少儿圣经故事:该隐与亚伯/In the Beginning 3

??“What came first, the chicken or the egg？” Has anyone ever asked you that question？If you remember our Bible lesson from last time, you can answer that question without even thinking! Of course the chicken came first! God made the creature first, and put the ability in each plant and animal to reproduce after its kind. God said that in His word, and we see that happening!

??When God created people, He created full-grown adults with the ability to produce after their kind. Can you imagine the wonderful surprise when Adam and Eve had their first baby boy？They had never seen a human baby before! Eve named him Cain, which means “Gotten from the Lord.” Surely this darling baby with his tiny hands and feet brought much joy to Adam and Eve. How they loved him!

??There was one who loved little Cain even more than his parents. God had made this first baby, even planned his life before he was born; and God loved him more than his parents. God loves you too, even more than your parents ever could! As your Creator, God has every day of your life in His hands, and He knows the very best plan for your life. Our pure and holy God longs to have you become a part of His forever family in Heaven! John 3：16 says, “For God so loved the world.” What wonderful plans God has for you because He loves you!

??God loved Cain too, even more than his parents could. Soon God surprised Adam and Eve with a second son and they named him Abel. As the boys grew, Adam and Eve probably told them the sad story of how sin had ruined the perfect world God created. The boys would have seen Adam offer animal sacrifice for sin. No doubt Adam explained that the animal was taking their punishment for sin. He would also have told the boys about the promise God made to them in the Garden of Eden, that one day He would send someone to take away the curse of sin.

??As the boys grew, Abel became interested in keeping sheep, and Cain loved gardening. Genesis 4：3 says, “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.” Abel was also old enough to bring his own offering for sin, but instead of fruit and vegetables, Abel offered a lamb from his flock. The Bible tells us that God had respect for Abel’s offering, but not for Cain’s. That means God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Why？Hebrews 11：4 says, “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” Abel had not only brought the sin offering that God required, but he had offered it with a right heart- he offered it by faith.

??If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin, God wants you to not only obey His commands, but also to do it with a right heart, a heart of faith. Hebrews 11：6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him：(God), for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently 1 seek him.” A heart of faith causes you to not only obey God, but to do it because you love Him and believe His Word! Having a heart of faith will cause you to go to church cheerfully, not just because your parents make you go. Do you read your Bible, pray, and sing to the Lord with all your heart？If you know the Lord Jesus, it is important to do the right thing and to do it with a right heart, a heart that loves and believes God.

??God saw Abel doing the right thing, and doing it with a heart of faith. That means a heart that loved and believed God. But when God looked at Cain’s offering and his heart, God was not pleased. Cain became very angry and resentful that God had accepted his little brother’s offering and not his own-and he pouted 3! God patiently reasoned with Cain, “Why are you angry？And why is your face so full of resentment 4？If you did the right thing, wouldn’t you be accepted？And if you didn’t do the right thing, then sin lies at the door. But you can rule over sin.” God was telling Cain, “Don’t waste time pouting 5, just go do the right thing and I will accept it. You don’t have to let sin rule over you- you can rule over sin.”

??Sin is when we do things that do not please God. You may think you are doing something for God, but if you are doing it your own way and with a prideful heart, that is sin. Sin is when you resent that others receive a better grade than you. Do you pout 2 and resent it when someone corrects you for the wrong you’re doing？That is sin. God’s Word says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately 6 wicked.” (Jeremiah 17：9) We are all born with that deceitful, sinful heart. God says if you continue on in your sin, you will be separated from Him and His perfect Heaven forever.

??Even when God gave Cain another chance to do the right thing, Cain continued on in his sin. Cain could have easily gotten a lamb from his brother, and made the animal sacrifice that God required, but he did not. You may ask, “Why was it so important to offer an animal sacrifice rather than a fruit and vegetable offering to the Lord？” Hebrews 9：22b says, “…and without shedding of blood, is no remission.” It is God’s plan that the payment of sin would be blood, and without that blood God would not forgive the sins of the people. In the Old Testament 7, it was the blood of an animal, usually a lamb. When the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth He was called the “Lamb of God, ” because He would shed His own precious blood for our sin, and suffer death for us. I Corinthians 5：7 says, “For even Christ…is sacrificed for us…” Jesus died on the cross, but He rose again the third day and now He is in Heaven. After His death, no animals would need to be sacrificed for sin.

