INTRODUCTION:  Abel and Cain give the original contrast between good and evil.  Abel obeyed God and was accepted of Him.  Cain came up with a better idea and displeased God.  But instead of getting things right, Cain took matters into his own hands and murdered his own brother.  This world is still divided into those who submit to God’s plan and those who are determined to do things their own way.  This lesson teaches obedience and the importance of doing things God’s way.

1. THE SONS OF ADAM & EVE (Genesis 4:1-2 [1] And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
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1. Their Birth (Genesis 4:1-2 [1] And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. [2] And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
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1. Cain (means possession)
1. When Eve bare Cain and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD, she probably thought that this was the promised seed of Genesis 3:15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
   See All... who would bruise the serpent’s head.
2. Little did she know that this son would serve the serpent and that her woes and the woes of the world were only beginning.
2. Abel (means breath or vapor)
2. Their Vocations (Genesis 4:2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
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1. Abel – a keeper of sheep
2. Cain – a tiller of the ground
2. THE OFFERINGS OF CAIN AND ABEL (Genesis 4:3-5 [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] 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.
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1. The Offerings Brought (Genesis 4:3-4 [3] And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. [4] 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:
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1. Cain – of the fruit of the ground (Genesis 4:3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
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2. Abel (Genesis 4:4And 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:
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1. Of the firstlings of his flock (the firstborn sheep)
2. Of the fat of his flock (the best sheep)
2. The Offerings Received by God (Genesis 4:4-5 [4] 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.
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1. Abel’s offering respected (Genesis 4:4And 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:
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2. Cain’s offering not respected (Genesis 4:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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3. THE REACTION OF CAIN (Genesis 4:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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1. Cain’s Anger (Genesis 4:5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
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2. God’s Warning (Genesis 4:6-7 [6] And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
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1. Look at the cause of your wrath (Genesis 4:6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
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2. Admit that your sin caused the problem (Genesis 4:7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
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3. Recognize the power and danger of sin (Genesis 4:7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
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3. Cain’s Murder of Abel (Genesis 4:8And 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 slew him.
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1. Cain talked with Abel
2. Cain slew Abel
4. THE JUDGMENT OF CAIN (Genesis 4:9-15 [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. [13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. [15] And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
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1. The Lord Seeks Cain (Genesis 4:9-10 [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
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1. Cain’s denial of responsibility (Genesis 4:9And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
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2. Abel’s blood crying from the ground (Genesis 4:10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
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3. This is the first Biblical reference to blood defiling the land. (see Numbers 35:33So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
   See All...; Psalm 106:38And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
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2. The Lord Curses Cain (Genesis 4:11-12 [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
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1. Cursed from the earth (Genesis 4:11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
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1. Cain’s curse was to lose his livelihood.
2. He was a tiller of the ground (Genesis 4:2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
   See All...) but now the ground would not yield him any fruit.
2. Unable to bring fruit from the ground (Genesis 4:12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
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1. A fugitive and a vagabond in the earth (Genesis 4:12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
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1. A fugitive is one who is fleeing from justice.
2. A vagabond is one who moves from place to place having no fixed abode.
3. The Lord Protects Cain (Genesis 4:13-15 [13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. [15] And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
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1. Cain’s complaint (Genesis 4:13-14 [13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
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2. Cain’s mark (Genesis 4:15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
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1. The mark of Cain has given rise to much speculation.  Many have tried to figure out what the mark was.  The best approach is to take God at his word and not try to discover things He has not revealed.
2. God put a mark on Cain that was easily visible and clearly distinguished him from other men.
3. THE LINE OF CAIN (Genesis 4:16-24 [16] And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. [17] And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. [18] And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. [19] And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. [20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. [21] And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. [22] And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. [23] And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. [24] If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
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1. Cain’s Departure (Genesis 4:16-17 [16] And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. [17] And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
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1. From the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
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1. Cain “went out from the presence of the LORD.”
2. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden of Eden, they did not go very far from the Cherubim which guarded the tree of life.
3. They were still close to the presence of God (Genesis 3:8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
   See All...).  God still spoke to them in an audible voice (Genesis 4:6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
   See All...,9) and they did not think it unusual.
4. But Cain now leaves God’s presence.
2. To the land of Nod (Genesis 4:16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
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3. With his wife who bare Enoch (Genesis 4:17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
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4. Building the city of Enoch (Genesis 4:17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
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2. Cain’s Genealogy (Genesis 4:18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.
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3. The Fruits of Civilization (Genesis 4:19-24 [19] And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. [20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. [21] And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. [22] And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. [23] And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. [24] If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
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1. Bigamy (Genesis 4:19And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
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2. Commerce (Genesis 4:20And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
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3. Music (Genesis 4:21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
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4. Manufacture (Genesis 4:22And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
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5. Lawyers (Genesis 4:23-24 [23] And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. [24] If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
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4. THE REPLACEMENT OF CAIN (Genesis 4:25-26 [25] And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. [26] And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
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1. The Appointed Seed – Seth (Genesis 4:25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
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1. Cain’s murder of Abel was Satan’s first attempt to destroy the godly line that would one day lead to the promised seed.  But it failed.
2. God sent another son, Seth, who would be the appointed seed to carry the line to the Messiah.
2. The Beginning of Prayer (Genesis 4:26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
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1. Up until the time of the birth of Enos, God just spoke to men when He wanted to tell them something.
2. Now, they must learn to pray and “call upon the name of the LORD.”

CONCLUSION:  Sin may start small but it causes big problems in the end.  We can only be saved God’s way and we can only please God by doing things His way.  Are you submitted to God’s plan for you?  When you are caught doing something wrong, do you rebel even more as Cain did or do you confess your sin and submit to God?

David Reagan and Andrew Ray