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Cain & Abel
October 14, 2026 · 33 min
# 4 - Cain & Abel - In this episode of The Chosen People we explore the powerful story of Cain and Abel, delving into the deep lessons of faith, jealousy, and the consequences of unchecked emotions. Through this ancient narrative, we reflect on the human condition and our capacity for both love and hatred, ultimately pointing to the hope and redemption that is available to us all.Sign up for The Chosen People devotionals at https://www.thechosenpeople.com/sign-upEpisode 4 of The Chosen People is inspired by the Book of Genesis.Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart”Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series The Chosen People October 14, 2026 · 33 min · The Chosen People
# 4 - Cain & Abel - In this episode of The Chosen People we explore the powerful story of Cain and Abel, delving into the deep lessons of faith, jealousy, and the consequences of unchecked emotions. Through this ancient narrative, we reflect on the human condition and our capacity for both love and hatred, ultimately pointing to the hope and redemption that is available to us all.Sign up for The Chosen People devotionals at https://www.thechosenpeople.com/sign-upEpisode 4 of The Chosen People is inspired by the Book of Genesis.Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart”Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. ...more Show the full description Show less # 4 - Cain & Abel - In this episode of The Chosen People we explore the powerful story of Cain and Abel, delving into the deep lessons of faith, jealousy, and the consequences of unchecked emotions. Through this ancient narrative, we reflect on the human condition and our capacity for both love and hatred, ultimately pointing to the hope and redemption that is available to us all.Sign up for The Chosen People devotionals at https://www.thechosenpeople.com/sign-upEpisode 4 of The Chosen People is inspired by the Book of Genesis.Today's opening prayer is inspired by Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart”Listen to some of the greatest Bible stories ever told and make prayer a priority in your life by downloading the Pray.com app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Series The Chosen People
0:00 The chosen people podcast is sponsored by Bible League International. All around the world, Christians long for the 1 thing they can't get, a bible of their own. Daniel is a new believer in Kenya eager to read0:12 about the God who loves him. Nara wants share Jesus in her village in Nepal, but she needs Bibles. 5 dollars sends 1 Bible. That's only 5 dollars a Bible. 60 dollars sends 12. Give today at0:23 bible league dot org slash bibles. Bible league dot org slash bibles. That's bible league dot org slash Bibles.0:31 This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.0:36 Previously on The Chosen People.0:39 This is the tree of life. Its fruit is a gift, a gift to be cherished forever. It is the life I offer you, a0:50 life of unity with me. It's beautiful. This is the1:01 And place world is and evil,1:05 And1:13 you shall not eat.1:16 What will happen if I do?1:18 Knowledge of good and evil, which leads to evil itself. While the tree of life brings eternal life, the knowledge of evil brings1:30 death. Die? Oh, my dear. You won't die. Do I1:42 look dead to you? God doesn't want you to eat it because if you do, your eyes will be opened.1:55
2:06 Eve stroked the fruit. Adam was frozen. He knew he should stop Eve. He knew he should smack it out of her hand, but he was drawn by a similar curiosity.
2:18 Could he really be like God? They had been deceived into thinking God was holding back from them, and perhaps something better awaited them if they separated themselves from him.
2:30 Adam, I called you to cultivate and steward the earth, But now it shall be cursed because of you. The earth will struggle against you.
2:42 You will eat of the earth through sweat and pain all the days of your life. You will wilt against the stones. Thorns
2:53 and
2:53 thistles will scrape your hands. This pain will remind you of the paradise you rejected. Then, after a lifetime
3:05 of struggle, you will return to the dust of the earth. For from the dust I made you, and to the dust you shall return.
3:15 What do we do now? Where should we go? What is there beyond Eden?
3:24 The cave was dark, only slightly lit by the nearby firelight. Yves' quiet and determined breaths echoed through the night. Beads of sweat
3:36 like pearls descended her brow. Adam knelt beside Yves as her hands and knees pressed against the floor.
3:44 Is is this death? Is this the curse God spoke of?
3:50 No, Eve. I don't think this is death. I think this is life. With that final encouragement, Eve let out a groan.
4:02 Shadows danced on the cave walls. The sound of Eve struggling was replaced with the cries of a newborn baby, the 1st child born east of Eden.
4:14 Adam wrapped him in his arms and wiped him with woven wool. He held him closely, looking him deeply in the eyes. The boy glowed with promise. We'll have to give him
4:26 a name, just like the lord named me. Eve rolled onto her back and reached for her son. Adam rested him in her arms. She cradled him and stroked his
4:37 face. She remembered the promise made by God before their exile. He promised that through her line, a hero would rise to crush the serpent's head and
4:49 restore Eden.