??But before the Lord Jesus died for sin, God required that an animal be killed, usually a lamb, and its blood be shed to pay for the sins of the people. When God saw the blood, He would forgive the sins of the person. God would not accept fruits and vegetables because it was not a blood sacrifice. Cain knew God’s requirement, but chose to go his own way. His anger and resentment grew toward his righteous brother Abel. One day when they were alone in the field, Cain rose up in anger, and killed his brother! Doesn’t it seem so terrible that Abel, who did the right thing would have to suffer, and Cain, who did the wrong thing, was the one who lived？Just think, however, where is Abel today, after all these thousands of years since he was killed？He is alive and enjoying all the wonderful things in Heaven with God! But what happened to Cain？Cain suffered something much more terrible than physical death. God saw what Cain had done, though no one else did. God asked Cain, “Where is Abel your brother？” Cain lied, “I don’t know, am I my brother’s keeper？” Then God said, “What have you done？The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the earth. When you plow 8 the ground, it will not yield all those wonderful fruits and vegetables like it once did. And you will be a wanderer in the earth.” Then God, in His mercy, placed a mark on Cain so that no one would kill him.

??What sad words complete our lesson today：“And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD.” Abel is right now enjoying the presence of the LORD in Heaven, with all its golden city and street, its awesome 9 beauty and riches and happiness, but Cain is still separated from God, suffering forever in a terrible place called hell. How very sad that Cain had refused to admit his sin, and come God’s one way to have his sins forgiven.

??If you have never believed on the Lord Jesus, won’t you come to Him today, admitting your sin and asking Him to save you？Jesus’ death on the cross is the only way God has made for your sins to be forgiven. Please go now to “How to Be a Child of God.”

??If you have already believed on the Lord Jesus, do you realize how important it is to do your work for the Lord as Abel did, with a right heart, a heart of faith？This week, will you read your Bible and pray with a heart that loves and believes God？Will you go to church and serve the Lord, not because your parents make you, but because you truly believe and love God？Jesus said, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth？” (Luke 18：8) The Son of man is Jesus and He will surely return from Heaven someday, perhaps today! Many today claim to be followers 10 of Jesus, but they do not do the right thing with a right heart-a heart of faith. If you know the Lord Jesus, will He find you this week joyfully 11 serving Him with a right heart of faith？

??先有鸡还是先有蛋？别人拿这个问题问过你吗？如果你记得上一课的圣经故事，就能毫不费力地答对它了。当然是先有鸡。因为神是先造了各样的活物，再叫它们生养众多、各从其类啊！神的话怎么说，事情就怎么成就。

??同样地，当神造人的时候，他所造的是一对能生养儿女的成人。你能不能想像亚当夏娃得到头一个儿子该有多高兴？他们从没看见过一个娃娃。夏娃就给他起名叫”该隐”，意思是”从神得来的”。他的小手小脚可真让做父母的开心啊，他们好爱他。

??但是有一位比父母亲更爱他的，就是神。他是神所造的头一个娃娃，在他还没生下来之前就为他的一生做打算。神爱他更甚于他的父母。神对你也是一样，他对你的爱要远超过父母对你的爱，你的每一天都在他手中，他对你的一生也有一个最完美的计划。他是我们的天父，他更期待着你在天国与他永远在一块儿。约翰福音三章十六节说”神爱世人、甚至将他的独生子赐给他们、叫一切信他的、不至灭亡、反得永生”。他真是爱你，为你做了最好的预备。

??神就是这样爱该隐，比亚当夏娃更爱他。不久神又给亚当夏娃一个惊喜，就是第二个儿子。这次他们给他取名叫亚伯。当孩子们一天天长大的时候, 他们的爸爸妈妈可能告诉过他们罪是怎样败坏了神创造的完美的世界。孩子们也可能看过亚当用动物献祭。亚当肯定解释了那些被用来献祭的动物是替他们承受罪的刑罚。他可能还告诉了孩子们神在伊甸园里做的应许—--有一天他要派一个人除去罪的诅咒。

??当这两个男孩一天天长大, 亚伯变得对牧羊感兴趣, 而该隐却喜爱园艺。《创世纪》4：3告诉我们：”该隐拿地里的出产为供物献给耶和华”亚伯到了可以为他自己的罪献祭时, 他没有献上水果和蔬菜, 而是献上他羊群中头生的。圣经告诉我们神喜悦亚伯献上的，却不喜悦该隐献上的。为什么呢？希伯来书11：4告诉我们”亚伯因着信献祭与神、比该隐所献的更美、因此便得了称义的见证、就是神指他礼物作的见证．他虽然死了、却因这信仍旧说话”亚伯不仅献上了神所喜悦的，更是有一个正确的心态，因为他是凭着信心献上的。小朋友们，如果你认识那位使你脱离罪的主耶稣;神要你不单单是听他的命令, 而且要出于信心听他的命令。

