NBC Sunday School Manual For January 2, 2022 : Topic – JUSTICE, VENGEANCE AND MERCY
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON (NBC)
SUNDAY, 2ND JANUARY, 2022
Background Scripture: Genesis 4
Lesson Scripture: Genesis 4:1-13
JUSTICE, VENGEANCE AND MERCY
GOLDEN TEXT
The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
Genesis 4:10
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
• Explain the reasons God accepted the offering of Abel;
• Discuss the dangers of allowing sin to control us;
• Repent of thoughts and actions that could harm others and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness.
INTRODUCTION
Recently, I read an article in a Christian magazine with the title “Do the Right Thing.” The concluding part of the article was about the breaking of rules or the manifestation of ungodly attitude and its negative consequences. It was the story of two friends who worked in the same office. While one was faithful, hardworking, and loved by all, the other was lazy, proud and disrespectful. At the end of the year, the diligent brother was rewarded with a cash gift and letter of commendation. Instead of the other brother to rejoice and thank God for him, he connived with some notorious boys in the community to abduct him. To the glory of God, security agents foiled the attempt. Not only did he lose his job, he was also arrested and jailed.
Adam and Eve continued to live as husband and wife after their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The Scripture says that Adam knew his wife, Eve and they had two sons: Cain, a farmer and his brother Abel, a shepherd. In the course of time, each of them brought offerings to God. While God accepted Abel’s offering, Cain’s was rejected. Cain became embittered against his brother and finally killed him while in the field. God condemned his act of wickedness and placed a curse on him. He will be restless and become a wanderer on the surface of the earth. The focal point of today’s lesson is the danger of uncontrolled anger and envy. Anger and envy can bring about estrangement and finally end in murder like the case of Cain, in today’s lesson, who killed his brother, Abel as a result of envy.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. The Offerings of Cain and Abel Genesis 4:1-5
God’s original plan for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was exceptional. It was a life free of struggle and suffering. Unfortunately, they lost all these when they disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. Consequently, God pronounced His judgment on them. They were sent out of the garden and made to cultivate the soil from which they were made (Genesis 3:23). According to chapter 4verse 1, Adam lay with his wife and she became pregnant. She bore her first-born son and named him Cain, which by interpretation means ‘with the help of the Lord, I have brought forth a son.’ She also gave birth to another son, Abel, which means breath or temporary. While Cain was a professional farmer, his brother Abel was a keeper of sheep. In the course of time, both of them offered sacrifices to God. While Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord, Abel brought fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. Notably, the fat portions, which Abel brought from his firstborn flock distinguished his offering from Cain’s, thus, it pleased the Lord. Cain became furious with his brother, having seen that his (Abel’s) offering was accepted, and began to look for ways to eliminate him.
The reason for God’s acceptance of Abel’s offering and the rejection of Cain’s is based on the worth of their offerings. Abel presented “A more excellent sacrifice” which was offered through faith. In other words, he offered the best part of his flock to God. Rather than offering to God remnants, he brought the first and best in recognition of the fact that God owns everything. This qualified him to be one of the heroes of faith. He was commended as a righteous man and God spoke well of his offering (Hebrews 11:4). Whatever we offer to God in faith is accepted and rewarded like Abel’s offering. We should know that God owns our possessions; therefore, nothing should be withheld from Him. We should strive to offer the best of our time and possessions to Him rather than the remnants. Without doubt, such sacrifices attract the blessings of God.
DISCUSSION TIME
• Why did God accept Abel’s offering but reject that of Cain and what lessons does this teach believers?
• How did Cain and Abel’s attitude affect the offerings they offered to God?
B. The Sin of Anger and Envy Genesis 4:6-8
Cain became envious and bitter in his heart towards his brother, Abel. He was angry that Abel’s offering was preferred, without knowing the reason why. Of course, God knew the intent of his heart and asked him some important questions. God said to him:
• Why are you angry? To be angry is to be enraged or exasperated. It is an emotional feeling from within. Because of the nature of God, He knew that Cain was angry with a desire to hurt his brother, Abel.
• Why is your face downcast? Because of the animosity in his heart, Cain’s countenance changed, looking disappointed and furious.
• If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? (v.7) Cain’s bitterness was born out of jealousy, whereas if he had done what was right by faith, his offering would have been accepted. Nevertheless, God warned him against anger, which would consume him, if he fails to do what is right (v.7b).
The result of Cain’s anger is seen in verse 8 Cain deceived his brother, took him to the field and killed him.
Cain’s offering was rejected because he gave grudgingly, and this made him angry. Despite God’s warning to him to overcome it, he was not ready to submit to the will of God. He had made up his mind to carry out his evil plan against his brother, Abel. Whenever we allow anger and envy to control our lives, the consequences are always grievous. It can lead to malice and separation, strained relationship, fight, and finally murder. Apostle Paul knew the consequences of anger, thus, he warned, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, that they should not let their anger lead them to sin (Ephesians 4:26). Christians should endeavour to tolerate and forgive one another and not keep grudges. We should pray regularly for the grace of God to overcome sin and revenge so that we will not be tempted to act against the will of God like Cain, in today’s lesson.
DISCUSSION TIME
• Why didn’t Cain heed God’s warning? Have you at anytime ignored God’s warning? If yes why?
• What are some consequences of aggression as it relates to the family, schools and driving on our roads?
C. Punishment for Sin Genesis 4:9-13
For every action in life, there is a reaction. When Cain murdered his brother Abel, perhaps he did not know that God was aware. He may have thought that he could hide it from everyone. He forgot that God is both Omniscient and Omnipresent (having the nature to be everywhere at the same time) and so He knows and sees every activity on the earth. God said to him, “Where is your brother Abel?” (v.4b) His answer was a confirmation of his callous and indifferent attitude. “I do not know” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (v.9) A similar question was directed to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, after they disobeyed God’s instruction not to eat from the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:9). Then God said to him, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground” (v.10).God gave a verdict and placed a curse on Cain. God said the ground will no longer be productive because it has soaked his brother’s blood. Furthermore, he will be a homeless wanderer on the earth (v.12). Although he cried that the punishment was too hard for him to bear, his voice was not heard.
The sin of Cain was duly punished though with a promise of divine protection and a mark on him (v. 15). The sins of Cain were grievous; apart from being a murderer, he failed to take responsibility for the death of his brother. Certainly, God knew what Cain had done, even when he gave a defensive answer. Though God convicted him for killing his brother, He did not inflict the punishment (of death) upon him. He only placed a curse on him to the seventh generation. God punished Cain because he allowed his anger to turn to rage and then to murder. Abel’s blood cried for justice and vengeance because he was innocently killed. This is a lesson to Christians to learn to control their anger because God will surely punish every act of wickedness.
DISCUSSION TIME
• What would have been your response if you were in the position of Cain when God asked him of the whereabouts of his brother, Abel?
• What should Cain have done immediately he knew God was aware of what he did to his brother?
Commitment: Based on today’s lesson, make a personal commitment not to seek for vengeance but rather promote justice and mercy.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activities:
• Class members should identify one or two persons with whom they have conflict and find a way of reconciling with them. They are to give report nextweek.
Prayer
• Pray that God will make you an intentional and cheerful giver, so that your offerings will be acceptable unto Him.
• Pray that the Lord will help you get rid of every form of bitterness against everyone who has offended you.
• Ask God to grant you the grace to control your anger when provoked.
Take Home:
Write down three lessons you are taking home from today’s lesson.