Sample Genesis JR 1-4

Transcription

God Creates the
Heavens and the Earth
Genesis 1:1–2:3
LESSON GOAL
Students will praise God for His creation.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
© 2006 Grace Community Church. Reproduction prohibited.
Students will be able to
■ Recognize that God existed before anything
was created.
■ Explain how we know that the six days of creation
were 24-hour days.
■ List what God made on each day of creation.
■ Identify the seventh day of creation as God’s
appointed day of rest.
■ Explain God’s evaluation of His creation.
KEY VERSE
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”
(Genesis 1:1).
Symbol Key
Memory Verse
APPLICATION
■
Object Lesson
Game
■
■
Thank God for making the heavens and earth.
Obey God because He made you.
Praise God because He is wise and good.
Visual Aid
NEXT WEEK
Activity
Q&A
God Creates Man and Woman
Read Genesis 1:26–2:24.
Work Sheet
Genesis JR 1.1
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
Teacher Planning Sheet
PREPARE
Objectives/Truths to cover this week
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Personal Application
As a result of my study in this passage, God wants me to
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Three ways students need to apply this passage are
1.2 Genesis JR
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POINT
Choose from various ideas to point students to the coming Bible lesson.
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PROCLAIM
Choose from various ideas to proclaim the Bible lesson.
Presentation Ideas
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Praise/Music Ideas
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PRACTICE
Choose ideas to help review and apply today’s lesson.
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© 2006 Grace Community Church. Limited license to copy granted on copyright page.
Materials
Needed
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God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
PREPARE
WITH THE TRUTH
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul.…
You shall teach them to your children” (Deuteronomy 11:18–19).
Please take time to prepare your mind and heart to accurately handle the truths of
God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:15). Read through the Bible background and study the truths
contained in this lesson. Crucial background information is included here to aid
you in understanding the Scripture.
Bible Background
The book of Genesis presents a portrait of God as a being who is to be feared and
adored for His uniqueness. There is no being like Him, yet He reveals Himself so that
man may know and love Him. This picture of God is further developed in Genesis as
Moses describes how God interacts with the universe He has made.
Everything that exists, in both the spiritual and physical realms, owes its existence to
God (Gen. 1:1). Nothing has come into being apart from Him. Therefore, all things
can be properly understood through the knowledge of, and a relationship with, the
one who brought all things into existence.
An important aspect of this creative work of God is its immediate and sudden nature.
The heavens and earth and all things in them were brought into being through the
agency of God’s spoken Word alone. Moses does not present their coming to be as
the result of physical processes or universal laws. Rather, the existence of all things
was the supernatural response to God’s divine command, calling the creation out of
nothingness. The immediacy, comprehensiveness, and complexity of God’s creative
work speak of His greatness.
The Days of Creation
Genesis 1:2 indicates that the earth was “without form, and void” (empty), a translation of the Hebrew phrase tohu wa bohu. This was the situation on earth before
it was touched by the creative hand of God. The acts of separating and gathering
on days one through three gave form to the formless, and the acts of making and
filling on days four through six gave divine assurance that the heavens and the
earth would never again be “without form, and void.”
Day One (1:3–5)
Additional
Reference
Materials
God called for light and separated the light from the darkness. God called the light
day, and the darkness He called night. By giving names to the light and the darkness, God was declaring His sovereignty and rulership over them. To name something or someone in ancient times implied dominion or ownership (2 Kings 23:34;
24:17). Day and night belong to the Lord (Psalm 74:16).
Day Two (1:6–8)
God called forth the “firmament”—the visible atmosphere or sky.
The Battle for the
Beginning by John
Day Three (1:9–13)
MacArthur
The water below the firmament (1:9) was gathered together, and God created dry
land, seas, and vegetation (plants). The plants were to reproduce within categories
(“kinds”) that were carefully distinguished from one another.
The MacArthur Study
Bible by John MacArthur
Genesis JR 1.3
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
Day Four (1:14–19)
God created the sun and the moon. Why are the sun and the moon called the “two
great lights” in Genesis 1:16? Perhaps the words sun and moon are deliberately
avoided here since in ancient times pagan nations deified them and worshiped
them under those names. Moses may have wanted his readers to understand that
the lights are light-bearers to be appreciated, not gods to be feared. It is the one
true God who made both the sun and the moon.
Verse 16 also mentions the fact that God created the stars. In reading the verse,
the mention of the stars seems almost an afterthought, probably because of the
emphasis on the specific functions of the sun and moon. Psalm 136:9 notes that
the stars help the moon “rule by night.”
Genesis 1:14 lists three main duties of the lights in the sky:
1. To distinguish day from night
2. To provide signs (signs that relate to faith [Rom. 1:14–20], weather [Matt.
16:2–3], prophecy [Matt. 2:2; Luke 21:25], and judgment [Joel 2:30–31; Matt.
24:29]; also, a means of getting bearings for long journeys)
3. To determine days, seasons, and years
Day Five (1:20–23)
God created sea creatures (marine animals) and flying things (birds and flying
insects). The Hebrew word tanninim (“great sea creatures”) was used in Canaanite
mythology as the name of a dreaded sea monster. It often is referred to in a literary
and figurative way in Old Testament poetry as one of God’s most powerful adversaries, whether natural (Job 7:12) or national (Babylon: Jer. 51:34; Egypt: Isa. 51:9;
Ezek. 29:3; 32:2). But in Genesis, this is simply the first specimen of animal life
created by God—not to be feared as an evil enemy, but to be appreciated because
God created this creature as “good” (Psalm 148:7).
Day Six (1:24–31)
God created land animals and man. Verses 24 and 25 describe God’s creation of
animals that filled the land. Large and small animals, cattle, and creeping things
(worms, creeping insects, and reptiles) were brought forth from the earth.
Included in the sixth day of creation is the climax of God’s creative activity—the
creation of man. God has “crowned him with glory and honor” and “made him to
have dominion” over the rest of His creation (Gen. 1:26; Psalm 8:5–8). Man is a
product of divine creation (Gen. 2:7), not of natural evolution.
Genesis 1:28 depicts God as the provider for man. It is in this role that we first see
His love. God provided for man’s physical needs. He brought food (Gen. 1:29;
2:9) and shelter (Gen. 2:15) to man. (Note: Genesis 1:29–30 indicates that both
people and animals were vegetarian before the flood. See also Genesis 9:3.)
God is also the provider of work (Gen. 2:15, 19–20) and of standards of right and
wrong (Gen. 2:16–17). God provided man with a job—to rule over the earth and
all things in it. All that was required—hand-eye coordination, intellectual power,
strength, and wisdom to prune the garden, name and classify the animals, and
later, till the earth—came from the hand of God.
God provided relationships for man. Man was not left alone (Gen. 2:21–23). The
joys of friendship, the benefits of teamwork, and the intimacy of marital love are
the product of God’s providing love.
1.4 Genesis JR
God showed gracious, loving concern to the animals by blessing them and
making it possible for them to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:22) after their
own kinds.
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
Finally, God provided mankind with purpose and hope. Ultimately, man’s purpose
is to glorify God (2 Cor. 5:9).
Day Seven (2:1–3)
God rested. On days one, two, and three, God gave form to the universe; on days
four, five, and six, He filled the universe. Then on day seven, the Creator of the
universe rested from all His work. As God rested from all His work, so Christians
can share in the rest that Jesus provides (Heb. 4:4, 10).
POINT
TO THE TRUTH
“Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth”
(Psalm 78:1).
This section includes questions to review last week’s lesson and ideas to prepare
students for this week’s lesson. Choose from the following ideas to point to the
truths of this lesson.
What Day Is It?
Divide the class into six groups and number the groups 1–6. Inform the students
that the number of their group corresponds to one day of creation. Give each
group five minutes to discuss, without using their Bibles, what God created on
their day. Write their answers on the board by group. Then have them listen to the
Bible lesson to see how accurate they were. Reward right answers with a prize.
Use the same groups during Practice time.
Creation Sidewalk Murals
Materials: seven sets of sidewalk chalk in various colors
Directions: Before class, mark off seven equal sections of pavement with sidewalk
chalk. Make sure to leave space between each section so the groups can gather
around and work. Divide the class into seven groups. Give each group the Bible
passage corresponding to the day of creation assigned to them. Have the group
read the passage together and make a list of what to draw before going outside.
Once outside, give the groups 10–15 minutes to draw on the ground a picture of
what took place on the day of creation assigned to them. Emphasize that each
group member must participate in drawing part of the mural, no matter how
artistic he or she is. After each group has completed their mural, have the students
gather around the pictures while you teach the lesson. Move from mural to mural
as you teach about each day of creation. Make sure other classes (both adults’ and
children’s) know of your project so they can plan to visit the murals after church.
Teachers of younger classes may want to use the murals as illustrations while they
teach the same lesson.
Beginnings
There are many theories of how the world came into existence and how life began.
Ask students to tell you about some they have heard. List the theories on the board.
What do students think of each one? In today’s lesson, students will learn the truth
about how life began.
Genesis JR 1.5
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
PROCLAIM
THE TRUTH
“Telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and
His wonderful works that He has done” (Psalm 78:4).
This section includes the Bible lesson, lesson questions, and praise and worship
ideas. Song suggestions are included to use during worship time. Use the lesson
questions to check the students’ understanding. This section also includes various
presentation ideas to use during the teaching time. Read the Bible passage several
times before you read these pages. All teaching should be done directly from the
Bible.
Bible Lesson
Reading of the Text
Read Genesis 1:1–2:3: the opening (1:1–2), day one (1:3–5), day two (1:6–8),
day three (1:9–13), day four (1:14–19), day five (1:20–23), day six (1:24–31), and
day seven (2:1–3).
Introduction
Have you ever wondered how you got here, why you are alive, or how
everything around you came to be? Many people believe that a long,
long time ago everything began by itself. One moment there was nothing, and
the next moment there was something. When God, through Moses, gave the
book of Genesis to the Israelites, the nations around them believed that their gods
had created everything. God’s message in Genesis begins with the history
of creation. In it, God told the Israelites (and He tells us, too) what happened at
the very beginning.
LOQ: What time in history does the opening verse of the Bible speak of?
Answer: Genesis 1:1 speaks about the beginning. As far as creation is concerned,
there was nothing before the beginning. There was neither heaven nor earth. They
had not yet been created.
LOQ: What existed “in the beginning”?
Answer: The Bible is very clear. It says, “In the beginning, God.” Before all creation,
God existed. [Draw a timeline. Indicate creation (at the beginning), the birth of Jesus,
and today. Then put God before creation and history/time.]
LOQ: If God existed before the creation, where did He come from? When was
God created?
