Two Brothers and the Flood
- David Fairchild
- Oct 17, 2010
- Series: The Story of God
Recap:
As God created everything, the angels were singing and shouting praises to God. However, one angel in particular became jealous and wanted to receive worship for himself. He convinced 1/3 of the angels (now called demons) to rebel against God and join him. Because God is the only one who is good, right and perfect, He cast them out of His presence into the darkness of the earth to receive final punishment later.
God then continues His creation by making on the earth and in the skies. God makes all planets, all land and all animals to dwell within them. At the end of this initial creation He makes beings called humans that would enjoy a special relationship with Him. The first man and woman were named Adam and Eve. Everything was very good and God was pleased with creation. As long as Adam and Eve trusted and obeyed God by listening to His word, they would experience lasting life and joy as the universe and all in it flourished!
But Eve listened to an adversary of God, one of the fallen angels that took on the form of a serpent. She believed the lies of the serpent and thought if she tasted the fruit she would make herself just like God. She gave to her husband, Adam, who joined in her rebellion. They immediately felt shame and hid themselves from God and one another and began to experience death in every way. No longer was the world flourishing under their care, now it was broken. Because God is the only one who is good, right and perfect, He cast them out of the Garden and blocked their entrance to return. But this God also showed mercy and patience by promising that one day a child of Eve would crush the enemy’s head, even though the serpent would strike his heel.
Q-What did Lucifer and Eve want so much they were willing to rebel against God?
They wanted to make themselves just like God.
They thought they would find joy by becoming independent from God.
Let’s continue the story.
Two Brothers
After leaving the garden, Adam and Eve had sons named Cain and Abel.
After leaving the garden, Adam and Eve started a family. When their first son was born, named Cain, Eve shouted, “God has helped us to create another human!” Not long after that, Adam and Eve had a second son and they named him Abel.
When their sons grew up, Cain became a farmer and Abel became a shepherd. At harvest time, people would bring gifts or portions of their work – called offerings – and give them to God.
So Cain brought some of his farm produce and Abel brought the very best lambs from his flock to be offered to God. When God saw their gifts, He accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s.
This made Cain very angry and upset. “Why are you so angry?” God asked Cain. “Why do you look so discouraged? You’ll be accepted if you do what’s right. But if you refuse to do what’s right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at your door, waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must bring it under control.”
Soon after that, Cain suggested to his brother, Abel, “Why don’t we go out into the field...” While they were walking in the field, Cain attacked and killed his brother. This was the first murder described in the Bible.
Later on, God asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know!” Cain replied. “Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?”
But God said, “What have you done? Listen... your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! I am removing you from this land that you’ve corrupted with your brother’s blood. From now on you will be homeless – a fugitive who wanders from place to place.”
Cain replied to God, “This punishment is more than I can handle! You have removed me from my home... and from your presence; you have made me a fugitive. All who see me will try to kill me!”
God replied, “No! Anyone who tries to harm you will receive seven times your punishment.”
Then God put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to attack him. Cain left God’s presence and traveled to the land east of the garden, where he would start a family of his own.
Q-What did God say to Cain after He rejected his offering?
Won’t you be accepted if you do what is right? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is waiting…
Q-Why do you think God rejected Cain’s sacrifice but accepted Abel’s?
It seems as if God was concerned with the attitude of Cain’s heart in giving the sacrifice.
Q-Does it seem like Cain was outwardly obeying God by his actions?
Yes, he gave God a sacrifice.
Q-What does God seem like He wants when we sacrifice something to Him?
Our hearts. He wants us to do so out of loving trust, not religious duty.
Q-Why do you think Cain killed his brother?
He was jealous that Cain was accepted and he was not.
Q-What do you feel like when someone important rejects you?
Q-How do you feel when you know it’s your fault they rejected you?
Q-Who or what is so important to you that you’d be willing to do anything to get acceptance?
Boss, parents, lovers, friends, peers, neighbors, the opposite sex, yourself.
Q-What are you willing to do for their acceptance?
Sacrifice things we think are less important to get what is most important.
Q-How would your life change if the most important person to you fully loved and accepted you regardless of what you did?
Q-Do you think it’s important to make sure that the most important person to you is able to fully love you and accept you regardless of what you’ve done?
Q-What was God’s response to the murder?
Sent him away from the land.
Q-Where do you think Cain learned evil from?
His parents.
