Cain worked perhaps grandchildren. Even then God
the soil. showed His continuing love by placing a
protective mark on Cain before he went
We don’t know if God instructed Adam’s out from the presence of the Lord and
family to bring Him specific animal lived in a land called Nod (the land of
sacrifices, even though later (in wandering). Wandering about and
Leviticus) certain types of sacrifices unable to make a living from the ground,
were specified. Both boys brought Cain would be a warning to others not to
sacrifices to the Lord from the fruits of commit murder.
their labour, but Abel brought the best top
from his flock and the Lord was pleased.  What happened before this story?
It was “a more excellent sacrifice” (Heb.  What happens after this story?
11:4, KJV). The Genesis account isn’t
clear as to why Cain’s faith and attitude  List of all Bible stories and themes
on this website.
displeased God. Cain presented some of
the things that grew on his farm. It is
Way to Introduce the Story:
not said that he loved God enough to
give the first and the best, as Abel did.

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Collect pairs of objects of which one is Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go
new or in good shape and the other is out in the field.” While they were in the
old or worn (one nice and one faded and field, Cain attacked Abel and killed him.
torn shirt, one nice apple and one Cain did not get rid of his jealousy, and
scarred or bruised one, (if you dare!) he became so angry that all his anger
one clean sock and one dirty one, etc.) just “boiled up” inside.
Show the first pair to the children. “If
you were coming to my house to eat, God spoke to Cain again. “Where is your
which one of these apples would you like brother Abel?”
to eat? The nice one or the rotten one?”

(Let the children answer.) “I don’t know,” said Cain. “Am I

supposed to keep track of my brother all
“Why wouldn’t you want the rotten the time?”
apple?” Now use another pair of objects.
“If you were going to wear your socks But God knew what Cain had done.
when someone very special walked by, “Your brother’s blood cries out to me
which would you rather wear?” Go from the ground, Cain. You are under a
through each of the objects. “If we were curse. From now on, it won’t do you any
to give something to God should it be good to be a farmer because nothing you
second best or should it be the very plant will grow. You will just wander
best? (Let children answer) In today’s around the earth.”
lesson we are going to learn about two
brothers who gave God gifts. Only one “My punishment is more than I can
brother gave his very best.” bear,” said Cain. “I will wander around
and whoever finds me will kill me.”

The Story: God put a special mark on Cain so that

no one would kill him. And Cain went to
After Adam and Eve were told to leave live in a new land.
the Garden of Eden they found a place to
live where they could grow crops and Ways to Tell the Story:
raise animals. They had children. The
name of one son was Cain, and the name
of another son was Abel. This story can be told using a variety of
methods. Always remain true to the
facts found in the Bible but help children
Cain and Abel brought offerings to God.
connect to its meaning by using drama,
God was very pleased with Abel’s
visual aids, voice inflection, student
offerings, but God was not pleased with
interaction and/or emotion.
Cain’s offering.

Be selective. Each teacher is unique so

Evidently, Cain did not give God the best
only use the illustrations that best relate
that he had, and Cain was upset when
to the way YOU are telling the story in
god did not accept his offering. He may
THIS lesson. Too many illustrations can
have thought something like this, “why
be confusing so eliminate any that cover
does God like Abel’s offering and not
other stories or details you do not wish
mine? That’s not fair!” How do you
to emphasise in this lesson.
think Cain felt toward Abel? (Let
children respond) God knew Cain was
angry, so He talked to him. “Cain, why Review Questions:
are you so angry? If you do right, I’ll
accept you. But if you don’t do right, you 1. What were the names of Adam and
will sin.” God knew that if Cain did not Eve’s first sons that are mentioned in
stop being angry and jealous, he would the bible? Cain and Abel
do something terribly wrong. 2. What were Cain and Abel’s jobs?
Cain-farmer and Abel-shepherd

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3. What does it mean to give God a for the needy, money for a
sacrifice? To give something valuable benevolence project, stamps to help
to God send correspondence courses, etc.)
4. What did Abel offer God as a
sacrifice? The firstborn of the flock  As a class, make a list of things you
(one of the lambs born first because can do to be helpful to friends,
they were the best ones) parents, teachers, etc. Have each
5. What did Cain offer to God? Some of child choose a task and give them the
the fruit from his crops challenge to complete it by the next
6. Which brother gave his sacrifice class period.
because he had faith in God? Abel  Check the Teaching Ideas page on
7. What did Cain do to Abel when God this website for ideas that are
liked Abel’s sacrifice better? He adaptable to any lesson.
killed Abel
8. What was Cain’s punishment? He
had to leave his family and wander
around the rest of his life.

Craft and Activity Ideas:

(How to choose the best learning

activities for my teaching situation)
 Half fill one clear glass with water.
Half fill an identical clear glass with
white vinegar. Tell the children that
these glasses represent Cain and
Abel’s hearts. (Point to the glass of
water) Abel’s heart was good and he
wanted to give his best to God. (Put a
drop or two of green food colouring
in the vinegar glass and give it a stir.)
The green glass represents Cain’s
heart. He was jealous of his brother
and he didn’t give his best to God.
Let’s see what happens to their
hearts when they gave gifts to God.
Ask one child to put a teaspoon of
baking soda in the glass of water
(nothing will happen to the water).
Abel gave his gift and God was
pleased. Abel felt good in his heart
because he knew he had given his
best. Now let’s see what happened to
Cain’s heart. (Have another child put
a teaspoon of baking soda in the
green vinegar glass). As the water
bubbles and boils talk about how
jealousy made Cain’s heart upset and
angry.
 Bring cleaning supplies and let the
children clean the classroom. God
gave us a wonderful place to study
His word. Let’s do our best to keep it
clean to show God that we want to
give our best.
 Decide on an item to bring next week
to help in God’s work (a tin of food
for the benevolence pantry, clothing
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