Answer: God is not like man or the rest of creation. He existed at the beginning
before creation because He always has existed. God is the only being who has
always existed. No one created God, nor did He just appear. God is eternal,
without a beginning (or an end).
LOQ: What does Genesis 1:1 say that God created?
Answer: “God created the heavens and the earth.” This is another way of saying
that He created everything.
1.6 Genesis JR
Leadoff Questions (LOQs)
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
LOQ: How long did God take to complete the creation?
Answer: He took six days of actual creation and one day in which He rested. Every
time the Bible speaks of “the evening and the morning,” it indicates a day. Each
time “the evening and the morning” is written, it is followed by “the first day,” “the
second day,” etc. And because the word day is used each time, it means that the
day lasted 24 hours, just like the days we have now.
LOQ: Do you think that God needed six days to complete the creation? Why or
why not?
Answer: Because God is omnipotent (all-powerful), nothing is too difficult for Him
to do. He did not need six days. If He had wanted, He could have taken three
days, one day, or less than a second. God could have created the heavens and the
earth immediately, without any time passing. But God created the heavens and the
earth in six days and rested on the seventh day because He wanted to set an
example for human beings. We are to live according to a seven-day week, with
the seventh day as a special day for rest and worship.
LOQ: What did God make on each day of the week?
Answer:
Day one: God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1) and light (1:3).
Day two:
God created the sky (1:6–7).
Day three: God separated the waters and caused dry land to appear (1:9), and
He created the vegetation, plants, and fruit trees (1:11).
Day four:
God created lights in the expanse (sky; 1:14). There were two special
lights—the greater (the sun) and the lesser (the moon). He made the
stars also (1:16).
Day five:
God created swarms of living creatures in the waters, birds to fly in
the sky, the sea monsters, and every living thing that moves in the
water and in the air (1:20–21).
Day six:
God created the cattle (1:24), the creeping things (1:24), the beasts
of the earth (1:24), and man (1:26)—both male and female (1:27).
Day seven: God did not create anything; He rested (2:1–2).
LOQ: What was special about day seven?
Answer: On day seven, God completed His creation. He set it apart (made it
special) and blessed it. The Bible says that God also rested on the seventh day.
Now, God does not ever have to sleep or get back His energy. When the Bible says
God rested, it means that He stopped creating as He had done on the previous six
days.
LOQ: What did God think of the work that He saw on each of the days of creation?
Answer: On days one, three, four, and five, the Bible says that God saw that it was
“good.” But on day six, God saw that it was “very good.” All of God’s creation was
good. There was nothing missing or broken. It was just as He wanted it to be.
Genesis JR 1.7
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
Summary
In the beginning, before all history and creation, God existed. No one created
Him, but He created everything. He created the heavens and the earth over six 24hour days and rested (stopped creating) on the seventh day. He created light, the
sky, land, the sun, the moon, and the stars. He created all living animals, and He
created man, too. There is nothing that He did not create. On the seventh day, after
He had finished creating, He made that day holy and blessed it. What God had
created was good. And when He saw all His creation, it was “very good.” God had
done exactly what He had wanted to do in the way He wanted it to be done.
Application
The universe did not just appear, as some people believe. Nor was the universe
created by many gods. The universe—the heavens and the earth—was created by the
Creator, the God of the Bible, just as we learned. He is the one who created our
world, our universe, and each of us. Every day, thank Him for creating this wonderful
world and for creating you. He is the Creator and deserves our thanks and praise.
Presentation Ideas
A Beka Book Flash-A-Cards
Use appropriate A Beka Book Flash-A-Cards with this lesson.
Betty Lukens Flannelgraph
Use appropriate flannelgraph pieces with this lesson.
Creation Slide Show
Prepare a slide presentation of the six days of creation to use while teaching the
lesson.
Make copies of the blank “Significant Repetitions” work sheets for each student,
as well as a blank transparency to use on the overhead projector. While teaching
through Genesis 1, ask students to listen for repeated phrases in the passages. List
on the chart the verses and phrases that are repeated at least once in Genesis 1.
Use the teacher notes provided to give the students an explanation of the importance of these phrases. Make sure students are taking notes on their own work
sheets as well. Explain to the students that they need to pay careful attention when
phrases are repeated throughout the Bible because God usually is making an
important point to the reader.
God’s Attributes in Creation
This discussion identifies the attributes of God shown in these verses and can help
answer the question “Why should we believe in and worship God?” For example,
God is eternal (Gen. 1:1); Creator (Gen. 1:1); omnipotent (all-powerful; Gen.
1:2–31); good (everything He made was good; Gen. 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 31); and a
Trinity (“Us”; Gen. 1:26–27). We can pray to God and thank Him for being all
these things.
God Said So
Can you really grasp the idea that God has the power to speak things into existence? Ask the students how many of them have ever managed to teach a dog to
1.8 Genesis JR
Significant Repetitions
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
do a trick or obey a command. Allow time for them to share. Talk about the satisfaction of having the power to make something happen at the sound of your voice.
Ask students to imagine the satisfaction God experienced when He spoke all
creation into being. Genesis 1 repeats the phrase “and God said” many times as it
recounts the beginning of history. The universe was created simply because God
said so! We also learn in Genesis 1:31 that “God saw everything that He had
made, and indeed it was very good.” If God’s spoken Word is powerful enough to
create the universe and all that is in it, how powerful is His written Word in our
lives? As we strive to obey His Word daily, let’s remember the reason—because
God said so.
Creation Correlation
Teach the students the following Creation Correlation to help them remember the
days of creation in the proper order. Use the information below to show students
how day one corresponds to day four, day two corresponds to day five, and day
three corresponds to day six.
God Created Fundamentals.
God Filled These Fundamental
Spaces with His Special Creations.
Day One: Light
Day Four: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Day Two: Water and Sky
Day Five: Fish and Birds
Day Three: Land and Plants
Day Six: Animals and Man
Praise and Worship
Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down
Great Is the Lord
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
This Is My Father’s World
This Is the Day
Thou Art Worthy
We Bow Down
PRACTICE
THE TRUTH
“That they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep
His commandments” (Psalm 78:7).
Choose ideas from this section to review and apply the truths of the Bible lesson.
Days of Creation
Materials: six-sided die, “Days of Creation” group score sheet, and a different
colored pencil for each player
Directions: Divide the class into equal groups of 5–7 students. Before the game
starts, establish a certain amount of time or number of rounds that will be played
until there is a winner to the game. Students take turns rolling the die, and the
student who rolls the highest number begins the game. The first player rolls the die
and must name something created on the day that corresponds to the number
Genesis JR 1.9
God Creates
the Heavens
and the Earth
rolled (e.g., light on day one). He writes his answer on the group score sheet,
placed in a central location, with his colored pencil. Play continues in a clockwise
direction as students name various items created on each day. The group score
sheet will help students remember which answers already have been given. If a
student cannot think of something created on the day for the number he rolled, he
must pass the die to the next player. After the determined number of rounds or
period of time, the player with the highest number of correct answers on the group
score sheet wins. (Count the colors to determine the winner.)
Know the Creator
Bring two contrasting works of art to show the class. One might be a print of a fine
painting and another the work of a small child. Ask the class to speculate about the
“creators” of these items. We can tell something about a person by looking at a
creation he has made, but there is still a lot we don’t know. How would we learn more?
Now consider God’s creation. Romans 1:20 tells us that since the creation of the
world, God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been
clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without
excuse. What can we know about God from looking at His creation? Brainstorm
for some ideas and write them on the board. Does knowing these things give us a
relationship with God? How can we really know Him—not just know
something about Him?
“God Creates the Heavens and the Earth”
Use this work sheet to review the lesson, or send it home with the students to
review with their families. This work sheet is located at the back of the lesson.
Journal Page: “God’s Creation”
Give each student a copy of the the journal page at the back of this lesson. Provide
a 5½ x 8½ inch three-ring binder for each student. Each Sunday, the students will
have the opportunity to complete a journal page and put it into their binders.
Give each student a copy of the coloring sheets at the back of this lesson. The
students can color the pages in class or at home.
MEMORY VERSE
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
1.10 Genesis JR
Coloring Sheets
Days of Creation
Group Score Sheet
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 5
Day 6
Days of Creation
Group Score Sheet
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
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Genesis JR 1.13
Repeated Phrase
Verses
Importance
List each phrase you find repeated at least once in Genesis 1. List the number of verses in which the phrase can be found. Listen to the
teacher’s explanation of each phrase, and take good notes about the phrase’s meaning in the “importance” column.
Significant Repetitions, Page 1 of 2
Verses
Genesis JR 1.14
Importance
Significant Repetitions, Page 2 of 2
Repeated Phrase
Genesis JR 1.15
Creation was accomplished instantly by God’s sovereign decree.
His Word is so powerful that He speaks and it is done at once.
Only in the case of Adam is a creative process described.
This emphasizes the fact that everything comes into being from
nothing; God simply speaks it into existence.
This stresses the divine origin and perfection of all that was created.
God found His creation good for the purposes it was intended to
serve. Collectively, God pronounced His creation “very good.”
Day two is the only day that omits the phrase because the creation
was incomplete. The phrase rules out the possibility of deformities
or mutations before the fall.
3, 6, 9, 11,
14, 20, 24
4, 10, 12,
18, 21, 25, 31
5, 8, 10
5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31
7, 16, 21, 25, 27
God said, ”Let...”
God saw that it was [very] good.
God called...
So the evening and the morning
were the __________ day.
God made/created...
The Hebrew words for made and created (which always
speak of direct creation) are synonyms. Hebrew parallelism
makes them equivalent expressions that explain and support
each other as clear and accurate.
This indicates that all six days were the same and had clearly defined
boundaries. “Day” with numerical adjectives in Hebrew always refers
to a 24-hour period. Although the sun was not created until day four,
light was created on day one and set the pattern for light and darkness (the same as a solar day); the Hebrew words for evening and
morning always have a literal meaning in the Old Testament.
Separating and naming parts of creation
were acts of dominion and served as a pattern for
man, who would have dominion over creation.
Importance
Verses
Repeated Phrase
Significant Repetitions, Teacher Notes, Page 1 of 2
Genesis JR 1.16
Repeated Phrase
11, 12, 21, 24, 25
7, 9, 11, 15, 24, 30
Verses
Blessed means God conferred well-being;
He caused them to prosper and made them happy.
The blessing involved God’s admonition for man to
reproduce and to oversee the operation of the earth.
God designed the plant and animal kingdoms to reproduce
within their kinds to maintain each one’s unique characteristics;
this indicates that evolution across species lines is a false
explanation of origins. Living creatures can reproduce only
creatures similar to themselves. The Hebrew word for kind is
roughly equivalent to the English word species, but is not a
technical term; it gives a simple category of related organisms
capable of breeding with one another.
