In this lesson, students learn how precious life is.
Devotion
Genesis 4:15 “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.”
After Cain killed Abel, he received a punishment he considered too great to bear. But instead of genuine regret, he feared retribution from his fellow man: “It will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me” (2:14).
Although Cain sought no spiritual healing for his sin, the Lord of mercy did offer him a temporal promise: “Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.”
Whether God gave Cain a visible mark or not is secondary to the point that Cain had to repeat these words in order for the mark to have meaning.
For the rest of his days, Cain would teach his children adulterated accounts of creation, the fall, and what happened between him and the rest of the family they did not go visit and see. But no matter how he wanted to avoid and confuse God’s truth, Cain had to repeat with his mouth this one true Word of God: “Whoever kills me, God will punish sevenfold.”
‘What God? The one you said we don’t believe in?’
Here you see how God marks every religion of man with a tragic inconsistency. There are no atheists in foxholes. Jesus points out that the self-contradiction foretells its own end: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation” (Luke 11:17). Yet Jesus suffered on a cross as if it was His story did not add up, so that in His resurrection you might find freedom from every punishment your sins deserve.
It can be wearying to listen to the false tales with which each day out about abounds. When do you speak up? When do you hold your tongue?
There is nothing wrong with a bit of patience: “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). The best moment is when that inconsistency can no longer be ignored and they can’t help but be humbled enough to ask what you think.
Just as Cain was trapped into admitting and repeating at least one true thing was true, listen for that truth, and when you hear it, agree. And keep speaking of the Word made flesh, “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
The lesson
4 The man was intimate with Eve, his wife. She conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have gotten a man with the Lord.”[a] 2 She also gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel.
Abel tended sheep, but Cain worked the ground. 3 As time passed, one day Cain brought an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the soil. 4 Abel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord looked favorably on Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not look favorably on Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and his face showed it.
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why do you have that angry look on your face?[b] 7 If you do good, will you not be lifted up? If you do not do good, sin is crouching at the door. It has a strong desire for you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Cain said to Abel, his brother, “Let’s go into the field.”[c] When they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel, his brother, and killed him.
9 The Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel, your brother?”
He said, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the soil. 11 Now you are cursed and sent away from the soil[d] which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the soil, it will no longer give its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear. 14 Look, today you have driven me away from the soil. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 The Lord said to him, “No![e] If anyone kills Cain, he will face sevenfold revenge.” And the Lord appointed a sign for[f] Cain, so that anyone who found him would not strike him down.
16 Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod,[g] east of Eden.
17 Cain was intimate with his wife. She conceived and gave birth to Enoch. Cain built a city and named the city after his son Enoch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq_AH_728WU
Note the video adds words to try to explain why Abel's offering was acceptable. There is no Scriptural evidence supporting their attempt.
Pronounced ir עִ֔יר
Kretzman says fortification. It is interesting that the only murderer was afraid of being murdered.
Cain leadeth Abel to death, by James Tissot, c. 1900