The Story of Cain & Abel
Gospel Prompt
Do you think we can learn about Jesus from the story of Abel, a good shepherd who was unjustly slain by his wicked brother, Cain?
Read the Passage
Genesis 4:1-17
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If 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.” 8 Now 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 killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” 13 And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14 Surely 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.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Therefore, 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. 16 Then 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 bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son—Enoch.
Find the Gospel in the Story
LISTEN TO THE STORY OF ABEL
Abel was a righteous man in the line of faith. He represented the righteous Seed of the Woman that God had promised would one day come through Eve (Gen 3:15). He was a godly shepherd and yet also a priest. He offered the best of his flock in sacrifice to the Lord, and the Lord found his sacrifice acceptable.
However, all of this provoked the deadly enmity of Abel’s brother, Cain, who belonged to the seed of the serpent (1 John 3:12; Gen 3:15). The Lord did not find Cain’s sacrifice acceptable. So Cain led Abel out into a field and killed him out of envy. Ironically, although he was a priest, Abel himself became the sacrifice.
In spite of this, the Lord delivered Abel, and Abel spoke through resurrection power beyond the grave (Heb 11:4). After death, Abel’s righteous blood cried out to God for justice against his brother (Gen 4:10).
DID YOU HEAR THE STORY OF JESUS?
Jesus was the righteous Seed of the Woman that God had promised would one day come through Eve (Gen 3:15). He was the Good Shepherd and yet also a Priest. In fact, he was an even greater Priest than Abel, with an even greater sacrifice. Jesus was willing to offer himself in the place of his flock as a sacrifice to the Lord, and the Lord found his sacrifice acceptable once and for all time.
However, all of this provoked the deadly enmity of Jesus’ brethren according to the flesh, the religious leaders in Jerusalem, whom John the Baptist had identified as a “brood of vipers” (Matt 3:7) who belonged to the seed of the serpent (Gen 3:15). The Lord did not find their sacrifices in the temple acceptable. So they led Jesus outside the city and killed him out of envy. Ironically, although he was a priest, Jesus himself became the sacrifice.
In spite of this, the Lord would deliver Jesus, and Jesus would rise through resurrection power from the grave. But while Abel’s blood had cried out to God for justice against his brother, after death, Jesus’ blood would instead cry out to God for mercy for his brethren (Luke 23:34). How rightly does the author of Hebrews proclaim, “The blood of Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb 12:4)!
