Genesis 4: 1-16 (summarized)
Just after Adam and Eve had to leave the garden of Eden, they were very sad about disobeying God. They asked God how they could show Him how sorry they were. God told them that they could show Him how they felt by sacrificing a lamb, which they did.
After awhile, Adam and Eve had two sons. Their first son was called Cain and their second was called Abel. Cain was a farmer. He grew vegetables and grains. Abel was a shepherd who looked after the family's herds. Cain and Abel were like most siblings they didn't always get along. But they were brothers and loved each other very much, despite their occasional fights.
Adam and Eve (their mom and dad) told Cain and Abel about the message God gave them that they should sacrifice a lamb to God to show how much they appreciated all He'd done and how sorry they were for their sins.
Abel was very concerned that his sacrifice be special to God. He chose his first and best lamb and offered it to the Lord. It was hard for Abel to give up his most prized possession, but it was important to him to try his best to do as God had asked.
Cain thought his little brother was a bit silly for giving up his best lamb. "Good grief," he thought. "We need that lamb, God doesn't. I'm sure He'd be just as happy if we sacrificed the runt of the litter. In fact, why does it need to be a lamb at all? I'm a farmer and it's been a great year for my wheat crop -- I can't use everything I've grown. Why don't I just burn some of the extra straw I have. That way, I won't be wasting any."
Cain's reasoning sounds pretty good when you first hear it, doesn't it?
Cain watched as the lamb burnt up completely on the altar, while his left over straw just smoldered a bit and never really caught fire at all.
That could mean only one thing! God preferred Abel.
Cain was jealous! He didn't take the time or the responsibility to realize that it was his decision to sacrifice straw that caused the difference in God's response to their sacrifices. Instead, he just got angry at his brother.
Cain asked Abel to go for a walk with him, and while he was still angry, Cain struck Abel to the ground and killed him. When Cain realized what he'd done, he was more concerned that someone might have seen what he'd done than he was sorry for his brother's death. He looked around and sighed a breath of relief that no one was nearby.
And then the Lord spoke, "Cain, where is your brother." Cain shrugged, "I don't know! Am I my brother's keeper?" God replied, "Cain, how could you be so cruel to your only brother. He has done nothing, but try his best for Me, for his parents... and for you."
Cain fell to the ground sobbing. Finally, he felt the horror of what he'd done. And he had to live with that feeling and the knowledge that he'd killed his little brother for the rest of his life.
Discussion Questions
- Adam and Eve had two sons. What are their names? Cain and Abel
- Which son was the farmer? Cain, he grew vegetables and grains.
- What was Abel? A Shepherd
- Why did Cain kill Abel? Cain was jealous of Abel. He thought Abel was God’s favorite
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for our families. Please help us to be kind to our brothers and sisters every day.
Amen.
Bible Verse for September
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
Outdoor Family Fun
The next time you go to the grocery store, help your child tell you what items Cain might have grown (fruits and vegetables) and what items Abel might have raised (meat that comes from animals). Ask your child which items look best. Note that Abel gave his very best, which made God happy.
Homespun idea
Help your preschooler learn to give the best he or she has to someone else. Each time something needs to be cut or divided into pieces, suggest to your child that he or she give the bigger piece to another person. Help your child understand this action as a way of showing love for family members or politeness toward guests
Daily Challenge
This week, your child learned that God wants us to love our families. Encourage you child to commit to one of the following challenges to show love to his or her family in daily life. Help your child weave faith into life this week and follow through on the challenges.
- Share a toy with someone in your family.
- Help each person in your family with a chore.
- When you go to breakfast in the morning ,give everyone in your family a big hug.
