Genesis 4
The Missing Sons
When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. They chose to believe a lie rather than believe the truth of God. God told them ahead of time that there would be consequences if they did not follow His instructions. In the picture I used in the prier lesson, it seems as though they are being looked at in a condemning way by the angels of God. I believe God was saddened by what He had to do, the reason I feel that way is because, when parents have to correct their children, it causes the parent's pain too. God himself, out of love, made clothing for them out of lambskins. This was proof of God's continual love for them.
Adam and Eve would soon after have their own children. They taught them about God and how important it is to obey Him. They told them of how they once lived in a beautiful garden and all about the creation of the world. They were taught how to resist sin and to follow after God. They spent many years raising them. They would discover that their children would sometimes not listen and they would correct them. Perhaps they told them about the time they disobeyed God in the garden and what that disobedience cost them. Loving parents, not perfect, but loving, told them about God. They also taught them about the blood sacrifice. God required a blood sacrifice of a young he lamb without spot for the temporary covering of their sin. They grew up practicing that yearly requirement.
Their two sons, Cain and Able, grew into men. Time came for the yearly sacrifice. Cain, the eldest, decided He would offer to God, the fruit of the ground rather than a blood sacrifice required. He wanted to honor God in His own way. This was disobedience to the command of God, for a spotless he-lamb to be sacrificed. Jealousy raged in Cain's heart as He witnessed His brothers offering being accepted before the Lord and His rejected. Then was when He thought to kill His brother at the opportune time. He hated Able because He was zealous in his obedience to the Lord and he, himself had fallen short.
Cain waited for he and his brother to be alone in the field and he killed Able with a deadly blow most likely to the head. It was the first murder, the first shedding of human blood to hit the ground in world history. He hid his brother's body maybe even buried it in the field. Then soon after Cain heard the voice of God. " Cain, where is your brother Able?" Cain answered, "Am I my brother's keeper?" He tried to act innocent before God, but God already knew what Cain had done. God heard Able's blood cry from the ground. God then cursed Cain that the earth would not yield a crop for him. He would be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth. He had to leave his home.
It had to be one of the saddest days in life for Adam and Eve, they had lost both Sons in one day. Perhaps they just came up missing. Maybe they stumbled upon their dead son's body. I'm not sure Cain could have faced them to tell them what He had done. This one thing I do know, there had to be many days of tears and sorrow over the loss of both of them. Maybe they just came up missing and no one ever knew what happened until the writing of inspired scripture.
There is no yearly sacrifice required. Why? Because Jesus died for mankind on a cruel cross for our sins and we are no longer under the old law, but under Christ. God offers forgiveness to all who will believe and trust Christ. God blesses those who obey and follow Him and He chastises those who are contrary.
He chastens those He loves.
But young people please remember that there are consequences for the choices we make in life. Everything we do affects somebody else good or bad. There are millions of missing people in the world.
Who knows why, maybe it started with jealousy, guilt or just not wanting to follow the rules. With Cain, it was different because He was a murderer. There are some out there missing, realizing for the first time - that there's no place like home. They wish they were back home but they forgot the way.
Cain's rebellion turned to murdering His innocent brother. We need to stay close to God in our hearts and our attitudes that we would not be taken over by hateful or evil emotions. Christ is the strength in our hearts to overcome these things.
Father God,
I pray in the name of Jesus your Son, that you will open the hearts of those listening today.
That they will understand your love and your forgiveness. I pray you will help them know how to forgive their parents or whoever it is they are angry with. I pray they would not be controlled by wrong thoughts and desires, but rather desire to please you with their lives. I pray they will recognize the consequences of choosing to do wrongly. I pray they will seek a right relationship with you.
I pray if they need salvation through Christ, that you would turn to you for salvation today.
In Christ Name, Amen
Susan Nikitenko
May 2nd, 2017
Cain And Able Lesson
Genesis 4:3-5
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Titus 3:2-4
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Follow Here: The Missing Peace
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