Cain murdered Abel
Genesis 4:1 to 16
re-told by Debbie Dunn
Story Highlights:
- * God respected the sacrifice Abel, the younger son of Adam and Eve, offered.
- * Cain, the older son of Adam and Eve, was enraged when God did not respect his sacrifice.
- * Out of jealousy, Cain murdered his younger brother, Abel. God cursed Cain to be a restless wanderer.
Bible role-play begins:
Narrator #1: Sometime after Adam and Eve settled into their new home,
Eve gave birth to their first son.
Narrator #2: Gazing from her baby
to Adam, Eve said:
Eve: Adam, I
am so blessed and grateful that I have obtained a male child with the help of
the LORD.
Adam: That
is wonderful, Eve! Cain will be his name. He can help me work the land as a
farmer when he grows older.
Narrator #1: Later, Eve gave birth to another son. Eve said:
Eve: I am
so blessed and grateful that I have again obtained a male child with the help
of the LORD.
Adam: Abel
will be his name. He can become a shepherd who protects and guards the sheep
when he grows older.
Narrator #2: Like his father
said, Cain became a farmer.
Cain: My name is Cain. I am a farmer. My
father and I grow fruit, grain, and other crops. Phew! It is such hard work
that I don’t have time to relax.
Narrator #1: His younger brother, Abel, was a shepherd. It was his
job to guard the sheep.
Abel: My name is Abel. I am a shepherd. I enjoy guarding and
watching over the male rams, the female sheep, and all those cute little lambs.
Narrator #2: When Cain and Abel
were either in their late teens or early twenties, something tragic happened.
Narrator #1: One day, after Adam and Eve heard some good news, they
called to their kids:
Eve: Cain!
Abel! Exciting news! Father God is coming to visit. In His honor, you must each
prepare a gift.
Adam: Sons!
Make sure your gift is the very best you can make it!
Narrator #2: Based on the clues
in the Bible, we can guess that Cain probably resented having to do any extra
work.
Cain: Well, …, I will collect some
decent-looking fruit to give Father God, BUT, …, He better show some
appreciation for MY hard work!
Narrator #1: What does the Bible say about someone who grumbles and
complains when offering a gift?
Deuteronomy 15:10 You shall freely and generously give to Him,
and your heart shall not be resentful when you give to Him, because for this
generous thing, the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all
your undertakings. (AMP)
Narrator #2: Listen to Luke 12, verse 2, which confirms
that God can see everything we do and hear our thoughts and words.
Luke 12:2-3 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. (NIV)
Narrator #1: Abel, on the other hand, might have said to himself:
Abel: Wow! Father God is going to honor us with His presence!
I hope to please Him by sacrificing to Him my prettiest firstborn lambs.
Narrator #2: God must have been
extra pleased witnessing Abel's thoughts, words, and actions. As 1st
Corinthians 9, verse 7 states, "God loves a cheerful giver."
Narrator #1: Please post the picture of Cain and Abel making their sacrifices.
(See link to page 8 of FREE PDF download below.)
Narrator #2: Listen to Genesis 4,
verses 3-5, to see how God reacted to these two gifts.
Genesis 4:3-5 In the course of time, Cain brought some of
the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an
offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked
with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering, He did not
look with favor. So, Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (NIV)
Narrator #1: As you heard, Cain felt jealous, angry, and resentful.
The Devil might have even whispered these words to help fuel Cain’s rage:
Narrator #2: Father God could
read Cain's negative body language, angry face, and heart. Father God said:
Father God: Cain, why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
Narrator #1: Cain probably turned away and went stomping off. Just
like God said, Cain allowed the Devil to talk him into doing something horrible
in revenge.
Narrator #2: Cain might have put
on a fake happy face later that day. Forcing himself to sound friendly and
calm, he said to his younger brother:
Cain: Abel, let's go to the field and walk
around.
Abel: Okay, Big Brother. Let's go!
Narrator #1: While they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel, killed
him, and then ran away from his dead body.
Narrator #2: The Bible does not
reveal what weapon Cain used to murder his younger brother.
Narrator #1: Since God can see and hear everything that goes on, He
quickly found Cain in his hiding place and asked:
Father God: Cain, where is your brother Abel?
Narrator #2: Cain responded to
God with a lot of attitude by snapping:
Cain: I don't know. Am I my brother's
keeper?
Father God: Cain, what have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.
Narrator #1: Listen to Hebrews 11, verse 4, which describes how Abel's
blood called out to God.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith, he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith, he still speaks, even though he is dead. (NKJV)
Narrator #2: Listen to 1st John
3, verses 11-12, which describes Cain's brutal crime.
1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not 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. (NKJV)
Narrator #1: Father God will now inform Cain of the consequences he
must face for performing this first murder.
Father God: Now, Cain, you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.
Narrator #2: Cain had farmed all
his life. How could he grow food if crops would no longer grow for him? Plus,
where will he go since he can no longer live near his parents?
Narrator #1: Cain gasped in fright and pleaded:
Cain: Father God, my punishment is more
than I can bear! Today, You are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden
from Your presence. I will be a restless wanderer on the earth. And even worse,
whoever finds me will kill me.
Narrator #2: Even though Father
God had to punish Cain, He still loved him dearly. He kindly said:
Father God: Not so. Anyone who kills you, Cain, will suffer vengeance seven times over.
Narrator #1: Then the Lord put some kind of a mark on Cain so that no
one who found him would kill him.
Narrator #2: So, Cain went out
from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
* Possible location of Garden of Eden
END OF SKIT. Let’s give our volunteers a great big hand!
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