Collision: Cain's Calamity
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Anger: “a strong feeling of instant displeasure and usually antagonism”
I. Anger Is a Result of One’s Perspective.
a. Cain’s selfish perspective (Genesis 4:1-5)
b. Cain’s arrogant perspective (Genesis 4:9)
II. Anger Is a Dangerous State of Living. (Genesis 4:6-8)
a. Physicaldangers
b. Emotional dangers (Genesis 4:14; Ephesians 4:31)
Bitterness: “a hostile disposition and a poisonous frame of mind that causes a person to brood, scowl, and become repulsive in demeanor”
c. Relational dangers (Genesis 4:10-15; 1 John 3:11-12)
Control your anger before it controls you.
HOOK
How many of you here currently have a learner’s permit or a driver’s license? [Allow for responses.] Do you think you’re better now as a driver than when you first started? [Allow for responses.] Hopefully that’s the case for everyone here who has learned how to drive.
Now, some people are a little too confident in their driving. They put the pedal to the metal and drive as fast as they can. One of the dangers of high speed is that it’s easy to get out of control. This is especially true if the weather is pouring down rain or blowing snow.
Quite often, you might hear stories about car crashes that resulted from an out-of-control vehicle. In fact, we have a video that shows an example of this. Take a look.
Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt in that scenario. But this out-of-control car provides an example of something else that can get out of control, threatening or even harming other people who are simply standing by. And this danger doesn’t require a driver’s license.
What we are going to talk about today has the potential to cause the destruction of property and the destruction of relationships. It has led to hurt feelings, wounded relationships, and broken families. It has brought on violence and even abuse.
Most, if not all of us here, have experienced this one way or another. Some of you have seen it from others and it has left you terrified and/or scarred. Others of you have lost control of this yourself and have hurt others in the process.
In fact, the topic we are going to talk about has the ability to get so out of control that it will wind up controlling you. It can cause you to do things that you would never imagine yourself doing. It can lead you down a destructive path that leaves ruin in your wake. And today we will learn how you need to control it before it controls you.
Today’s lesson is the first lesson in a four-part series called Train Wreck: Off the Rails. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the module title.] Each lesson of this series will cover a malicious, or wicked, man whose life story is recorded for us in the Bible. As you might guess, these character studies are not for us to copy, but instead to avoid. Today’s lesson goes all the way back to the first family and is titled [Show the PowerPoint slide with the lesson title.] Collision: Cain’s Calamity.
LESSON CONTENT
Turn in your Bibles to the first Book of the Old Testament. When you find the Book of Genesis, turn to chapter four. As we begin, you need to know that Adam and Eve’s first two sons, Cain and Abel, each had an opportunity to worship God—one did it well and the other did it poorly.
God’s response to these two sons reveals the true heart of each man. From the life of Cain, we can learn about the topic of anger. That’s right, anger has the possibility of leaving havoc in its wake. So today, you will be challenged to [Show the PowerPoint slide with the Sticky Statement.] control your anger before it controls you.
[Show the PowerPoint slide with the definition of the word “anger.”] “Anger” is “a strong feeling of instant displeasure and usually antagonism.” Anger starts as a result of one’s perspective, so that is where we will begin our lesson. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the first point of the outline.]
I. Anger Is a Result of One’s Perspective.
Anger is not just an emotion. It is a reaction that begins in our thinking. In our main passage for today, Genesis 4,
Cain had both a selfish perspective and an arrogant perspective. Let’s begin with his selfish perspective. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
a. Cain’s selfish perspective (Genesis 4:1-5; Hebrews 11:4, 9:22; James 1:19-20)
In order to see Cain’s selfish perspective, we need to understand the background of the sibling rivalry between Cain and Abel. That background is found in the opening verses of Genesis 4. [Read Genesis 4:1-2
1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
Cain was the firstborn son, while Abel was next in line. Verse 2 shows us what kind of jobs these two brothers had. Abel was a shepherd, while Cain was essentially a farmer, working hard to grow crops and till the ground.
There was nothing wrong with either of these jobs, but something was wrong with how one of these men chose to worship God. Let’s have someone read Genesis 4:3-5. Who would like to read that for us? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Genesis 4:3-5
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Both brothers gave something to God to worship Him, but God only accepted one of the gifts. Whose offering did God accept: Cain’s or Abel’s? [Wait for a response of “Abel’s.”] God only accepted Abel’s offering.
Now, you might be thinking, what was wrong with Cain’s offering of fruit from the ground? After all, his job was to work the ground. The Book of Hebrews in chapter 11 verse 4 helps explain more as to why Cain’s sacrifice wasn’t pleasing to God. [Read Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
The first two words of that verse tell us why Abel’s offering was accepted by God: Abel offered his sacrifice “by faith.” Abel had one thing that Cain missed: faith in God.