Q-What do we learn about humans in this story?
Q-What do we learn about God in this story?
God is interested in their lives—who they are, what they do, and how they do it.
God punishes sin.
God is patient and merciful.
God knows all things, including our hearts.
God alone has the right to judge.
God alone is good.
Q-If what humans are like in this story is true, how does it affect our life?
Q-How does it affect our community?
Q-How does it affect our neighborhood and city?
Q-If what we learned about God is true, how should this affect our life?
Q-How should this affect our community?
Q-How should this affect our neighbors, coworkers, friends and city?
Let’s continue the story.
The Flood
The number of humans on the earth grew rapidly. Not only did rebellion spread from Adam and Eve to their sons, it spread from generation to generation. Even though humans were created in God’s image, each person chose to disobey God’s ways.
Humans were completely out of control, acting out in selfishness and violence all the time. When God saw that the people’s hearts and minds were filled with evil day and night, His heart was broken. So God decided to start over, saying, “I will completely wipe out the human race that I’ve created. I am sorry that I ever made them.”
But there was one man, named Noah, who still had a close relationship with God. Noah was the only blameless man living on earth at that time. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to cover the earth with a flood, destroying everything alive! But, I will give you a plan to keep you safe.”
God told Noah to build a large boat called an ark, giving him specific instructions about how big to make it and what it should look like. God said to him, “Make a boat from wood and seal it with tar, inside and out. Then build many decks and stalls for animals inside of it. I promise to keep you safe in this ark! A pair of every kind of animal–a male and female–will come to you to be kept alive. You will also bring seven pairs of animals that I approved for you to eat and sacrifice. And remember; take enough food for your family and for all the animals.”
So Noah did everything exactly as he was told. Just as God had said, the floods came – water burst from the earth and rain poured from the sky. When the waters came, Noah and his family and all of the animals boarded the ark. As the waters rose, the boat floated safely on the surface. The flood covered even the tallest mountains, and all living creatures on the earth were destroyed, except for those on the ark.
After 40 days, the rains stopped. Many months passed as the waters slowly began to dry up. For weeks, Noah sent out a dove to see if it could find dry land. Finally, the dove returned with an olive leaf in its mouth. Noah sent the dove out again, and when it didn’t come back, he knew it was safe to return to land. As soon as Noah came off of the ark, he built an altar, selected pure animals from every approved species, and sacrificed them to God as a symbol of thankfulness and worship.
God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifice and said, “Even though people’s thoughts and actions are bent toward evil from the time they’re children, I promise to never again destroy all living things with a flood. As a symbol of my promise, I will hang a rainbow in the clouds. Whenever you see a rainbow, this will remind you of my promise to you.”
Then God told Noah and his sons, “I have put all animals under your control. You can use them for food, but you must never eat animals that still have their lifeblood in them. Life is in the blood, and all life belongs to me! Those who murder must be punished by death.”
God blessed Noah and his sons, telling them to have many children and once again fill the earth with people.
Q-Why did God flood the earth and destroy everything? Do you think He had a good reason for doing this?
Q-Why was Noah spared?
He was the only blameless man in his time.
Q-What does it mean to be “blameless?”
Q-Was Noah sinless?
Q-Why was Noah’s family spared?
Q-What did rebellion towards God lead to?
Violence and death.
Q-What did trusting obedience for Noah lead to?
God provided a way for him to be saved from His wrath and judgment.
Q-Do the people in Noah’s day sound much different than today?
Q-From this story, how does God feel about human rebellion?
Sadness and anger at our corruption.
Compassion: He doesn’t completely destroy the human race but instead provides a way for some to be saved.
Q-Based on God’s response to Noah, how do you think He feels about what He sees in our day?
Q-What did God say to Noah about animals and their blood?
Q-What did God say about murder and blood and life? Why is it important?
All life belongs to God and life is in the blood. It is God Himself who gives life. He requires that blood (life) is given back to Him when a life is taken!
Q-From this story, what does God seem like?
Powerful
Holy
Just
Gracious
Merciful
Patient
Promise keeping (covenant making)
Knows everything, including the intention of every heart.
Q-If what humans are like in this story is true, how does it affect our life?
Q-How does it affect our community?
Q-How does it affect our neighborhood and city?
Q-If what we learned about God is true, how should this affect our life?
Q-How should this affect our community?
Q-How should this affect our neighbors, coworkers, friends and city?
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