This is a technical phrase that means it was made permanent; it
became a fixed, established condition. This indicates that creation
was immediate and instantaneous, with no passage of time.
It is something God completed (Psalm 33:9).
Importance
Significant Repetitions, Teacher Notes, Page 2 of 2
and it was so
22, 28
There is a clear and very specific emphasis on the vast
array of creatures. God did not make a few simple
organisms that developed through natural processes
into more complex and varied ones.
every...thing/everything
And God blessed them....“Be fruitful and multiply.”
according to its kind
21, 25, 26,
28, 30, 31
GodHeavens
Creates the
and the
Earth
Genesis 1:1–2:3
Name
1.
Who created the heavens and the earth?
2.
Who created God?
3.
How long did God take to create the heavens and the earth?
4.
Write something that God created on
day one ______________________________
day two ______________________________
day three ______________________________
day four ______________________________
day five ______________________________
day six
5.
______________________________
Write out Genesis 2:3 in the space below.
Genesis JR 1.17
God’s Creation
Did you know that you can see God’s creation in your own
backyard? Early in the morning is a good time to do this. Ask
your parents whether you can go outside when the sun is
rising so you can observe God’s creation.
Today’s date is
This morning I saw
Draw a picture of something you saw outside.
I learned this about God’s creation:
Did you know that you can see God’s creation in your own
backyard? Early in the morning is a good time to do this. Ask
your parents whether you can go outside when the sun is
rising so you can observe God’s creation.
Today’s date is
This morning I saw
Draw a picture of something you saw outside.
I learned this about God’s creation:
Genesis JR 1.19
God’s Creation
SUNRISE SONG
“Then God saw everything He had made,
and indeed it was very good”
(Genesis 1:31a).
____________________________________________________
I would like to thank God for __________________________
____________________________________________________
I learned this about God: ______________________________
Gawking blackbirds scatter across the sky
From telephone pole to tree.
“Gawk! Gawk! Morning has arrived!”
I heard their gawking, squawking, soaring,
But I chose to keep on snoring.
Lord, I missed your morning!
SUNRISE SONG
“Then God saw everything He had made,
and indeed it was very good”
(Genesis 1:31a).
____________________________________________________
I would like to thank God for __________________________
____________________________________________________
I learned this about God: ______________________________
Genesis JR 1.20
Gawking blackbirds scatter across the sky
From telephone pole to tree.
“Gawk! Gawk! Morning has arrived!”
I heard their gawking, squawking, soaring,
But I chose to keep on snoring.
Lord, I missed your morning!
Did You blaze brilliant pink across Your sky,
Silhouetting blackbirds flying high?
Did Your softly soaring flocks of sparrows fly,
Freckling the face of morning sky?
And did morning spider spin silvery strands
Sopped with dew, Lord, reflecting You?
Did You blaze brilliant pink across Your sky,
Silhouetting blackbirds flying high?
Did Your softly soaring flocks of sparrows fly,
Freckling the face of morning sky?
And did morning spider spin silvery strands
Sopped with dew, Lord, reflecting You?
Your sunrise speaks sounds that should be seen,
Sounds that call the heart to sing!
Awake, O soul, and sing!
Dawn has arrived on blackbird wing!
—Carolyn Grisso
Your sunrise speaks sounds that should be seen,
Sounds that call the heart to sing!
Awake, O soul, and sing!
Dawn has arrived on blackbird wing!
—Carolyn Grisso
Adam
Eve
Genesis JR 1.21
God made the heavens and the earth in six days.
“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good”
(Genesis 1:31).
Genesis JR 1.23
“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested”
(Genesis 2:1–2).
Genesis JR 1.25
God Creates
Man and Woman
Genesis 1:26–29; 2:7, 18–24
LESSON GOAL
Students will know that God created man
to worship Him.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
■ Explain that only man was created in God’s image and
likeness.
■ List man’s God-given responsibilities.
■ Describe how God made man and woman.
■ Identify the God-ordained relationship between man
and woman.
KEY VERSE
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of
God He created him; male and female He created them”
(Genesis 1:27).
Symbol Key
APPLICATION
Memory Verse
■
Object Lesson
■
Game
■
Visual Aid
Activity
Q&A
Obey God, who made you.
Worship God, who made you.
Serve God, who made you.
NEXT WEEK
Man Rebels against God
Read Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–24.
Work Sheet
Genesis JR 2.1
God Creates Man
and Woman
PREPARE
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2.2 Genesis JR
___________________________________________________________________
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POINT
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PROCLAIM
Presentation Ideas
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Praise/Music Ideas
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___________________________________________________________________
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PRACTICE
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Materials
Needed
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God Creates Man
and Woman
PREPARE
WITH THE TRUTH
Bible Background
The book of Genesis impresses upon the reader the special nature and purpose
of man. In our day, schoolchildren are taught to consider themselves and their
existence as mere extensions of the animal kingdom. To learn about man, scientists conduct experiments to study animal behavior and then estimate upward.
The effect of the evolutionary worldview has been a denial of the unique
creation of man.
Man was created as a very special being. This can be seen through the special
emphasis Moses gave to God’s preparation and creation of man (Gen. 1:26; 2:7).
Man was created in the image of God, after His likeness. The Hebrew words for
“image” (selem) and “likeness” (demut) are essentially synonymous. Both terms
point to spiritual qualities shared by God and man. It is this image/likeness that
distinguishes man from the animal kingdom. Man alone has the capacity for selfconsciousness, speech, and moral discernment. Another major factor distinguishing man from the animal kingdom is that man has been given an eternal
state. The question is, what is man going to do with it? Being created in the image
of God means that man should think the thoughts of God and do His work.
Additional evidence from Genesis 2 shows the special place of man. Here again, we
see the special care of God in the creation of man. The animals, birds, and fish were
simply called into existence. Yet God “formed” man—as a potter forms his clay
vessels—and breathed His own Spirit into him (Gen. 2:7). No continuity between
man and the animals is indicated here. Man is not an animal. He is the specially
created image-bearer of God.
Man not only was made in the image and likeness of God, but he also was
blessed by God. Man was blessed with a lush environment. The garden supplied
man’s food and shelter, and it was beautiful and pleasing to him as well (Gen.
2:8–15).
Additional
Reference
Materials
The Battle for the
Beginning by John
MacArthur
The MacArthur Study
Man was further blessed with significant work to do (Gen. 2:15, 19). Work is not
a result of the fall. Rather, it is a privilege and responsibility for all men. The work
of man is to be a part of a larger purpose.
Finally, man was blessed by God with human relationships in which selflessness
and love were to be the guiding principles (Gen. 2:18, 20–25). It was not good for
man to be alone, and since the animals could not provide true fellowship for such
a unique creature as man, God made an appropriate helper for him.
We now understand that God created man in His own image and blessed man
abundantly. In addition, He has given man a special purpose in life. This purpose
can be seen in three areas.
First, man was created to have dominion over all the rest of creation (Gen. 1:26).
The entire created order (plants and animals) was put at his disposal. Man was
given the responsibility to rule over them in God’s place and to bring God’s will
to bear upon the affairs of earth.
Genesis JR 2.3
God Creates Man
and Woman
Second, man was commanded to fill the earth with godly descendants (Gen.
1:28). As the earth was filled with God-fearing men and women, the task of
subduing and having dominion over it would be greatly accelerated.
Third, man was solemnly charged to walk in obedience to God (Gen. 2:15–17).
Disobedience brought destruction, spiritual separation, and physical death to all
mankind. Even today, we can experience blessing only when we are obedient to
God and His Word. It is through obedience that we will begin to discover our true
nature and pursue our real purpose in life. It is to this extent that we may experience a measure of the peace and prosperity that were the possession of our first
parents under God.
POINT
TO THE TRUTH
(Psalm 78:1).
Review Questions
Use these questions to review and reinforce key truths.
When and how did God come into existence?
God has always existed. No one created Him. He is eternal, without a beginning.
When and how did everything else come into existence?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
What did God do the day after He finished creating?
He rested.
Name at least one thing God did on each of the first three days of creation.
Day one: created the heavens and the earth; created light. Day two: created the
sky. Day three: separated the waters and caused dry land to appear; created the
vegetation, plants, and fruit trees.
Name at least one thing God did on each of the last three days of creation.
Day four: created lights in the expanse/sky (sun, moon, stars). Day five: created
living creatures in the waters; created birds; created sea monsters; created every
living thing that moves in the water and in the air. Day six: created cattle; created
creeping things; created beasts of the earth; created man.
2.4 Genesis JR
How long did God take to complete the creation?
God took six 24-hour days.
God Creates Man
and Woman
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Part One
Bring a mirror to class. Take it around to different students as their parents drop
them off. Have them look into the mirror, and ask them several questions: “What
is the most amazing thing about the human body?” “What things could we learn
about God by looking at how He made man?” “Why do you think God made
you?” In today’s lesson, we are going to learn about these things.
Beginnings
There are many theories of how the world came into existence and of how life
began. Ask students to tell you about some they have heard. List the theories on
the board. Ask the students their opinions of each one.
Created Order Sort
Materials: old magazines (with inappropriate advertisements torn out), liquid glue
or paste sticks, large piece of poster board for each group, black markers, rulers,
scissors
Directions: Divide the class into equal groups of four or five students. Give each
group a large piece of poster board, a black marker, and a ruler. Holding the poster
board so that the longest edge runs horizontally, instruct the students to draw a
line down the middle of the poster board, using the ruler as a guide. At the top of
each side, the groups should write the following labels: (1) Created by God and
(2) Created by God in His image. Divide the magazines equally among the groups.
Pass out glue and scissors. Direct students to cut out magazine pictures of various
things God created (sun, plants, birds, people, ocean). As students cut out pictures,
have them glue the pictures to the appropriate side of the poster board. Only
human beings (both male and female) should be glued to side two because we are
the only things that were created in the image of God. As a review of last week’s
lesson, students should label each picture with the item’s name and the day on
which it was created (e.g., sun, day four). Use this activity to emphasize that only
man was created in God’s image and likeness.
God’s “To Do” List for Mankind
Lead the class in a discussion of the responsibilities they have at home (chores,
etc.) List these responsibilities on the board. Explain that in this lesson God gave
mankind just three responsibilities to fulfill on earth. Ask the students whether they
believe any of the jobs listed on the board are the same jobs God gave man to do.
Circle any answers the students give, and tell them we are going to find out the
correct answers while reading Genesis 1:26–31 and Genesis 2:15–17. Instruct
students to raise their hands if they hear any instructions given to man. List man’s
God-given responsibilities on the board and encourage students to take notes.