??希伯来书11：6告诉我们”人非有信、就不能得神的喜悦．因为到神面前来的人、必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人”信心帮助我们不单单是听神的命令, 更是因为我们爱他，相信他的话!信心能让我们欢欢喜喜地去教会, 而不是因为父母的要求。小朋友们，你会全心读你的圣经, 祷告, 唱歌赞美主吗？如果你认识主耶稣，就要学习用信心和爱主的心去做对的事情。神看见亚伯出于信心做了正确的事，也就是说他有一颗爱主的心。但当神看见该隐献上的和他的心，神是不喜悦的。该隐变得非常恼怒并且变了脸色，因为神接受他弟弟献上的却不接受他自己献上的。神耐心地给该隐解释”你为什么发怒呢、你为什么变了脸色呢？你若行得好、岂不蒙悦纳、你若行得不好、罪就伏在门前．他必恋慕你、你却要制伏他”，意思就是让该隐不要浪费时间生气，若该隐去做对的事情, 神就会喜悦。

??当我们做神不喜悦的事时就是犯罪；也许你在为神做着某些事情, 但如果你用自己的办法，或者有颗骄傲的心做，都是犯罪；当你嫉妒其他人成绩比你好，是犯罪；当别人纠正你所犯的错误时你却生气，是犯罪。

??耶利米书17：9告诉我们”人心比万物都诡诈、坏到极处”我们生来就有诡诈的心。神说如果你继续犯罪, 你将永远地离开他和他那完美的天堂。神给了该隐机会做正确的事, 该隐却继续犯罪。该隐能很容易地从亚伯得到羊羔, 献上亚伯不仅献上了神所喜悦的, 但他没有做。你可能会问”为什么应该给神献上动物而不是水果和蔬菜？”

??希伯来书9：22告诉我们”若不流血、罪就不得赦免了”在神的计划中，罪的代价需要用血来偿还。若不流血，神就不能原谅人的罪。在旧约里, 需要流的是动物的血, 通常是一只羊羔。当神的儿子主耶稣来到地上时，他被称为”神的羔羊”。因为他为我们的罪流了他自己的宝血, 并且为我们死在十字架上。

??哥林多前书5：7告诉我们”因为我们逾越节的羔羊基督、已经被杀献祭了”耶稣死在十字架上并三天后复活，他现在是在天上。在主耶稣死之后, 再也不需要献动物为祭。但在主耶稣死之前，神需要看见动物被杀，常常是一只羊羔，它的血为人赎罪。当神看到血，他就原谅这个人的罪。

??神不接受水果和蔬菜因为这与血无关。该隐知道神的要求，却选择了自己的办法。他把愤怒和怨气都转向他那公义的弟弟亚伯。有一天，当他们单独在田里的时候，该隐怒气上升杀害了弟弟亚伯!这件事看起来好可怕，亚伯做了正确的事被杀害而该隐做了错事却继续活着。但是让我们再想一想，在他被杀害几千年后的今天亚伯在哪里？他与神一起生活在天堂享受着所有美妙的事!该隐又在哪里呢？该隐遭受的事可比身体死亡更可怕。虽然别人没有看见该隐所做的，神却看见了。神问该隐”你兄弟亚伯在哪里？”该隐撒谎说”我不知道，我岂是看守我兄弟的吗”然后神就说”你作了什么事呢、你兄弟的血、有声音从地里向我哀告，现在你必从这地受咒诅，你种地、地不再给你效力出产那些美妙的水果和蔬菜。”然后，慈悲的神安置了一个记号在该隐身上，所以没人能杀害他。

??该隐的结局实在让我们伤心：”于是该隐离开耶和华的面”亚伯现在正在天堂享受主的同在，在那里有黄金街碧玉城，有令人敬畏的美丽富有和欢乐。然而该隐永远地与神隔绝，住在一个可怕的地方叫做地狱。多么地可惜啊，该隐拒绝承认他的罪，也没有行再神的道路上被原谅。

??如果你从未相信主耶稣, 愿不愿意今天来到他面前承认你的罪并求他来拯救你？耶稣在十字架上的死是唯一的办法可以让神原谅你的罪。请听另一个栏目”怎样成为神的孩子”如果你已经相信主耶稣，你现在应该意识到象亚伯一样用信心服事神是多么的重要。这个星期，你愿存着信心并爱主的心读你的圣经和祷告吗？你会去教会服事主不是因为你父母的要求，而是因为你相信并真实地爱神？耶稣说”然而人子来的时候、遇得见世上有信德么？”（路加福音18：8）

??人子耶稣有一天会从天堂回来，可能就是今天!小朋友们，你们预备好了吗？许多今天声称是追随耶稣的人却没有用信心做正确的事。如果你认识主耶稣，他会发现你这个星期内是用信心喜乐地服事他吗？