4:51 It's you, little 1. You are our great hope in this broken world. Your name shall be king. Through you, I have received help
5:03 from the Lord. You are the promised child, the 1 who will deliver us.
5:11 She pressed Cain against her chest, which quivered with tears of grief, joy, and relief. Cain was the answer to all her questions. His breath
5:23 rose in tandem with hers. The euphoria of birth and new life swelled within her. Her mind's eye was filled with visions of Cain's rise.
5:36 Days rolled into months, which passed into years. Daily, Adam walked with Cain in
5:43 the morning mist as the creator once did with him. He scooped up some soft earth and held it in his palm.
5:51 I wasn't born like you, Kain. I was crafted from the ground, and god gave me the ground to tend to.
6:00 Adam let the dirt fall out of his palm. He sighed and wiped his hands. He pointed to the river and traced an invisible line upstream. It led up to a great
6:12 mountain, its peak hidden by clouds in the
6:15 light of dawn. We didn't always sweat and bleed, Cain. We were once on that holy hill, surrounded by plants
6:27 that bloomed without labor. We were 1 with god, blessed. I wish you could have seen it. Perhaps you'll know
6:39 1 day what it means to be blessed by god.
6:42 Cain looked up at the mountain. A sense of destiny came over him. He felt chosen, handpicked to receive something great from god. Cain held that
6:54 belief close to his heart. The moon and stars shifted in
6:59 the
7:00 skies. The heavens were untouched by tragedy, untainted by the sins of man. Adam and Eve often looked up at them, dreaming about what life would have been like if they
7:11 had never eaten of the tree. Eve touched her pregnant belly and leaned her head against Adam's shoulder. They were days away from having their 2nd child.
7:23 What's going to happen to them, Adam? What will happen to them when we're gone? What what if we die before they can take care of themselves?
7:35 Worry overcame Eve. It was a part of the curse. Cultivating a family was her greatest blessing and heaviest burden, marked with euphoric highs and
7:46 anxious lows. She pursed her lips, gaze stretching into the horizon. The stars were vast and unsearchable, just like their fate.
7:57 Will they survive this world? No.
8:02 They won't. Sooner or later, we'll all return to the dust. I just pray they get to taste the goodness of life before the inevitable
8:14 bitterness of death.
8:16 Is there any goodness? Has the creator reserved any blessing for us this side of Eden?
8:24 Adam looked forward at the plains dimly lit by the twinkling lights. He wrapped his arms around Eve. Adam wished he had words to comfort Eve. He longed to ascend the
8:36 hills of Eden again and reclaim unity with God, not just for him, but for his family. But he couldn't. No matter how desperately he longed for the tree of
8:47 life, it was gone, guarded by judgment. I've been thinking a lot about that day, the day we
8:56 left the garden. I was thinking about how God covered us with animal skins. He didn't have to take care of us, but He
9:08 did. He didn't have to protect us, but he chose to. He's protected us since that day, and maybe...
9:18 Adam stopped and looked at Eve. He pressed his hand against her pregnant belly. His mind warred with itself. He was oscillating between faith in god and fear for
9:30 the future.
9:31 Maybe god will cover our children too.
9:34 He looked back up. The galaxy stretched over the horizon. Adam was still struggling with who god was and who he was this side of Eden. Since unity
9:46 was severed in the garden, understanding god had been a struggle. He was a captivating mystery. Yet, even though they no longer walked with him in the cool of the garden, god
9:58 felt close during moments like these. I don't feel him like I once did, but
10:04 I know he's still here. Tomorrow, I'm gonna kill an animal for god, just like he killed 1 for us. I will give him something
10:16 precious, something we need to survive. I will show God that I understand what he did for us and what he can still do for us.
10:27 Maybe that will be how we can connect with him again. We put our well-being and our future in his hands. We'll declare trust in him even though we only
10:39 understand him in part.
10:42 Teach our children to do the same. Tell them our story.
10:47 The following day, Adam marched up a mountain. The frigid breeze cut his cheeks. He shivered at its summit and laid a sacrifice on the ground. He gave him precious
10:59 resources of harvested crops and a spotless lamb from his flock, things they needed to survive. It was a declaration of trust, an acknowledgment that their lives were
11:11 in his hands. It was also a peace offering to reclaim the unity lost in Eden. Days later, Eve felt the pangs of childbirth again
11:23 to bring forth her 2nd born son. Adam held him in the air, His heart fluttered in his chest. Although Adam had lost much in his short life, he felt he was
11:35 finally discovering what it meant to be human. Adam beamed with delight, feeling a sense of purpose. Although life had its struggles, it also
11:47 had beauty. Just because the land was harsh and sin was present didn't mean there weren't pockets of paradise, slivers of Eden. We are
11:58 multiplying, Lord. Just as you asked.