Refer to the Bible Background section for additional explanation.
1. Have dominion over all the rest of creation (Gen. 1:26, 28)
2. Fill the earth with godly descendants (Gen. 1:28)
3. Walk in obedience to God (Gen. 2:15–17)
Genesis JR 2.5
God Creates Man
and Woman
PROCLAIM
THE TRUTH
Bible.
Bible Lesson
Reading of the Text
Read Genesis 1:26–29, man (male and female) created in God’s image and likeness; Genesis 2:7, man created from the dust; Genesis 2:18–24, woman created
from man’s rib.
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why God created human beings? Do you know why you
are alive? These are very important questions that men and women have asked
themselves ever since the creation. Today, we will learn the answers to those questions by looking at the first two chapters of the Bible.
LOQ: What did God say to the man and woman after He created them?
Answer: In verse 28, God told them to be fruitful and multiply and to fill the earth.
They were to have children so that the earth could be filled with people. They were
also told to take care of the earth and to control it for the right purposes. God also
gave Adam and Eve rule over every animal. God put mankind on the earth to take
care of it for Him. In this special way, people are very different from the animals.
According to God’s plan, they were to fill the earth and rule over the land and the
animals. By doing so, they would glorify God.
LOQ: What was man’s responsibility?
Answer: Adam was supposed to cultivate and keep the garden. And he was
supposed to obey God’s commands. This is another purpose for which man was
created: to serve and obey God.
LOQ: From what was man made, according to Genesis 2:7?
Answer: “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.” Although man
was made like God in some ways, he was made with a physical body, which God
does not have or need.
2.6 Genesis JR
LOQ: Was it only the man whom God created in His image and likeness?
Answer: No. At the end of verse 27, Genesis 1 says, “Male and female He created
them.” Both the man and the woman were created in the image and likeness of
God. Although God made men and women with differences, they are equal.
Neither one is better than the other.
God Creates Man
and Woman
LOQ: All by itself, dust has no life. How was the “dust of the ground” changed
into a human being?
Answer: When God breathed “the breath of life” into the nostrils of the man He
had formed, the man became alive. Nothing has life unless God gives it life. That
means that every living creature—including every man, woman, boy, and girl—is
alive because of the power of God.
LOQ: What did God think about Adam being alone?
Answer: God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.”
LOQ: What did God say He would do so that Adam would not be alone?
Answer: God said, “I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
LOQ: What did God bring to Adam first in order to find “a helper comparable to
him?”
Answer: In Genesis 2:19–20, God brought many animals to Adam. Whatever
name Adam gave to each animal was its name. None was a “helper comparable
to him.” The animals were so different from Adam that none was the right helper
for him.
LOQ: Who was “a helper comparable to [Adam]?”
Answer: Genesis 2:23 tells us that Adam was very happy when he saw the woman
whom God had brought to him. This was the “helper comparable to him,” and he
knew it right away. She was different from the animals. She was very much like he
was.
Genesis 2:24 tells us that the relationship between the man and the woman would
be very special. A man would leave his family to be with a woman, who would
be his wife. And instead of each of them thinking of himself or herself alone, they
would both think of themselves as one person. When a man and a woman get
married, they should no longer act as though they are two people, but as though
they are one person. This is what God planned for the man and woman.
LOQ: Man was formed from the dust of the ground. How was woman formed?
Answer: Genesis 2:21–22 tells us that God took a part of the man and from it made
the woman. So God made the man first; then, from the man, He made the woman.
Summary
Man is unique and different in God’s creation of the earth. In some ways, man is
like God, but he definitely is not God. Man was to rule the earth for God. Not only
the man, but both the man and woman were given this task since they both were
created in God’s image. Man was created first, out of the dust of the ground. He
became alive when God breathed the breath of life into him. God formed the
woman from a part of the man’s body. By himself, the man was alone, without a
suitable helper. But the woman whom God made was the perfect helper and
friend for him. God created each of them for the other, and both for Himself so
that they might serve Him.
Application
In last week’s lesson, we learned how the whole universe came to be. God created
it. This week, we learned about how man and woman were created. We learned
Genesis JR 2.7
God Creates Man
and Woman
why they were created, too. Man was made to rule God’s creation on earth. He
was to be a good caretaker of it. He was not to do this just for himself, though. The
main reason man was to rule God’s creation was for God, because God created
him to do this job. This leads us to the other and more important purpose we
learned for why we were created. God created man to serve and obey Him.
So, when you think about where you came from, remember that God made you (but
in a different way than He made Adam and Eve)! And when you think about why
you are alive, remember that it is to serve God in exactly the way He has told
you in the Bible. Adam and Eve had instructions on what they were to do, and you
do, too!
Presentation Ideas
Use appropriate A Beka Book Flash-A-Cards with the lesson.
Use appropriate flannelgraph pieces and background with the lesson.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Part Two
Hold a mirror up to your face and ask the students whose reflection or image is in the
mirror. Ask them whose image they see when they look into a mirror. “Is the face in
the mirror a reflection of you, or is it someone else who looks like you?” It is only a
reflection. Explain that God made man in His image, something like a reflection of
Him. When God looks at man, He should see His character and attributes. In today’s
lesson, we are going to see that God commanded man to rule the earth. Adam
reflected God’s image by ruling over the plants and animals.
How Many People Are There?
Significant Repetitions
As you read through Genesis 1:26–31 with the class, instruct the students to listen
for three repeated words. Write the words on the board as a reminder. Teach the
students the following hand signals to make when they hear the words being read
aloud.
1. Image or likeness (image and likeness in 1:26 and image twice in 1:27)—Hold
left palm in front of face as if gazing into a mirror.
2. Make/made or created (make in 1:26, created three times in 1:27, and made in
1:31)—Make right hand into a fist and pound into open left hand as if
hammering.
3. All or every (all the earth and every creeping thing in 1:26; every living thing in
1:28; every herb and every tree in 1:29; and every beast, every bird, everything
that creeps, and every green herb in 1:30)—Hold both hands in front of chest,
palms up, and cross hands in front of chest, moving outward.
2.8 Genesis JR
Find the number of the earth’s population. Before beginning the lesson, write the
number on a blackboard or poster board. Ask the students whether they know how
many people live on the planet. Briefly explain that all the people in the world
came from one man and one woman whom God created.
God Creates Man
and Woman
After reading the entire passage, explain the importance of each term that was
repeated. Refer to the Bible Background section for an additional explanation of
these terms.
Praise and Worship
Great Is the Lord
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
This Is the Day
Thou Art Worthy
We Bow Down
PRACTICE
THE TRUTH
Illuminating the Image of God with Additional Study
Study other Bible verses that discuss the image of God. Assign students to look
up the verses listed below. Ask the students questions about each verse, and
discuss the meaning of the passages together.
Genesis 9:6: Why is the murder of human beings wrong? (Man was made in
God’s image.)
Romans 8:29: What did God predestine believers for? (To be conformed to the
image of His Son.)
Colossians 3:10: How is the new man renewed in knowledge? (According to the
image of Him who created him.)
James 3:9: Why is it wrong to curse men with our tongues? (Men have been
made in the likeness of God.)
“God Creates Man and Woman”
Use this work sheet in small groups as a review or send it home with students to
work on with their parents. The work sheet is located at the back of this lesson.
Journal Page: “God Made Me to Serve”
Give each student a copy of the journal page at the back of this lesson. The
students can complete the page individually, in small groups, or at home.
Coloring Sheets
Genesis JR 2.9
God Creates Man
and Woman
Hangman
Use this activity in a large or small group. After reciting the verse as a class, make
the appropriate number of blanks for the number of words in the verse. Play the
game, choosing one student at a time to fill in a blank in the verse.
MEMORY VERSE
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him;
male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
2.10 Genesis JR
GodMan
Creates
and
Woman
Genesis 1:26–29; 2:7, 15–24
Name
1.
What is the main difference between humans and animals?
2.
What is man’s responsibility, according to Genesis 1:28?
3.
From Genesis 2:15 we know that man is supposed to t __ __ __ and
k __ __ __ the earth, because that is what Adam was supposed to do.
4.
From what material was man created?
5.
What did God do to make man a living being?
6.
Complete Genesis 2:18: “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be
alone;
.’”
7.
What did God use to make the woman?
8.
Was Adam happy when God brought the woman to him? ___________________
Genesis JR 2.11
God Made Me to Serve
God created Adam out of dust from the ground and Eve from
Adam’s rib. He created you in a special way, too. Like Adam
and Eve, you were created to serve and glorify God.
Today’s date is
Draw a picture of yourself in the space below.
I have
Ears to hear God’s Word.
A voice to praise Him.
Hands to serve Him.
Feet to go where He
wants me to go.
God Desires
That I have truth in
the inward parts
(Psalm 51:6).
That I have a clean
heart (Psalm 51:10).
God created Adam out of dust from the ground and Eve from
Adam’s rib. He created you in a special way, too. Like Adam
and Eve, you were created to serve and glorify God.
Today’s date is
Draw a picture of yourself in the space below.
I have
Ears to hear God’s Word.
A voice to praise Him.
Hands to serve Him.
Feet to go where He
wants me to go.
God Desires
That I have truth in
the inward parts
(Psalm 51:6).
That I have a clean
heart (Psalm 51:10).
Genesis JR 2.13
God Made Me to Serve
Fill in the blanks.
Genesis JR 2.14
Fill in the blanks.
I can serve God in this special way:
Today I will praise Him in this special way:
I can serve God in this special way:
Him.
Today I will praise Him in this special way:
I would like to thank the Lord God for
created me to
I would like to thank the Lord God for
Write a praise poem or prayer to God about serving Him.
Him.
Write a praise poem or prayer to God about serving Him.
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor
and power; for You created all things, and by
Your will they exist and were created”
(Revelation 4:11).
created me to
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor
and power; for You created all things, and by
Your will they exist and were created”
(Revelation 4:11).
“Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air,
and to every beast of the field” (Genesis 2:20).
Genesis JR 2.15
“So God created man in His own image.…
Male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).
Genesis JR 2.17
Man Rebels against God
Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–24
LESSON GOAL
Students will understand that God will
punish those who don’t obey Him.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
■ Restate God’s commandment to Adam and Eve and the
penalty for eating from the forbidden tree.
■ Identify the serpent’s lie to Eve.
■ Evaluate what Adam and Eve chose to do.
■ List the judgments that God brought on Adam and Eve.
KEY VERSE
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every
tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day
that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16–17).
APPLICATION
Symbol Key
■
Remember that all disobedience, big or small, is sin.
Memory Verse
■
Object Lesson
■
Obey God in all things.