Abel gave the “firstborn” of his flock—the most valuable of his possessions to show his value of God, and, more importantly, his offering was a blood sacrifice. A blood sacrifice was a picture of what Jesus would eventually do for us on the cross. Abel’s perspective in his worship was to honor God.
Basically, and ultimately, Abel demonstrated that he was a righteous man who worshiped God with the right perspective.
Cain’s perspective, however, was to take care of himself first. He gave God his leftovers without even considering giving God his very best. His offering was of the fruit of the ground; it was an offering that came as a result of his own works.
The New Testament Book of Hebrews gives us insight into why this offering was not acceptable.
[Read Hebrews 9:22
22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Cain’s offering was not given in faith. It was an offering of his own efforts, and so God rejected his gift. Cain wanted to worship God on his own terms; his gift was self-focused. And when God rejected his self-centered sacrifice, Cain got angry.
There’s two things that happened wrong here. Cain was trying to worship God on His own terms. I’ll praise God my own way, I go to church, at home in my own way. So many people use that as an excuse, but it’s not about your own way. It’s how God wants us to worship Him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Cain wasn’t doing that. Then het got angry about it. That’s the second thing he did wrong.
Now, according to Scripture, it’s possible to be angry without sinning when we are angry at the things that anger God (Ephesians 4:26
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Even Jesus expressed righteous anger at times (John 2:15
15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
But it is James, the brother of Jesus, who tells us the key way to control our anger. Listen to what James wrote. [Read James 1:19-20
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
It’s not always wrong to be angry, but one thing we must do is be slow to anger.
Cain could have slowed down and paid attention to what God was saying. If he would have, he would have recognized his selfish perspective. He could have apologized to God for his less-than-ideal and faithless gift and then chosen to do the right thing (Genesis 4:7). But instead, he boiled with anger against God. Sadly, the kind of anger we see with Cain is an uncontrolled anger that reveals a selfish heart. But selfishness wasn’t his only problem.
In addition to Cain’s selfish perspective, we also see Cain’s arrogant perspective. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
b. Cain’s arrogant perspective (Genesis 4:9)
As you may already know, Cain’s anger led to the murder of his own brother (Genesis 4:8). We will read about that in a few moments. But, for now, let’s jump ahead and see his attitude after his heinous act.
After he killed his brother, he demonstrated despicable arrogance. Let’s read further into Genesis 4 to see how Cain flaunted his arrogance. Could someone please read verse 9 of Genesis 4? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Genesis 4:9
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Years earlier, when God confronted Adam and Eve with their sin in the Garden of Eden, they were fearful and blamed others (Genesis 3). Not so with Cain! God knew exactly what had happened between the brothers, but He was giving an opportunity for Cain to confess his horrible actions.
Instead, we see a man whose heart was as cold as ice. Imagine being so arrogant that if God asked you a question, you just tried to tell Him off: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” “Am I supposed to watch over him?” “Isn’t that your job, God?” This was the height of Cain’s arrogance.
As a result of his anger, Cain was incredibly selfish and arrogant. Little did he know that it would destroy his life. But an ungodly anger doesn’t just affect the person who is angry. It can destroy others, too. So God offered Cain a warning, because living in anger is a dangerous place to live. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the second point of the outline.]
II. Anger Is a Dangerous State of Living. (Genesis 4:6-8)
Let’s go back and read verses 6 and 7 of Genesis 4. [Read Genesis 4:6-7
6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
God obviously knew that Cain was really mad, but He still asked Cain why he was angry. Even here, God was showing Cain immense kindness. Think about it: did Cain have a right to be angry with God? [Allow for responses.] Absolutely not!
On the flip side, God could very well have been angry with Cain. But instead of punishing Cain for his disrespectful sacrifice, God patiently reminded Cain of the dangers of anger, but He also gave him the solution to his anger. God gave Cain a clear choice. He could “do well” and be accepted by God (Genesis 4:7
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
But, if Cain ignored God’s instruction, then he would be further rejected.
God warned Cain about the impending sin that could overtake him. It was like a wild animal was waiting right outside his front door to ambush him. He could control his anger and keep that door closed by doing the right thing, or he could allow his anger to control him and open himself up to destruction.
How many of you have ever had a computer virus infect one of your family’s devices, whether a computer, phone, or tablet? [Allow for responses.] One of the most common ways that malware ever gets into your devices is through clicking on links that look legitimate but in fact open your device up to attack.