12:03 I'm going to name you Abel, breath, fleeting, but filled with energy, just like this beautifully tragic life we live.
12:14 Cain and Abel grew strong under their parents' care. Adam taught Cain how to till the land and the reason for his struggle. He also taught Cain how to war and cooperate with
12:26 the earth to make it yield crops. Abel was taught how to tend to the livestock. Adam showed Abel how to care for the sheep with dignity as fellow creatures. Most
12:38 importantly, Adam taught his sons how to sacrifice to the Lord.
12:42 1 day, you will make your offerings to the Lord. You will join us in our mission to reclaim our relationship with the creator.
12:54 When the boys became men, it became time to march up the mountain and make offerings to the lord. Both prepared in their own way, crafting offerings with the skills they had acquired
13:06 from their parents. Cain scanned the crops. He had done his best to master the land in a way that flourished. Cain tied up some grains and leafy vegetables he'd
13:18 grown at the mountain's base. He plucked berries from the trestles he built near their camp. Just a few more, and we're done. As Kain knelt in the dirt, a shadow emerged
13:30 from behind. It approached slowly, ready to pounce. Kain turned suddenly, but it was too late. He was tackled to the ground. The taste of dirt filled Kain's mouth. He
13:42 rolled onto his back only to see his younger brother's friendly, bare face. Gotcha.
13:49 Sneak and hunt from behind, It's a dirty trick. Try and face me like a man.
13:56 Abel playfully wrapped his arms around his big brother's shoulders. Kain scoffed and tossed Abel into the They wrestled in the dirt until Kain pinned him down. He pressed his elbow
14:08 against Abel's collarbone.
14:09 Nice try, little lamb. How are you gonna protect yourself and the flock from wolves if you can't even pin me from behind?
14:17 The sheep have me to protect them,
14:19 but I have you. Cain smiled, ruffled Abel's hair, and pushed him away. Brotherly affection creased on the sides of Abel's eyes as he looked up at his older brother.
14:31 Cain shooed him off.
14:33 Get out of here so I can finish my offering.
14:36 What are you bringing to the mountain?
14:39 Grains, berries, and then other crops.
14:41 Cain bound some grains with twine and added some flowers he'd grown nearby. Abel looked to the hills and furrowed his brow. With sincerity in his voice, he mused about
14:53 god.
14:54 I hope the creator accepts our offerings. I want him to know my heart. He deserves the best. Well, the way I see it. Alright? Sacrificing is a
15:04 lot like farming. You till the land, plant the seed, you'll yield a good crop. If I give an offering to God, then he'll bless me. You know? I mean, if I give to him, then he
15:16 gives me something in return.
15:18 I'm not sure that's how it works.
15:21 Well, that's because you're not a farmer. You you play with sheep all day.
15:25 Kain lifted his offering onto his shoulders, waved dismissively to his brother, and began ascending the hill. Cain was a farmer, but he was less concerned about the art of cultivation
15:36 and more concerned with the inputoutput relationship of harvesting. He put in the work, and the land gave him crops. He saw his sacrifice to god in a similar manner.
15:48 I will give an offering, and god will give me a blessing. It's my birthright.
15:53 Cain summited the hill where an altar of stone rested at the peak. The wind whistled above. Cain pulled his hair back and smiled. He was prepared to receive god's
16:05 blessing. He was ready to step into his destiny as god's chosen hero. He stepped back, knelt on the ground, and waited. He stared
16:17 at the offering, then up at the sky. Nothing. Just the silence along with the high pitched whistle of the wind. Where are you?
16:29 Cain was unsure what he was looking for, but knew he would know when he saw it. There was only silence. Cain waited even longer, wondering what had gone wrong. Cain
16:41 stood to his feet, frustrated and confused.
16:45 I've done I've done what you've asked. I put in the work. I gave you what you needed. Where are you?
16:51 Still, there was only silence. No lightning flashed from the heavens. No voice bellowing with the wind. Just the sound of the whistling peaks and the frustrated breaths
17:03 rising from Cain's lungs. He dragged his feet down a small path and sat on a stone. He waited for something, anything to happen. As Cain waited, he heard the
17:15 faint bleating of a lamb in the distance. He looked back to see Abel scaling up the hill, cradling the firstborn of his flock. A dagger swung back and forth on his side.