Know that the punishment for sin is death and hell.
Know that the only way to escape sin is by trusting
Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
■
Game
Visual Aid
Activity
Q&A
NEXT WEEK
Cain Rebels against God
Read Genesis 4:1–15.
Work Sheet
Genesis JR 3.1
Man Rebels
against God
PREPARE
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3.2 Genesis JR
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POINT
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PROCLAIM
Presentation Ideas
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Praise/Music Ideas
❏
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PRACTICE
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Materials
Needed
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Man Rebels
against God
PREPARE
WITH THE TRUTH
Bible Background
God created Adam and Eve in a state of blessedness. They had a right relationship
to God and enjoyed the benefits of purpose, provision, and companionship with
Him. This enjoyment was directly tied to their obedience to God and His Word.
One of the persistent themes of Genesis is the nature of man’s ongoing relationship with God and the consequences of obedience and disobedience.
Man’s fall into sin is one of the most hotly debated theological issues of our time
because the consequences are so significant. If the story of the fall is a myth and
man is basically good, then ideas of progress and brotherly love may be pursued
with or without a divine mediator. But if the account is to be understood as fully
historical in nature, then God’s role in man’s future well-being cannot be denied.
Man’s need of God’s grace becomes abundantly clear.
God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil (Gen. 2:15–17). But the serprent—Satan—led Eve to consider
disobeying God’s Word. The serpent’s method of attack is clear; he aimed to get
man to distrust God and transgress His Word.
In Genesis 3:1, the serpent cleverly and subtly asked a seemingly innocent question.
His question suggested that perhaps God was not being fair with Adam and Eve,
despite the fact that He had granted them access to all the other trees. The serpent’s
question was designed to elicit a response that questioned the very sanctity of God’s
Word. The tragedy came when Eve was deceived into agreeing with Satan’s subtle
attack on God.
Additional
Reference
Materials
Paradise to Prison:
Studies in Genesis
by John J. Davis
The MacArthur Study
Once the serpent succeeded in securing a response from Eve, he was ready to
openly criticize God and the condition that He had given to the first human
couple. Satan openly denied God’s promise of punishment (Gen. 3:4). He then
explained why God had issued the prohibition in the first place (Gen. 3:5). What
Satan did not say, however, was that Adam’s and Eve’s opened eyes would see all
things in the light of their own wickedness and rebellion. Satan implied several
things: that the knowledge of good and evil was what made God God; that Adam
and Eve were capable of knowing good and evil as perfectly and completely as
God did and thus could be like Him; and that God was jealous of His knowledge
of good and evil and of His unique place in the universe. The truth was that Adam
and Eve could never attain God’s knowledge of good and evil because, in part, to
know evil they had to sin, something that God had never done and that would be
fatal to their experimental knowledge of good.
Eve’s fall should provide a warning to all believers. She listened to Satan, then
responded to him by sinning. Did Even have a choice whether to sin? James 4:7
says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Eve sought no counsel from
her husband, Adam, or from God. She made a wrong decision based on her own
reasoning and desires.
Genesis JR 3.3
Man Rebels
against God
First John 2:16 discusses the process of temptation and sin. Eve gazed on the
tree, and this led to the “lust of the flesh.” Eve saw that the tree was a delight to
the eyes—“lust of the eyes.” The tree made her think not of the disastrous consequence of death, but of the possibility of gaining all knowledge. Looking at the
delightful tree was not enough; she desired to eat its fruit and become wise.
Thus, she arrived at “the pride of life,” which resulted in rebellion against God.
When Eve did not die immediately, she involved Adam in her sin. She may have
felt that the serpent was correct after all. Elated by her “discovery,” she wanted
her husband to also enjoy that imagined blessing, and she asked him to eat as
well. He did. Adam apparently was tempted in the same way as Eve and with
the same result. Adam, then, must have fallen exactly as Eve had, with as little
excuse and with as great a guilt. When Adam sinned, “death spread to all men,
because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
This is why the Bible never places the blame for mankind’s fall on the woman.
Our jokes and much of our popular literature blame Eve for the fall of mankind,
but Scripture never places a word of blame on Eve. Instead we read, “For since
by man came death…in Adam all die” (1 Cor. 15:21–22) and, “Therefore, just
as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin…by the one
man’s offense death reigned through the one…as by one man’s disobedience
many were made sinners” (Rom. 5:12, 17, 19).
God had promised that in the day Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die. Genesis 3 spells out the true
nature of man’s spiritual deadness and the ravaging effects of sin. Man is dead
because he has cut himself off from the one who gives life.
The first change in man’s condition had to do with how he perceives himself
(3:7). Adam and Eve formerly were together in their nakedness and were not
ashamed (2:25). However, their fall into sin caused a personal uneasiness, and
because of their exposed bodies, shame overwhelmed them. They sewed fig
leaves together to cover themselves—a pitiful attempt to replace their prior innocence and soothe their unrest.
As do all sinners, Adam and Eve hid from God. The natural inclination of the
heart is not to seek God, but to hide from Him (Rom. 3:10). The unrepentant
sinner is on a downward path to destruction, away from the presence of God
(2 Thess. 1:9). But God did not give up His pursuit of Adam and Eve, though they
had sinned. This is a great picture of God’s concern and compassion for the lost
human race.
Adam and Eve refused to accept responsibility for their sin. When God asked
them, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of
which I commanded you that you should not eat?” (Gen. 3:11), Adam blamed
Eve for giving him the fruit, and Eve blamed the serpent for deceiving her (Gen.
3:12–13). God was silent. Adam and Eve knew they were fully responsible for
what they had done.
God’s Judgment
In Genesis 3:14–15, the judgment on the serpent is spelled out. Verse 14 speaks
of the serpent eating dust all his life, a mark of perpetual shame and humiliation. In verse 15, it seems that God’s attention is directed not so much at the
serpent but at the one who was behind the whole affair—Satan. The seed of the
3.4 Genesis JR
Next, there was a change in the spiritual condition of Adam and Eve (3:8–10). The
Lord evidently had visited the garden and communed with Adam and Eve on
many occasions before the fall. However, the sound of God walking in the garden
now aroused fear rather than the joy of anticipating His presence.
Man Rebels
against God
woman, the Messiah (the Lord Jesus), would come to destroy the works of the
devil. Christ would deliver a deathblow to Satan (“He shall bruise your head”),
but in doing so He would suffer pain Himself (“And you shall bruise His heel”).
This would not be a fatal blow; Christ would experience death and conquer it
through His resurrection.
Genesis 3:16 describes the judgment placed on the woman. She was to suffer
greatly in childbirth, an area of her highest privilege. A second part of her judgment was that she would have a desire to rule her husband. A third part of the
judgment was that the woman would be ruled by the man. “And he shall rule
over you.”
Genesis 3:17–19 describes the judgment placed on the man. God’s judgment on the
man focused on his environment. The judgment was not on Adam’s person, but
because of him, was on the ground (Gen. 3:17). Physical hardship would be a necessary aspect of everyday life because of man’s sin. The joy of meaningful work was
exchanged for strenuous toil. God concluded the judgment with a reminder that men
were now mortal. Adam had been created from the dust of the ground, and he would
return to it. (Genesis 3:19 indicates that all mankind would be subject to physical
death.)
Thus, sinful man became subject to trials and difficulties because of his new
condition. That condition is transferred through the generations. Adam’s children
and all his descendants were and are born as sinful, fallen creatures (spiritually
dead). The image of God remains, but it is marred by the devastating presence of
sin.
But out of the blackness and tragedy of man’s fall, grace was found in the midst of
justice. Because God is just, He must judge sin. And because God is loving, He
gives grace to the sinner. Grace and justice were intermingled as God judged the
woman and the man.
In the midst of justice, grace shone forth for the woman because she would “bring
forth children.” Through the miracle of childbirth, the human race, sinful as it was,
would continue. In grateful acknowledgment of God’s blessing in this regard, “Adam
called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Gen. 3:20).
In the midst of justice, grace shone forth for the man in that even though he would
have to work hard to provide for his family, God said to him, “You shall eat the
herb of the field”(Gen. 3:18). The food produced by the man would sustain the
man and woman, as well as the lives produced by the woman.
Most of all, God’s grace was seen as He killed animals and made coats of skin to
replace Adam’s and Eve’s inadequate fig leaves (Gen. 3:21). This illustrated to
Adam and Eve, who may even have witnessed the death of those innocent
animals, the high cost of their guilt. If the concept of sacrifice was not revealed at
this time, it apparently was afterward (Gen. 4:4).
To punish sin appropriately and to prevent man from living eternally in his sinfulness, God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden (Gen. 3:22–24). This act was not
merely geographical; it was also spiritual. The intimate fellowship that existed
between man and God in the garden was broken.
Genesis JR 3.5
Man Rebels
against God
POINT
TO THE TRUTH
(Psalm 78:1).
Review Questions
How was man different from anything else that God created?
Only man was created in the image and likeness of God.
From what were the first man and woman made?
The man was made from the dust of the ground, and the woman was made
from a part of the man.
What responsibilities did God give man and woman?
Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth; subdue the earth; rule over the fish of
the sea, the birds of the sky, and every living thing that moves on the earth.
What was to be the woman’s relationship to the man?
She was created to be a suitable helper.
Wad of Weeds
House Rules for the Garden of Eden
Lead the class in a discussion of the rules given to them in various areas of life: home,
school, road, library, etc. List several categories on the board, and add rules students
give under each category. Point out that there are many rules we have to obey
throughout life. Emphasize that God gave only one rule for Adam and Eve to obey. Ask
whether the students know what that rule was. If they are not familiar with the passage,
share the answer by reading God’s instructions in Genesis 2:16–17.
Contrasting the Curse
Arrange to borrow a lizard and a nonvenemous snake from a local pet store or
from someone you know. Place the animals at a central location so that students
can gather around and observe them. Direct the students to fill out the
“Contrasting the Curse” observation chart by answering the question prompts.
Discuss their answers to draw a contrast between what the serpent may have been
like before and after the curse. Explain that the passage being taught will involve
God’s judgment on the serpent, the creature that Satan indwelt while leading Eve
to sin.
3.6 Genesis JR
Bring several different weeds from your yard. See if students can identify some of them.
What problems do they cause? Were weeds a part of God’s perfect creation? Were
there weeds in the garden of Eden? When did weeds become a problem? (It would be
interesting to have a farmer or landscaper lead this discussion. He might share something about the effort it takes to overcome the effects of weeds on his crops.)
Man Rebels
against God
PROCLAIM
THE TRUTH
Bible.
Bible Lesson
Reading of the Text
Read Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–24.