[Show the PowerPoint slide with the first image of a malware email.] Look at this email. Do you think this is safe or unsafe? [Allow for a few responses.] This is definitely suspicious. What about this next one?
[Show the PowerPoint slide with the second image of a malware email.] This is a scary thing to read in an email. Your account is locked! You need to respond immediately! Is this real or a scam? [Allow for a few responses.] Once again, this is a phishing attack, trying to get people to act on impulse. Unfortunately, those who do so are walking into a giant trap.
Anger is often similar in the way we get drawn in. We get upset, and then we get excited. And just like with those scam emails, we forget to stop and think about what we are doing. Instead of calmly responding to a situation or to other people in a God-honoring manner, our anger can spin us out of control. That’s what happened to Cain.
Let me show you a clip of how anger can spin you out of control. It is about Lex Luthor from teh new Superman movie, so if you have not see it, spolier alerts sorry, but cmon it’s been months now if you haven’t seen it not my fault LOL.
Show Lex Luthor Envy
Someone in a message board said this which I think it perfect: The thing that fascinates me about this version of Luthor is that he comes across less like a superintelligent mastermind and more a bully whose superpower is mad science. That he's able to effortlessly replicate and neutralize Superman's powers makes it come across that Luthor hates Superman not because of his abilities, but because he DESPISES how Superman's inherent kindness and goodness highlights how ugly Luthor really is.
His anger, which stemmed from Envy spiraled him out of control until ultimately he lost everything.
Cain would have been just fine had he listened to God. But he didn’t, did he? Can someone please read verse 8? [Choose a volunteer and allow time for Genesis 4:8
8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
In criminal law, the term “manslaughter” is used when someone accidentally takes a person’s life; people guilty of manslaughter never had the intent to kill. On the other hand, when someone plans out an attack on others with killing as the goal, the term “murder” is used.
Which one was true about Cain’s actions: manslaughter or murder? Was it an accident or on purpose? [Wait for the response of “murder” or “on purpose.”]
While Cain was with Abel out in the field, he acted on his anger and murdered his own brother in cold blood. This is just one of the physical dangers that can result from our anger. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
a. Physical dangers
Can you all name some other physical dangers that we might witness today from people who are angry? [Allow students to share a few examples.] From actions like property damage and road rage, to abuse in relationships and full-blown riots in the streets, there are all sorts of physical dangers that are possible when anger is present. It is unwise to hang around someone with an anger problem who could explode at any minute.
But the dangers stemming from anger don’t always reveal themselves with a fist or a firearm. Sometimes anger can lead to destruction with emotional dangers. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
b. Emotional dangers (Genesis 4:14; Ephesians 4:31)
After Cain murdered Abel and God was explaining his punishment, Cain displayed emotional distress. Listen to what Genesis 4:14 tells us. [Read Genesis 4:14
14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
Cain was paranoid! He was convinced that whoever found him would kill him. No one else, besides Cain, had ever committed murder by this time in history, but Cain’s anger and sin led him to believe that everyone was out to get him.
The New Testament offers several lists that point out common sins many of us struggle with. Listen to one of those lists in Ephesians. [Read Ephesians 4:31
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Although each of these sins are distinct, many of them are tied to the emotional dangers that come from anger.
One of these emotional dangers is that of bitterness. [Show PowerPoint slide with the definition of the word “bitterness.”] “Bitterness” can be defined as “a hostile disposition and a poisonous frame of mind that causes a person to brood, scowl, and become repulsive in demeanor.”
● Who here would ever purposefully drink poison? [Pause for effect.] None of us would!
● So then who here would drink poison and expect it to hurt someone else? [Pause for effect.] That would be ridiculous!
But that is what bitterness is like. It is when anger festers inside us as we become obsessed with our “reason” to be angry. It does nothing to the person that we are angry at, but it does hurt ourselves.
So, anger can have physical and emotional dangers, but there are relational dangers with anger as well. [Show the next subpoint of the outline on the PowerPoint slide.]
c. Relational dangers (Genesis 4:10-15; 1 John 3:11-12)
Because of Cain’s uncontrolled anger, he experienced many relational issues.
● His younger brother was dead (v. 10).
● His relationship with his parents was, no doubt, strained.
● His relationship with the earth itself was destroyed since his punishment was directly linked to his “career” (v. 11). Does anyone remember what job Cain had? [Allow for a response.] He worked the ground as a farmer, but from that point on, all of Cain’s efforts would literally be unfruitful.
● He lived as a fugitive (v. 12).Cain was condemned to be a homeless wanderer. He was separated from his family and any comforts that he previously had. Cain’s consequence was to be ostracized from the people he had loved.