17:27 Cain observed the sorrow on Abel's face. His eyes were foggy with tears as he petted the lamb in his arms. It's okay, little 1.
17:36 Always so sensitive. He is too soft for this world.
17:41 Tears rolled down Abel's face as he placed the newborn lamb on the altar. He stroked his head and sang it a lullaby. His singing mixed with the gentle hiss of the wind.
17:53 Abel loved every 1 of his sheep. He had a tender heart and understood the value of life. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock, the best of what he had. It
18:05 was an act of pure faith, faith in the future and God's power to provide. To Abel, God was worthy of the 1st fruits.
18:15 Lord, please accept this gift. It's the best of what I have. Search me and know my heart.
18:25 With a shaking hand, Abel raised his blade. The lullaby leaped out of his quivering lips. Then, with a trembling hand and final cry, he drove the
18:37 blade down into the lamb's throat. It didn't make a sound. Abel let it bleed onto the altar and sobbed. He offered the best parts of the lamb to god and burned them. He
18:49 sang a song silently as the embers crackled and smoke slowly rose. Abel's faith was as pure as the lamb's fleece. Cain watched from a distance
19:01 and waited for something to happen. He waited for god to move. That's when something changed in the air. An indescribable shift occurred in the atmosphere around
19:13 Abel. The wind's chill ceased, and the sun's warmth rested gently upon him. On that hill, it seemed like a sliver of Eden was reclaimed. Cain's
19:25 eyes widened as he realized that god's favor was upon Abel, the younger brother, the soft shepherd. Abel, not Cain. Abel looked
19:36 up. The sun's rays seemed to dance around him, drying the tears from his face. His brows curved upward, and a peaceful smile stretched across his smooth
19:48 cheeks. He closed his eyes, feeling the euphoria of god's acceptance rush upon him. Abel rose and descended the mountain. He was surrounded by
20:00 a holy glow of god's love and affirmation. Abel's joy was like a trickling stream falling from the hills. Cain emerged from his hiding place with his
20:11 mouth agape. His jaw tightened in annoyance. Undoubtedly, God had just accepted Abel's sacrifice above Cain's. He... Him. You
20:23 you
20:24 you chose him. He isn't the 1 you're supposed to choose. I'm Cain. I'm the firstborn son of Eve. I I
20:36 deserve more. That that weakling doesn't know his left hand from his right hand. He's a bleeding lamb in a world of wolves.
20:46 Cain's frustrated prayers rose to heaven but swiftly fell to the floor, weighed down by entitlement and pride. He skulked to the altar and looked at the remaining
20:57 coals. With a vexed swipe of his hand, he struck the coals. They fell to the floor. Cain watched their light fade. The black coals remained there.
21:09 He turned his gaze from the altar and looked toward the bottom of the hill. He saw Abel run into his parents' tent to tell them what had happened. Seeing his brother's joy
21:21 ignited jealous resentment within him. Cain didn't realize it, but something sinister was slithering from the reeds into his heart.
21:34 Weeks passed, and it became clear that god's hand was on Abel. His flocks multiplied, and his strength increased. As Abel's prominence increased, so did Cain's
21:46 jealousy. His bitterness was a poison slowly eroding his heart. Whenever a crop didn't yield or a thorn cut his hand, Cain thought about how God had blessed
21:57 Abel. Cain began to compare every inconvenience and struggle with Abel's successes. To Cain, each ounce of favor given to his younger brother was
22:09 a slight against him.
22:12 It should have been me. I was the chosen 1. It was my blessing, my reward. You stole it from me.
22:24 His entire body vibrated with contempt. But Cain's hatred wasn't against Abel. No. Abel was just the recipient of the blessing. God was the
22:36 source, and therefore, the withholder. Cain's ire was directed upward. He blamed the creator. He wanted revenge, but how would he get
22:47 it? Cain sat by the fire, lost in a whirlpool of inner rage and conspiring, passively listening to his father muse more poetic praise for Abel.
22:59 Your flock has expanded further than our eyes can see. You see what's happening, Abel? God is blessing your work. This is what we're meant to do.
23:11 It was a record month for Abel's flock. The entire family laughed and sang by the fire, joy rising alongside the smell of smoked meats and freshly baked grains.
23:23 Cain wasn't amused. He stormed off to a solitary place. He paced around in the darkness, kicking dirt and punching the air. He slammed his fist against the
23:35 cold stone and shouted into the night. Blessed Abel,
23:39 faithful, Abel, fruitful Abel. He is a fool.
23:44 Nobody sees it but me.
23:48 Kain, why are you so angry? Why has your face fallen?