Introduction
Imagine that there was a man who was very good. He never did what was wrong.
He did not steal, lie, cheat, or swear. When he was small, he obeyed his parents.
When he grew up, he obeyed the law. One day, that person did something wrong,
just one thing. And the next day, the police came to his house, took him away, and
put him into jail. When his time to go before the judge came, the judge asked him,
“What did you do to be taken away and put into jail?” The man answered, “All I
did was take an apple from my neighbor’s yard and eat it. It was only an apple.”
How should that man be punished for his disobedience? Let’s see what happened
to Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God.
Leadoff Questions
LOQ: How many commandments did God give Adam in the garden of Eden?
Answer: God gave Adam only one commandment to obey.
LOQ: What did God warn Adam would happen if he ate from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil?
Answer: In Genesis 2:16–17, “God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of
the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’”
LOQ: What did the serpent ask Eve?
Answer: The serpent asked, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree
of the garden’?” [Emphasize “Has God indeed said” to convey a tone of doubt
about God’s command and, implicitly, about the goodness of His character.] The
serpent was trying to get Eve to doubt God.
LOQ: What was the serpent saying about God when he told Eve, “You will not
surely die!” (Gen. 3:4)?
Answer: The serpent was saying that God was a liar. But it was the serpent, not
God, who was the liar.
LOQ: Should Eve have continued to speak with the serpent?
Genesis JR 3.7
Man Rebels
against God
Answer: No! Eve should have left the serpent and asked for help from Adam
and God.
LOQ: After Eve looked at the tree and saw how good and pleasant it was, what
did she do?
Answer: Eve took the fruit and ate it.
LOQ: What happened with Adam?
Answer: Eve gave some fruit to Adam, and he ate also. Eve believed the serpent and
did what she wanted to do instead of obeying God. Adam decided to follow Eve and
eat from the tree also instead of obeying God. They both disobeyed God and sinned.
LOQ: Did Adam and Eve physically die after they ate from the forbidden tree?
Answer: Their bodies did not die immediately, but they began to die. Adam and
Eve also died spiritually, which means that they became separated from God in a
way that they hadn’t been before. It was like a wall of sin came between God and
them. God certainly had not lied to them.
LOQ: When God came to the garden to meet with Adam and Eve, what did they
do and why?
Answer: When Adam and Eve heard God coming, they hid. After they had eaten
of the forbidden tree, they both became ashamed because they were naked.
Because of this, they were afraid of God. Of course, God had never been mean to
them or done anything that would have caused them to fear Him. But they had
disobeyed Him, and because of the sin that they had done, they were afraid to
meet God. This is what sin does to the relationship a person has with God; it separates him from God—like a wall.
LOQ: What judgments did God bring on Adam and Eve?
Answer: After God cursed the serpent, He told Eve three things: she would have much
pain having a child, she would try to rule over her husband, and her husband would
rule over her.
God told Adam that the ground was cursed because of him, that thorns and thistles
would grow in the ground and cause problems for the good plants, and that Adam
would have to work very hard (“in the sweat of [his] face”) to grow food to eat. This
was very different from the way it had been in the garden of Eden!
God also told Adam that just as he came from the dust of the ground (2:7), he would
return to the dust. Adam would die physically. So Adam and Eve not only died spiritually, becoming “separated from God,” but they also were going to die physically.
Summary
When God put Adam and Eve into the garden of Eden, He gave them a command
to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they did eat of it, they
would surely die.
One day, a serpent spoke to Eve and asked her about God’s command concerning
the forbidden fruit. He was trying to get her to question what God had told her and
3.8 Genesis JR
LOQ: Whom did Adam and Eve blame for their sin?
Answer: In 3:12, Adam blamed the woman and God, who gave him the woman.
In the next verse, Eve blamed the serpent. Neither of them said, “I sinned. It is my
fault.”
Man Rebels
against God
Adam. He even told her a lie by saying that they would not die if they ate the fruit
and that God had not told them the truth. Eve did not leave the serpent when he
spoke against God. Instead, she stayed and looked at the fruit of the tree and saw
that it was pleasant to look at. And so she took some of the fruit and ate. She not
only ate, but she also gave some to Adam, and he ate it too.
When Adam and Even ate the fruit, they did not immediately die physically, but
they did die spiritually. The relationship they had with God was broken. They had
sinned. Later in the day, God came to Adam and Eve. But they hid because they
were ashamed of their nakedness. When God found them, Adam blamed Eve for
his sin of eating the forbidden fruit, and he blamed God for giving Eve to him. Eve
blamed the serpent. Neither of them said that he or she had sinned.
Because of their sin, God judged and punished them. Eve would have pain when
having a baby, and there would also be difficulties between the husband and the
wife in marriage. The ground was cursed by God so that Adam would have difficulty
farming it. And both Adam and Eve, as well as all their descendants, would one day
die physically. Then God cast Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden and placed
angels to guard against anyone going back inside the garden.
Application
None of God’s commandments should be disobeyed. Disobedience to God is sin!
When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, they did not obey God, but
instead did what they wanted. Only God knows what is best. He has told us what
He desires us to do. His commandments are not optional. We must do them. They
are all good and right.
Presentation Ideas
Use appropriate A Beka Book Flash-A-Cards with this lesson.
Use appropriate flannelgraph pieces with the lesson.
Adam, Eve, and a Snake
To prepare the students for the day’s lesson, reenact the scene from Genesis 3:1–6.
Fruit, Clothes, and Weeds
As you study through the Bible lesson, think of various props to use as you teach.
You could bring in fruit for the tree of knowledge, clothes for the curse, and weeds
for the curse on the ground. Use these props as you teach the Bible lesson.
Charting the Story
Photocopy the two charts onto an overhead transparency, and make copies for
students to take notes on. After teaching through Genesis 3:1–6, place the first
chart, “Satan Tempts the Whole Human Being,” on the overhead projector. Use the
chart to analyze Eve’s sin in comparison to 1 John 2:16.
Use the second chart, “God’s Judgments at the Fall of Mankind,” as a teaching tool
for Genesis 3:14–19. Fill in each section of the chart as you teach through the
passage with the class. To help you accomplish Lesson Objective 4, this chart
clearly lists the judgments God brought on Adam.
Genesis JR 3.9
Man Rebels
against God
Praise and Worship
Cleanse Me
Create in Me a Clean Heart
Seek Ye First
’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Trust and Obey
PRACTICE
THE TRUTH
Steps to Sin and Steps to Righteous Living
“Man Rebels against God”
Use this work sheet in small groups or individually, or send it home with students
to work on with their parents. This work sheet is located at the back of this lesson.
Journal Page: “God Wants Me to Obey”
Give each student a copy of the journal page at the back of this lesson. They can
complete the page individually, in small groups, or at home.
Coloring Sheets
MEMORY VERSE
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you
may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,
for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16–17).
3.10 Genesis JR
Copy the two charts on opposite sides of a piece of paper. Pass out a copy of the
charts and a pencil to each student. Begin with chart one, “Steps to Sin.” Review
Genesis 3:1–6 by reading it aloud to the group. Help the students list the three
steps to sin. Analyze the three examples given, and then write two examples of
your own as a group. It may help to begin with step three, the actual sin, and work
your way backward when creating your own examples. Instruct students to turn
their papers over, revealing chart two, “Steps to Righteous Living.” Ask the students
to turn to James 4:7 and read the verse aloud together. Guide the students in listing
the three steps leading to righteous living. Analyze the same three scenarios from
the first chart with new choices that lead to righteous behavior rather than to sin.
Rewrite the two examples your group came up with for the first chart, revising
each choice in a manner that will lead to righteousness. Encourage the students to
memorize James 4:7 so that the Holy Spirit can remind them of their way of escape
when they are tempted to sin.
Genesis JR 3.11
Which animal would you more
likely want to hold? Why?
How does the animal move from
place to place?
What is the main difference
between these two animals’
physical appearances?
What does the animal look like?
Draw a picture and write a
detailed description of each.
Lizard
Contrasting the Curse
Snake
Charting the Story
Satan Tempts the Whole Human Being
1 John 2:16
Genesis 3:6
Physical
Lust of the Flesh
The woman saw that
the tree was good for food
(physical hunger).
Emotional
Lust of the Eyes
It was pleasant to the
eyes (emotionally attractive).
Pride of Life
And it was desirable to
make one wise (knowledge
of good and evil).
Intellectual/Spiritual
God’s Judgments at the Fall of Mankind
Physical
Relational
Spiritual
Satan
Woman
Man
Genesis 3:14–15
Genesis 3:16
Genesis 3:17–19
3:14a—Cattle and all the rest
of creation were cursed. (See
Rom. 8:20–23.)
3:16a—Women experience
great pain in childbearing as
a constant reminder that Eve
gave birth to sin. (See 1 Tim.
2:15—women can be delivered from this curse by raising godly children.)
3:17–19a—Ground, the
object of man’s labor, was
cursed, resulting in hard
work required to provide the
basic needs to sustain life.
3:15a—There is a constant
struggle between Satan and
unbelievers (“your seed”) and
Christ (“her Seed”) and His
followers. (See John 8:44.)
3:16b—Women and men
will face struggles in their
marital relationships. God’s
divine plan is for man to lovingly lead his wife as head
(Eph. 5:22–25), but the curse
will cause women to desire
to usurp man’s authority.
3:16b—Women and men
will face struggles in their
marital relationships. Instead
of leading their wives with
love, modeled after Christ’s
love for the church (Eph.
5:22–25), men will struggle
with self-will as they rule
over women.
3:15b—Christ defeated Satan
by His atoning work on the
cross. Satan will suffer eternal damnation in hell. (See
Rom. 16:20; Heb. 2:14–15;
Rev. 20:10.)
Genesis 2:17—Spiritual
death
Genesis 2:17—Spiritual
death
Genesis 3:17—Innocence
was replaced by guilt and
shame with their newly
acquired ability to know both
good and evil.
Genesis 3:17—Innocence
was replaced by guilt and
shame with their newly
acquired ability to know both
good and evil.
3:14b—Serpent was
uniquely cursed by being
made to slither on its belly.
(See Isa. 65:25; Mic. 7:17.)
3:19b—Man became mortal
as a result of Adam’s sin.
Genesis JR 3.13
Genesis JR 3.15
Your parents
discipline you
for getting bad
grades in your
science class.
You see an
answer key to
an upcoming
test lying on
your teacher’s
desk.
You cheat on the
science test
to get a good
grade without
studying.
You see an
advertisement
for an R-rated
movie.
You look online
for more
information and
showtimes.
You view a
movie that is
not honoring
to God.
You listen
to friends at
school telling
stories about
stealing candy.
You walk down
the candy
aisle alone.