Anger and its effects often result in a lack of trust, broken friendships, broken marriages, and broken families. And although not everyone who gets angry ends up murdering someone, like Cain did, the Bible also teaches us that if you hate someone, it’s as if you committed murder in your heart (1 John 3:15).
Amazingly, God extended great mercy to Cain. Listen to verse 15. [Read Genesis 4:15.] Do you think Cain deserved this kind of protection? [Allow for responses.] Of course not, but nevertheless, God’s mercy exists amid consequences.
Scripture doesn’t specifically explain what this mark was, but it was a physical reminder that sin has consequences. Somehow, when people saw the mark on Cain, they knew that if they were to try to take justice into their own hands, God Himself would dish out an unimaginably severe punishment. Cain serves as an example that you should [Show the PowerPoint slide with the Sticky Statement.] control your anger before it controls you.
As we wrap up the lesson, listen to 1 John 3:11-12. [Read 1 John 3:11-12
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
The new Superman movie is a perfect example of this truth. Superman was kind, and he loved everyone, you see it when he cries over the random person that Luthor kills. There’s a line that Superman says Lois tells him that he loves everyone, that he thinks everyone is beautiful and he says.
Maybe that’s the real punk rock.
God has given us Cain as an example of how not to live. Cain was angry. He was uncontrolled. And he was murderous. But God has called us to slow down when we are angry, get ourselves under control, and choose to love one another. When you choose to love others, you have a better chance of controlling your anger and not letting it control you.
CONNECTION
Cain is the main character in this lesson, but he’s not the hero; his life was a trainwreck! Yet he is an important example for us to consider in the way we control our anger or perhaps in the way our anger controls us.
Think back to the driver in the opening video. If that driver took time to slow down in those icy conditions, that collision most likely would have been avoided. At the very end of the video, the news anchor pointed out how the police were warning drivers to “slow down.”
That’s good advice for us with our anger as well. Life is hard. You will be disappointed, dissatisfied, and upset at times. But just like Cain, God gives you a choice in those moments. You can slow down and control your anger, or you can allow sin into your life, sin that is lying “at the door” (Genesis 4:7). If you allow your anger to be uncontrolled, you have no idea who or what you may damage, nor do you know how far that damage will reach.
But God has given you a way out. By simply slowing down, taking a breath, talking to Him in prayer, and choosing to love others, you can control your anger and prevent the dangers that uncontrolled anger brings. Slow down, breathe, and control your anger before it controls you.
It’s really easy to give in to your desires, to give in to your anger. It’s very easy to want to follow God your own way.
But maybe, just maybe, Following Jesus when nobody else is. Maybe that’s the real punk rock.
You are going to get upset often in life. That is not the issue here. Rather, what are you going to do when you are upset? Would you rather fall into calamity like Cain or loving calmness?
Are you going to, out of a selfish perspective, do whatever comes naturally? Or are you going to, out of a love for God, slow down and control your anger?
Will you ask God for the strength to slow down when you are upset so that you can avoid the trap of anger?
Maybe you already struggle with anger. Will you confess your anger to God as sin? Will you ask Him for forgiveness and for strength to develop a habit of slowing down so that your anger no longer controls you?
Let’s take that opportunity right now to take those confessions and commitments to God.
Teacher’s Note: Take the opportunity to allow for a few moments of silence for the students to pray in their hearts to God. Then close this time in prayer.
NEXT STEPS
Some of you may have made some major commitments to God with your anger just now, which is amazing! But the battle against uncontrolled anger is not a one-and-done decision. [Show the PowerPoint slide with the Sticky Statement.] It’s a day-by-day and moment-by-moment decision to control your anger before it controls you.
One way that you can better control your anger is by continually reminding yourself of God’s instruction for you. If you have a phone, put James 1:19-20 on your phone’s lock screen to remind you multiple times a day about the importance of controlling your anger. You could write that passage out on a notecard and stick it on your bathroom mirror.
Verse memorization can help you hide God’s Word in your heart, including what the Scriptures say about anger. In fact, James 1:20 is the first verse in Word of Life’s Scripture Memory pack on anger. You can commit to memorizing this entire pack over time but aim to memorize only James 1:20 this week. All of these ways can allow you to better control your anger and help you be “slow to wrath.”
Teacher’s Note: Word of Life offers an eight-verse Scripture memory pack as a resource for students to address the issue of anger in their lives. You can download and print this pack from the Resources section of the Multiply App.
Print out enough copies of this pack to give to any students who need to memorize these verses. For convenience, this pack has been formatted to fit the perforated Avery 5371 Business Card template so the verse cards can be printed and then simply torn apart.
