1. Lesson 13: God rejected Cain but accepted Abel
Firm Foundations
Lesson 13:
God rejected Cain
but accepted Abel
12There is a way that seems right to a man,        But its end is the way of death.
Memory verse: Proverbs 14:12

2. Introduction How serious is sin?
What if someone refuses to believe God and chooses to disobey Him?
Does a person’s sin affect other people?
Can we work out some way to take care of our sins?
Can people choose their own way to come to God?
Won’t God accept any sincere effort we make?

3. God told Adam’s family what they must do when they came to worship Him
There was no way that Adam, Eve, Cain, or Abel could come to God
God planned a way so that they could come to Him
Isaiah 55:7-9
He must have told Adam and Eve how to come to Him
Adam and Eve probably told their children
God must have told them:
They must bring offering
The animal’s blood must be spilled
Lev. 17:11, Heb 9:22b
Why did God require the blood of an innocent animal?
Romans 6:23a
7Let the wicked forsake his way,        And the unrighteous man his thoughts;        Let him return to the LORD,        And He will have mercy on him;        And to our God,        For He will abundantly pardon.        8"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,        Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.        9"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,        So are My ways higher than your ways,        And My thoughts than your thoughts.
11For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'
22And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. Both Cain and Abel came to offer sacrifices to God
Genesis 4:3-5
They knew God existed
They came to offer sacrifices to Him
James 2:19
3And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
19You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

5. Abel’s offering was accepted by God
Genesis 4:4
Abel brought one of his sheep as an offering to God
Why did Abel bring this offering?
Hebrews 11:4-6
Did God accept Abel’s offering?
Does the blood of animals save us from sin?
Hebrews 10:4
4Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering,
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.     5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him";[a] for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

6. Cain’s offering was rejected by God
Genesis 4:5
Cain brought the things he had grown
God didn’t accept this offering
Why not?
They weren’t good?
God doesn’t like vegetables?
Cain was a worse sinner than Abel?
Answer: Hebrews 11:4-6
5but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.     5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him";[a] for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7. God rejected Cain and his offering because…
Cain didn’t come admitting he was a sinner
He came to God in his own way
Cain did not have faith
Remember God’s rejection of Adam & Eve’s clothing

8. God reasoned with angry Cain
Genesis 4:6,7
God reasoned with Cain
God wanted Cain to come to Him in the right way
Proverbs 1:23
6So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7If 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."
23Turn at my rebuke;        Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;        I will make my words known to you.

9. Cain killed Abel Genesis 4:8
Cain was angry and would not listen to God
Who was leading Cain?
I John 3:12
What does Satan want to do to people?
John 8:44
8Now Cain talked with Abel his brother;[a] and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
12not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.
44You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

10. God pronounced judgment on Cain
Genesis 4:9
Why did God ask this question?
Did God see what Cain did?
Proverbs 15:3
Genesis 4:10-15
God is the avenger of all sin
Sin against people is sin against God
God will punish those who hurt others
What is the punishment for sin?
Romans 6:23a
Genesis 4:16
Cain did not repent
9Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?"
    He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place,        Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
10And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."
    13And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14Surely 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."
    15And the LORD said to him, "Therefore,[a] 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.
23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
16Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.

11. Cain’s descendants Genesis 4:17-24
What does this passage say about their lives?
17And 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. 18To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
    19Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
    23Then Lamech said to his wives:        "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;        Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech!        For I have killed a man for wounding me,        Even a young man for hurting me.        24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,        Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
   

12. God gave Seth to replace Abel
Genesis 4:25
What had God promised to send after Adam and Eve sinned?
The deliverer was to come through the line of Abel
Now, the deliverer would come through the line of Seth
25And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."

13. Conclusion God cares about sinners God cares about you and me
Nothing can stop His plans
Abel believed God. Even though Abel was killed, God still sent a deliverer