You steal a
candy bar.
Listened to Satan
(Gen. 3:1, 4–5)
Responded
to Satan
(Gen. 3:2–3)
Sinned—ate the
forbidden fruit
(Gen. 3:6)
Scenario 3
Scenario 2
Scenario 1
Genesis 3:1–6
Steps to Sin
Scenario 4
Scenario 5
Genesis JR 3.17
You obey your
parents and
stay home to study
for your
science test.
You memorize
Romans 12:2,
which teaches
you to be
transformed
by the renewing
of your mind.
After seeing a
movie advertisement, you read a
Christian movie
review online.
You decide not
to see a movie
that may cause
you to think
sinful thoughts.
You know that
one of the Ten
Commandments
is “You shall
not steal.”
You walk away
from a bad
conversation at
school when
friends were
talking about
stealing a
candy bar.
You save up your
money to buy
your favorite
candy bar next
time you go to
the store.
Submit to God.
Resist the devil.
Satan will flee
from you.
You receive an
excellent grade
on your
science test
honestly, by
working hard.
You inform your
teacher that she
left a copy of the
answer key in
plain view
on her desk.
Scenario 3
Scenario 2
Scenario 1
James 4:7
Scenario 4
Steps to Righteous Living
Scenario 5
Man Rebels against
God
Garden of Eden
in
the
Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–24
Name
1.
What did God say would happen if Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil?
2.
What did the serpent tell Eve in Genesis 3:4?
3.
How did Adam and Eve disobey God?
4.
What did Adam and Eve do after they sinned against God?
5.
Although Adam and Eve did not immediately die physically, they did die
ually.
6.
Whom did the man blame for his sin?
7.
Whom did the woman blame for her sin?
Genesis JR 3.19
Outside the Garden
In the Garden
Outside the Garden
God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. When they disobeyed God
and ate the forbidden fruit, they sinned. Because of their
sin, they were judged and punished. Below, list what it was
like in the garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned.
Also list what it was like outside the garden after they
sinned.
God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. When they disobeyed God
and ate the forbidden fruit, they sinned. Because of their
sin, they were judged and punished. Below, list what it was
like in the garden of Eden before Adam and Eve sinned.
Also list what it was like outside the garden after they
sinned.
In the Garden
God Wants Me to Obey
Genesis JR 3.21
God Wants Me to Obey
When a Christian is tempted to sin, God will provide a way of
escape (1 Cor. 10:13). He makes it possible for a Christian to
obey. There is never any excuse for sin. Ask God for forgiveness and help in overcoming temptation.
I obey God when I
To obey means to
God wants you to obey; He says so in the Bible. For example,
Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right.” Can you think of other Bible verses that talk
about obedience?
I would like to ask the Lord to forgive me for
When a Christian is tempted to sin, God will provide a way of
escape (1 Cor. 10:13). He makes it possible for a Christian to
obey. There is never any excuse for sin. Ask God for forgiveness and help in overcoming temptation.
I obey God when I
To obey means to
God wants you to obey; He says so in the Bible. For example,
Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right.” Can you think of other Bible verses that talk
about obedience?
Genesis JR 3.22
I would like to ask the Lord to forgive me for
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not
hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the
Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. For this
cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time
when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters
they shall not come near him”
(Psalm 32:5–6).
“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not
hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the
Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. For this
cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time
when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters
they shall not come near him”
(Psalm 32:5–6).
The serpent tempted Eve, saying, “Has God indeed said,
‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1).
Genesis JR 3.23
God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22–24).
Genesis JR 3.25
Cain Rebels against God
Genesis 4:1–15
LESSON GOAL
Students will understand that God
punishes sinful attitudes and actions.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
■ Identify the nature of the Cain’s and Abel’s offerings.
■ Explain the Lord’s response to Cain and His response
to Abel.
■ Identify Cain’s reaction to the Lord’s response.
■ Identify the Lord’s warning counsel.
■ Evaluate Cain’s rebellion against God.
KEY VERSE
“And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did
not respect Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:4–5).
APPLICATION
Symbol Key
■
■
Memory Verse
■
Object Lesson
■
Repent from your first sin. Don’t keep sinning!
Serve the Lord with gladness and obey His Word.
Remember that God will punish sinners.
Love the Lord with all your heart.
Game
Visual Aid
Activity
NEXT WEEK
God Floods the Earth
Read Genesis 6:5–7:24.
Q&A
Work Sheet
Genesis JR 4.1
Cain Rebels
against God
PREPARE
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4.2 Genesis JR
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POINT
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PROCLAIM
Presentation Ideas
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Praise/Music Ideas
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PRACTICE
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Materials
Needed
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Cain Rebels
against God
PREPARE
WITH THE TRUTH
Bible Background
Adam’s nakedness was a source of shame for him in his fallen condition, and he
sought to reduce its effects by covering his nakedness with fig leaves. When
confronted by God and compelled to confess his sin, he was without hope and
knew he must die. Yet God delivered Adam from his deserved end by killing an
animal in his place and using its skin to make a garment to cover his nakedness.
God was, in effect, delivering Adam from his guilt and shame by offering an
acceptable sacrifice and making an acceptable covering for his sin. We can see
here that God delivers His people from guilt and shame by means of an acceptable sacrifice. In the account of Cain and Abel, we will see that God is concerned
with man’s heart attitude.
The account of Cain and Abel emphasizes the heart attitude of the offerer. Cain
brought “fruit of the ground” (Gen. 4:3), apparently random samples of what he
had grown, to the Lord. Abel, on the other hand, brought “of the firstborn of his
flock and of their fat” (4:4). Abel cared enough to give the very best he had, and
so the Lord looked with favor on both him and his offering. But because of Cain’s
careless and indifferent attitude while bringing his offering, God “did not respect”
(4:5) either him or his gift. Unlike Cain, Abel was motivated by faith in God. “By
faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he
obtained witness that he was righteous” (Heb. 11:4). The Old Testament teaches
that God will reject even the most perfect sacrifice if that sacrifice is offered by
an apostate heart (Isa. 1:11–13; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8). Samuel says, “Has the
LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of
the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of
rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).
Additional
Reference
Materials
Paradise to Prison:
Studies in Genesis
by John J. Davis
The MacArthur Study
Cain could have responded to God by expressing a heartfelt desire to humbly
obey Him from that time forward. Instead, he became “very angry, and his countenance fell” (Gen. 4:5). As was the case with the first sin, God came to the sinner,
not vice versa (Gen. 3:9). The Lord asked Cain to justify his anger and encouraged
Cain to examine himself. God promised that if Cain did well, he would be
accepted and blessed. But if he refused to do what was right, sin would be close
at hand, waiting to gain mastery over him. Cain resisted the grace of God, turned
his back on Him, and slid deeper and deeper into sin.
Cain’s selfish attitude, displayed when he brought his offering to God, turned into
anger when he realized that God did not look with favor on him. His anger was
then replaced with jealousy toward his brother, Abel. He decided to get rid of Abel
once and for all. He attacked Abel and killed him (Gen. 4:8).
Cain’s murder of Abel was monstrous not only because it was the first murder
recorded in history, but also because it was committed by a man against his
brother (1 John 3:12). And it was committed against an innocent man, a “righteous” man.
Genesis JR 4.3
Cain Rebels
against God
To try to cover up his brother’s murder, Cain lied to God. When asked where Abel
was, he said, “I do not know” (Gen. 4:9)—a deliberate and blatant lie. Then he
continued to speak with indifference and a lack of concern: “Am I my brother’s
keeper?”
Note: Through the centuries, those words have provided a rationale down for people
who refuse to get involved with the problems and difficulties their neighbors are
having. Like the priest and Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan, they see
human misery and suffering but pass by “on the other side” (Luke 10:31–32). They
have little or no sense of responsibility toward others.
Cain had nothing to gain by lying to God because his brother’s blood gave him
away (Gen. 4:10). Cain had disobeyed God, and disobedience always brings
divine judgment. Cain would incur judgment and would be driven from the very
ground that he had soaked with his brother’s blood (Gen. 4:11). Before, Cain had
worked the soil, and it had produced plenty of food (Gen. 4:2–3). But now,
though he might labor long and hard, the ground would no longer yield its crops
for him (Gen. 4:12). The ground that had received the blood of Cain’s brother
would never again provide Cain with the livelihood he had always enjoyed. Far
from being the settled farmer he had always been, he would become a restless
wanderer on the earth (4:12, 14). Cain would be a fugitive, or vagabond, moving
from one place to another. Cain confessed that the punishment was greater than
he could bear (4:13). He feared that whoever found him would kill him (4:14).
Notice that Cain showed no hint of remorse, no desire to ask God to forgive him
for the death of Abel. His response to God’s judgment was totally selfish.
Still, the Lord guaranteed Cain protection. He set a mark on him (Gen. 4:15).
Whatever the mark or sign was, we can marvel at why God would promise to
protect such a violent man and permit him to live. For that matter, why did God
permit David to live after he committed adultery and murder (2 Sam. 12:13)? We
can answer only that God is sovereign; His grace is boundless.
4.4 Genesis JR
Cain’s failure to give God his heart along with his offering made it impossible for
God to look on him with favor. Cain then became angry at God and jealous of his
brother. Jealousy, as it grew and festered, gave way to murder, and Cain then lied
in order to cover his sins. When his lie was found out and God pronounced judgment, Cain responded not with remorse over what he had done, but with
complaints about his severe punishment and with selfish concern about his own
well-being. Alienation from God was the ultimate result (Gen. 4:16).
Cain Rebels
against God
POINT
TO THE TRUTH
(Psalm 78:1).
Review Questions
What was the one commandment that Adam and Eve had to obey when God
put them in the garden of Eden?
Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
What had God told them would happen if they ate from the forbidden tree?
They would die.
Summarize what the serpent told Eve.
First, the serpent began to place doubts about God in Eve’s mind by having her
question what God said. Then he told her a lie and said that she would not die if
she ate from the tree.
By saying these things to Eve, what was the serpent saying about God?
The serpent was calling God a liar. But God is not a liar. The serpent was the liar.
What two things did Eve do after listening to the serpent?
She ate of the fruit and then gave some to Adam, and he ate.
In what way did Adam and Eve immediately die after they ate from the tree?
Spiritually. Eventually, they died physically as well.
What does it mean that they died spiritually?
They were separated from God in a way that they hadn’t been before. It was as
though a wall of sin came between God and them.
Whom did Adam and Eve blame for their sin? Who was really at fault?
Adam blamed the woman and God, who had given him the woman. Eve blamed
the serpent. Neither of them blamed himself, although each one was at fault.
Name at least one judgment God brought on Eve.
