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For Children · Lesson 4 · A. In the Beginning — Genesis 1–11

Cain and Abel

Read together in your Bible: Genesis 4 (King James Version)

Memory Verse — Hide It in Your Heart
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32 · KJV

Say it together morning and night until you know it by heart — these are the very words of God.

The Story

Adam and Eve had two sons. The older son was Cain, who worked in the fields and grew food from the ground. The younger son was Abel, who kept sheep. Both brothers brought gifts to God. Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground. Abel brought the first and best of his flock. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, but He was not pleased with Cain and his offering.

Cain became very angry, and his face showed it. But God spoke kindly to Cain and warned him before things got worse. God asked him, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?" God told Cain that sin was waiting at the door, like a wild animal ready to pounce, and that Cain must rule over it instead of letting it rule him. Cain still had a choice. He could have turned back, asked God for forgiveness, and brought a better offering with a better heart. God was giving him time to stop and do right before jealousy became something far worse.

Sadly, Cain did not listen. Later, when the two brothers were out in the field together, Cain rose up against Abel and killed him. It was the first time one person killed another, and it began with anger that Cain would not let go.

Then the LORD spoke to Cain and asked where Abel was. Cain answered with hard, unkind words: "Am I my brother’s keeper?" God told Cain that Abel’s blood cried out to Him from the ground. Cain would be punished: the ground would no longer grow well for him, and he would wander restlessly on the earth. Cain was afraid that others would kill him, so God, in mercy, put a mark on Cain to protect him, and Cain went away from God’s presence.

Afterwards God gave Adam and Eve another son, named Seth, and people began to call on the name of the LORD again. Cain’s story is a sad warning: anger and jealousy grow quickly if we feed them. God wants us to stop, listen to Him, give Him our best, and be kind to our brothers and sisters instead.

The Big Truth

God wants us to give Him our best and to be kind to our brothers and sisters.

What We Learn

  1. God is pleased when we give Him our best with a willing, loving heart.
  2. Anger and jealousy are dangerous — God wants us to rule over sin, not let sin rule us.
  3. God wants us to be kind and tenderhearted to our brothers, sisters, and friends, and to forgive them.

Talk About It

  1. How did Cain feel when God was pleased with Abel’s offering? What did God tell Cain to do about it?
  2. What can you do when you start to feel angry or jealous, before the feeling grows bigger?
  3. Who is one person you can be extra kind to this week, the way God wants you to be?

Fun to Do

Make a Kindness Keeper Card! Fold a card and draw two brothers or sisters standing together kindly. Inside, write the memory verse with a grown-up’s help. Then think of one kind thing you can do for your brother, sister, or friend today — help them, share with them, or say sorry if you need to — and do it before bedtime.

Let’s Pray

Dear God, please help me not to let anger grow in my heart. Help me to give You my best and to be kind to my family and friends. Amen.

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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
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