Cain And Abel

Bible Text:
Genesis 4:1-17

 

God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and into the world to live and work. When they lived in the garden they could talk to God face to face. They would spend time in the evenings walking and fellowshipping with Him. But since sin had come between them, they could no longer do this. They were no longer free to enjoy this privilege. God is a holy God and sin separates man from Him. Now when they came to God they had to build an alter made out of rocks. On the alter they would place an offering or a gift for God, then they would burn it. After that they would pray to God.
For a while it was just the two of them, they were all alone. After a while Eve gave birth to a baby boy. They named him Cain. Several years later, Eve gave birth to second baby boy and they named him Abel. Later on Adam and Eve had other children, sons and daughters.

Genesis 4:1-2 NKJV
“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.”

The boys grew up playing and sharing with each other just like brothers do today. When they were old enough they helped their father work. Cain chose to work in the fields, raising grains and fruits and vegetables. He became a farmer. Abel chose to work with the sheep and the other livestock. He became a shepherd. Each one of them doing the work that they liked best.
One day the brothers decided to give an offering to God. Cain brought some fruit and some grain that he had grown and placed it on the alter. Abel brought the firstborn of his sheep from his flock, killed it, and burned it on the alter.

Genesis 4:3-6 NKJV
“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.”

Abel offered the very best that he had to God and God was very pleased. God respected Abel and his offering. However, He did not respect Cain or his offering because it was a “token” offering. Cain had not given his very best to God nor had given it for the right reasons.

Genesis 4:6-7 NKJV
“So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen?
If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Cain became very angry and jealous. “Why are you angry?” asked God. “Why are you frowning and sulking? If you do well I will accept you too. But if you do not do well you will be overtaken by sin.”
God told Cain that he could get it right. He didn’t have to be angry because he could do well if he chose to. God was giving Cain another chance to make things right concerning his offering.

Genesis 4:8 NKJV
“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.”

One day while the two brothers were in a field together Cain and Abel talked with each other. Then Cain picked up something from the ground and hit his brother in the head. The blow was so hard that Abel instantly fell to the ground and all of his blood flowed out of the wound unto the ground. In moments Able lay dead at his brother’s feet. Cain had been so angry that he had allowed the sin of jealousy to so consume him that he murdered his very own brother.

Genesis 4:9-12 NJKV
“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.”

A short time later Cain heard they voice of God, “Where is Abel your brother?”
Angrily Cain replied, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
“What have you done Cain?” asked God. “The voice of your brother’s blood cried out to Me from the ground.”

Genesis 4:13-14 NKJV
“And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear!
Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me.”

When confronted with his sin, Cain still would not admit guilt nor remorse. “Cain, you are cursed from the ground, which has opened it’s mouth to receive your brother’s blood shed by you!” said God. “From now on you will wander about the land like a fugitive and you will have no permanent home.”
Cain was not sorry for what he had done, but he was upset about his punishment. “My punishment is greater than I can bear! You are driving out of this land and away from You. I will be like a man on the run and I won’t have any place to call my home. I will probably be killed by someone else.” complained Cain. He was afraid that his other sisters and brothers might try to take vengeance into their own hands.

Genesis 4:15-17 NKJV
“And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch.”

So God gave a command for no one to kill Cain, and He put a mark on Cain so that people would know it was him. Then Cain went out from the presence of God and lived in the land of Nod, which was on the east side of Eden.

 

Memory Verse
“Now Cain talked with Abel his brother, and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose against Abel his brother and killed him.”
Genesis 4:8

 

Life Application
Anger can cause a person to sin.

 

Review Questions
1. Why did God send Adam and Eve out of the garden?

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2. While in the garden, Adam and Eve would spend time in the evenings walking and ________________________ with God.

3. Sin ________________________ man from God.

4. What were the names of Eve’s sons?

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5. What offering did Cain give to God?

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6. What offering did Abel give to God?

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7. Why did Cain kill Abel?

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8, God gave Cain another ______________________ to make things right concerning his offering.

9. Cain allowed the sin of __________________ to consume him.

10. Cain was not sorry for what he had done, but he was upset about what?

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Hannah

 

Bible Text:

1 Samuel 1:1-20

 

1 Samuel 1:1- 4 NKJV

“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. And he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. This man went up from his city yearly to worship and sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. Also the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters.”