She would have pain during childbirth; she would try to rule over her husband; her
husband would rule over her.
Name at least one judgment God brought on Adam.
The ground would be cursed because of him; thorns and thistles would grow;
Adam would have to work very hard to grow food to eat.
Genesis JR 4.5
Cain Rebels
against God
The Curse
On the students’ arrival to class and continuing throughout the lesson, mark a helper
or parent volunteer as “cursed.” (This curse could be represented by a large piece of
poster board with Cain’s curse from Genesis 4:11–12 written on it.) Inform the
students that the cursed person cannot sit (representing Cain’s curse to be a vagrant),
cannot play with toys, and must carry weeds or dried grass (to represent poor crops).
This will give an example of a curse and could lead into a discussion of God’s
instructions, how Cain chose to disobey, and how he was punished. God’s mercy
could also be discussed. In today’s lesson, we will learn about a man who had a
severe curse.
Six Ways I Can Please the Lord This Week
Give each student a blank piece of paper. Tell the students to write down six ways
they can please the Lord this week. In today’s lesson they will learn about two
brothers. One brother pleased the Lord and the other did not.
Warning!
Bring in a variety of objects with warning labels, such as cleaning supplies, electrical appliance cords, an infant car seat, and toy packaging. Divide the class into
groups. Assign an object to each group. Direct the groups to read the warning
label and prepare a short presentation for the class by answering the following
questions:
1. What is the product used for?
2. What warnings are given to the user?
3. What will be the result of misuse?
Warning!
4.6 Genesis JR
■
Bring an acceptable offering to God.
■
Disobedience displeases the Lord.
■
Anger and hostility lead to sin.
■
Sin can overpower you, if you let it.
■
Sin leads to death.
■
Humble yourself and obey God.
After the groups present their warning labels to the class, lead the class in a discussion of God’s warning to Cain in Genesis 4:7. Pass out a blank index card to each
student. Instruct students to design a warning label similar to those found on the
objects they analyzed in their groups. Encourage them to write bullet points with
short, simple statements of warning and instruction. Provide the following
example if needed:
Cain Rebels
against God
PROCLAIM
THE TRUTH
Bible.
Bible Lesson
Reading of the Text
Read Genesis 4:1–12.
Introduction
What if I told you that a man did something bad and then God reminded that man
what was right? You probably would think that the man would listen to God. God
knows everything. He knows what is right. Yet we can look around today and see that
most of the time, people do not do what God tells them to do, even though He has
given them the Bible so that they can know what pleases Him and what He wants
them to do. In today’s lesson, we will learn about a man who did not want to listen to
God. He wanted to do only what he wanted, even if it meant ignoring and disobeying
God. Do not be like this man.
LOQ: What two new people do we meet in this lesson?
Answer: We see that Cain was born to Eve, and then Abel was born.
LOQ: What jobs did Cain and Abel have?
Answer: Abel took care of animals, and Cain took care of the fields. Both of these
jobs were good.
LOQ: What special thing did Cain and Abel do?
Answer: Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord.
LOQ: What offering did Cain bring to the Lord?
Answer: Cain brought fruit of the ground. Since Cain was a farmer who took care
of the fields, he brought some of the things that he grew.
LOQ: What offering did Abel bring to the Lord?
Answer: Abel brought the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions. Abel did not
bring just any of the animals he had. He brought the best, the firstborn, to the Lord.
The Bible also says that he brought their fat portions. These were special parts of
the animals and were pleasing to the Lord.
LOQ: How did God respond to Abel’s offering?
Answer: The second part of verse 4 says that “the Lord respected Abel and his
offering.” It is important to notice that God not only was concerned about the
Genesis JR 4.7
Cain Rebels
against God
offering, but also was especially concerned about the one who made the offering.
He had regard for both Abel and his offering.
LOQ: How did God respond to Cain’s offering?
Answer: The first part of verse 5 says that “He did not respect Cain and his offering.”
The Lord did not accept Cain or his offering.
LOQ: What was Cain’s reaction when he found out that the Lord did not respect
his offering?
Answer: The end of verse 5 says that Cain became very angry, and his countenance
fell (that is, the look on his face changed to show that he was very displeased).
LOQ: How do we know that the Lord knew Cain was angry?
Answer: Verse 6 tells us that “the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why
has your countenance fallen?’” God saw the change in Cain’s face, and He also
could see what no man could see: Cain’s heart. Even if no one knows what is
happening inside our hearts, God does. Nothing is hidden from God.
LOQ: What were the two parts of God’s advice to Cain?
Answer: God told Cain that if he did well, he would be accepted. God also told
Cain that if he did not do well, he would not be accepted. God was warning Cain
to be careful because he was being tempted to sin. If Cain was not careful, he
would sin. We all have to be careful when we are tempted because if we give in,
then we are sinning.
LOQ: Did Cain listen to God’s warning?
Answer: No.
Summary
Adam and Eve had two sons named Cain and Abel. Abel was a keeper of flocks.
Cain was a tiller of the ground. Both Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord.
Since Cain farmed the ground, he brought something from what he grew. Abel, on
the other hand, brought firstlings of his flock. God accepted Abel and his offering,
but He rejected Cain and his offering. This made Cain angry. God knew that Cain
was angry and told him that if he did what was right, God would accept him and
his offering. God also warned Cain that because of his anger, he was in danger of
committing sin: “Sin lies at the door.” But Cain did not listen to the Lord. Instead,
he attacked Abel and killed him.
4.8 Genesis JR
LOQ: How do we know that Cain rejected God’s warning to not give in to temptation and sin?
Answer: Cain murdered his brother, and murder is a sin. God was right when He
warned Cain. But Cain refused to listen to God. Instead, he let his anger control
him, and he killed Abel. What Cain did was very wicked.
Cain Rebels
against God
Presentation Ideas
Use appropriate A Beka Book Flash-A-Cards with the lesson.
Use appropriate flannelgraph pieces with the lesson.
Skit: Cain and Abel
This story lends itself very well to a skit. Choose one person to be Cain, one to be
Abel, and one to be the Lord. Bring in appropriate props for today’s passage. Act
out the lesson and then go through the lesson with the students.
Cain’s Rebellion
Write the acrostic “REBELLION” on the board. Lead the students to fill in the
following phrase on their own paper as you teach through the lesson. The acrostic
will enable students to evaluate Cain’s rebellion against God.
Refused to repent (4:5)
Expressed anger at God (4:5–6)
Blamed Abel for his lack of acceptance (jealousy; 4:8)
Executed his brother (4:8)
Lied to God (4:9)
Lost his livelihood as an act of divine judgment (4:10–12)
Ignored God’s commands and showed lack of concern for his brother (4:9)
Opened the door to sin and was overpowered (4:7)
No longer had fellowship with God (4:14, 16)
Praise and Worship
Cleanse Me
Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down
Create in Me a Clean Heart
O Worship the King
Seek Ye First
Trust and Obey
PRACTICE
THE TRUTH
Love Your Siblings
Discuss with the students how they get along with their brothers and sisters. Ask
them whether they have been jealous of one of their family members or have done
Genesis JR 4.9
Cain Rebels
against God
something wrong to one of them. Ask them what God thinks of that. Ask them
what they can do to show their brothers and sisters that they love them. Encourage
them to find practical and tangible ways to care for their brothers and sisters.
Venn Diagram
Make a copy of the Venn diagram for each student. Review the passage by reading
through Genesis 4:1–15 as a group. Direct the students to fill in the Venn diagram,
listing things that Cain and Abel had in common in the space where the two
circles overlap, and listing Cain and Abel’s differences in the sections labeled with
their names. Use this activity to accomplish Lesson Objectives 1 and 2. Samples
of things students may come up with are listed below.
Similarities
Brothers (4:2)
Brought offerings to God (4:3–4)
Cain
Firstborn son of Adam and Eve (4:1)
Farmer (4:2)
Brought fruit of the ground as an offering (4:3)
His offering displeased God and was rejected (4:5)
Responded in anger (4:5)
Abel
Second son of Adam and Eve (4:2)
Shepherd (4:2)
Brought firstborn of his flock as an offering (4:4)
His offering pleased God and was accepted (4:4)
Obedient (implied in 4:4)
Use this work sheet at the end of class to review the lesson, or send it home to use
with parents. This work sheet is located at the back of this lesson.
Journal Page: “I Can Choose to Obey”
Give each student a copy of the journal page at the back of this lesson. The
students can work on the page individually, in small groups, or at home.
Coloring Sheets
MEMORY VERSE
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you
may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,
for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:16–17).
4.10 Genesis JR
“Cain Rebels against God”
Cain
Genesis JR 4.11
Venn Diagram
Abel
Cain Rebels
against
God
Genesis 4:1–8
Name
1.
What jobs did Cain and Abel have?
2.
What special thing did Cain and Abel do in verses 3 and 4?
3.
What did Cain offer to the Lord?
4.
What did Abel offer to the Lord?
5.
Cain got angry because the Lord did not
6.
God warned Cain not to sin. Did Cain listen to God’s warning?
7.
What did Cain do to Abel?
8.
How can we know what to do to please God?
his offering.
Genesis JR 4.13
Hated
Was Jealous
Was Humble
Disobeyed
Was Angry
Obeyed
Hated
Was Jealous
Was Humble
Disobeyed
Abel
Brought an
Acceptable Sacrifice
Made a
Good Choice
Brought an
Acceptable Sacrifice
Made a
Good Choice
Sinned
Didn’t Please God
Didn’t Please God
Abel
Pleased God
Pleased God
Sinned
Killed
Killed
Cain
Was Angry
A list of words and phrases describing Cain’s and Abel’s
actions is in the column to your right. Draw a line from each
word or phrase to the person it describes.
Cain
A list of words and phrases describing Cain’s and Abel’s
actions is in the column to your right. Draw a line from each
word or phrase to the person it describes.
Obeyed
I Can Choose to Obey
Genesis JR 4.15
I Can Choose to Obey
Some ways I can please God are
I can learn how to please God by
As we study God’s Word, we gain the knowledge we need to
please Him. This week, ask God to help you walk in a way that
is pleasing to Him.
When I sin, I should
Some ways I can please God are
I can learn how to please God by
As we study God’s Word, we gain the knowledge we need to
please Him. This week, ask God to help you walk in a way that
is pleasing to Him.
Genesis JR 4.16
When I sin, I should
I can praise God because
I can praise God because
Cain
Abel
Genesis JR 4.17
“Cain was very angry, and His countenance fell” (Genesis 4:5).
Genesis JR 4.19
“Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’
He said, ‘I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’” (Genesis 4:8–9).
Genesis JR 4.21

Sample Genesis JR 1-4

Transcription

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