23:54 Oh, now you speak. Why why now, oh creator? Why break the silence with such a stupid question?
24:03 Your anger is misplaced, Kain. If you do well, will you not also be accepted like your brother?
24:13 If if I do well, if I... Oh boy. If... Okay. I did what I was asked. I made an offering and
24:24 you didn't hold up your end of the bargain. Instead, you chose to bless that that
24:31 that
24:31 whim... Whimpering and then soft fool. Listen to yourself, Kain. Your words revealed your heart.
24:42 My words are true and you know it. I deserve that blessing. It was me you should have chosen, not that blobbering shepherd.
24:54 Be warned, Cain.
24:57 Sin is crouching at the threshold of your heart. It desires to destroy you. It prowls at the borders of your soul, waiting for a moment to strike.
25:09 But you can overcome overcome it.
25:11 Why should I listen to you? What good has that ever done me?
25:16 Kain stormed down the hill, determined to leave a distance between him and the creator. God's word wasn't a comfort to Kain, but salt to his wounded pride. The further he walked,
25:28 the darker his heart became. Rage against god went from a low simmer to a violent blow. You accept Laber's blood offering.
25:39 If it's blood you want, then it is blood you will get.
25:45 The air was thin and freezing. Clouds rolled in from the east, blocking out the sun's warmth. Kain's breath rose like a specter in the chilly air. He paced at the
25:56 pasture's edge like a wolf, stalking, waiting. He remained there all day in the shadows, watching Abel. Corruption coiled coiled around his heart like the
26:08 serpent. It squeezed, choking the humanity out of him. The sun began to set against the dark clouds, causing a crimson hue to splash over the horizon.
26:20 Sin was hungry for Kain's soul. It hovered over him, jaws wide open and ready to strike. The creator's warnings echoed in his mind. Sin is
26:31 grouching at the threshold of your heart. It desires to destroy you, but you can overcome it. Cain wouldn't listen. He refused. He knelt
26:43 and dug his fingers into the cold, damp earth. From it, he drew out a stone the size of his palm. His father was hewn from the dirt, and from it, a tool for
26:55 death was taken. Abel knelt beside his sheep. He tended to 1 of the lambs, picking out some brambles. As he knelt, a shadow approached from
27:06 behind. It crept slowly, ready to bounce. Abel turned, but it was too late. He was tackled to the ground. Abel laughed at 1st, thinking
27:18 it was another game. But Cain's grip hardened against Abel's shoulder and pressed him violently against the ground. Abel winced in pain and struggled to get free.
27:30 Okay. Okay. You pinned me. Now get off.
27:34 Abel's eyes widened as he saw Kain lift a stone high in the air to strike him. Abel panicked and kicked his brother off. He turned to run, but Kain bounced back up and hit his brother on the
27:45 temple, sending him flying onto the floor. Abel scurried backward with his arm up to Cain.
27:51 Stop. What are you doing? Getting my revenge.
27:57 Revenge? For what? Cain, what did I do?
28:03 Oh, no. No. No. Not you, baby brother. This isn't for you.
28:08 Cain lunged forward at Abel and struck him again with the stone. Abel's face fell into the dirt. Cain turned him around and continued to attack. Please stop.
28:21 Blessed are you now, Abel. Do you still feel blessed? Where is your
28:28 god now?
28:30 His anger wasn't directed toward Abel. It was directed at the creator. Blow after blow, Kain threw spite at god by striking his innocent
28:41 brother. When Abel was too weak to struggle, Cain pressed his thumbs against his throat and finished what he started. The breath of life left
28:53 Abel with a strange sign, the 1st death. Cain removed his hands, rolled his neck back, and exhaled quietly. He dared not look up at
29:05 heaven, but he dared not look down at his slain brother either. Cain couldn't face the creator of life, nor could he look down at the life he had taken. He was suspended in a
29:16 space between heaven and hell. Cain stood up and dug into the earth. He buried his brother in the field.
29:28 From the dust, are taken. Unto the dust, we shall return.
29:33 Cain stormed back to his tent. Abel was dead, but his blood cried out from the ground, reaching the ears of the almighty. The following day,
29:46 Cain tilled his field silently. Abel was buried only yards away from him. Echoes of his terrified screams reverberated in his mind. Cain pushed the gilt
29:57 down. He buried it just like he did to his brother. Then cutting through the silence, god spoke. Cain, where is
30:09 your brother? God's question mirrored the question once posed to his father. Adam, where are you? God knew the answer. He was
30:21 inviting Cain to dialogue with him to acknowledge his mistake.
30:25 I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?Show more
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