Hannah, one of two wives of Elkanah, had no children, although she had been married for some time. Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, had children.
Each year the family would faithfully go to Shiloh and worship and offer a sacrifice to God. Elkanah loved Hannah very much, even though she did not have any children. Elkanah treated Hannah very kindly and special. He even gave her a double portion of the offering to give to God. However, Peninnah was not so nice to Hannah. She made fun of Hannah because she did not have any children.

1 Samuel 1:5-8 NKJV

“But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival also provoked her severely, to make her miserable, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

Year after year Peninnah teased Hannah so much that Hannah even lost her appetite. Her childlessness affected her whole outlook on life. She was so depressed and sad. In her bitterness and misery she could not see her many blessings, such as God’s goodness in giving her a loving husband.
In the house of God, Hannah cried out to God, asking the Lord to give her a son. She earnestly, specifically, and believingly prayed to Him. Hannah was praying so hard that her lips were moving but she wasn‘t making a sound., Eli, the priest, accused her of being drunk.

1 Samuel 1:9-14 NKJV

“So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!”

Hannah explained to Eli, the priest, that she was not drunk, but praying, because she was very sad. Knowing that God would surely do what was best for Hannah, Eli told her to go in peace. Eli reminded Hannah that as she brought her request to God in faith, she could have peace knowing that He would answer in the way best for her.

1 Samuel 1:15-18 NKJV

“But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”

Eli knew that God would answer Hannah’s prayer in His own perfect way, so he told her to go in peace. After Hannah prayed and Eli spoke to her she was no longer sad or unhappy. She went her way rejoicing, knowing that God had truly heard her prayer. The next morning Elkanah and his family returned home.
God answered Hannah’s prayer in time and gave her a son. She named the baby Samuel, which means “Heard by God.”

1 Samuel 1:19-20 NKJV

“Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

 

Memory Verse: 1 Samuel 1:13

 

Life Application: God hears our silent cries.

 

Review

1. Hannah had no ________________, although she had been married for some time.

2. Each year Hannah’s family would go to Shiloh and ________________ and offer a sacrifice to God.

3. Hannah’s husband treated her very kindly and ______________.

4. Peninnah was not ________ to Hannah. She made fun of Hannah because she did not have any children.

5. Hannah cried out to God, asking the Lord to give her a ______.

6. Hannah explained to Eli, the priest, that she was not drunk, but ______________, because she was very sad.

7. Eli told her to go in peace because God would ____________in the way best for her.

8. Hannah went her way ________________, knowing that God had truly heard her prayer.

9. God answered Hannah’s prayer in ________ and gave her a son.

10. Hannah named the baby ____________, which means “Heard by God.”

David and Goliath

Bible Text:
1 Samuel 17:17-24
1 Samuel 17:36-37
1 Samuel 17:40
1 Samuel 17:49

1 Samuel 17:17-24 NKJV
“Then Jesse said to his son David, “Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.” Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.”

Jessie sent his son David to check on his brothers who were at war with the Philistine army. The Israelites and the Philistine army faced each other on opposite sides of a steep valley. Each day for forty days a giant, name Goliath, would stand in the valley and mock and challenge the Israelites. All of the Israelites were afraid of Goliath.

As David arrived at the battlefield he heard Goliath uttering negative things about God. Deep within David he was moved with a holy anger. He asked the men, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of God?” David knew that he could defeat this giant with God’s help so he asked for permission to fight Goliath.

1 Samuel 17:36-37 NKJV
“Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

1 Samuel 17:40 NKJV
“Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine.”

After receiving permission to fight, David gathered five smooth stones from a brook. With only his pocket of rocks and a slingshot, David ran down into the valley. He prepared for battle by placing one stone in his slingshot. As Goliath and David approached each other, Goliath mocked David. The taunts did not intimate David. He was confident that God would deliver him and the Israelites.

1 Samuel 17:49 NKJV
“Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.”

David slung the stone in his sling, hitting the giant between the eyes. The stone sunk into Goliath forehead causing him to fall to the ground. David quickly grabbed Goliath’s sword and cut off the giant’s head. Upon seeing Goliath dead the Philistine army fled. The Israelites chased and killed them, then plundered their camp.

 

 

Questions and Fill-In-The Blanks
1. Why did Jesse send David to his brothers?

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2. Why were the men afraid of Goliath?

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3. What type of things was Goliath saying?

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4.Why was David sure that he could defeat Goliath?

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5. What did David pick up from the brook?

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6. How did David kill the giant?

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7. Upon seeing the giant dead, what did the armies do?

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