The Bible Storyline – Lesson 9 – June 14, 2026

 

Introduction

This is the ninth lesson in our current series “The Bible Storyline.” Up to this point, we have established that God created the earth as a permanent home for mankind. God created us in His image and after His likeness (Gen 1:26-28).

God’s plan was for mankind to reflect God’s character, and rule the earth under God’s authority. It was also His plan for mankind to fill the earth with God’s image and worship. This is God’s Kingdom on Earth.

We also learned that a top ranking angel named Lucifer rebelled against God and determined to replace God and receive authority and worship. But Lucifer was defeated and cast out of Heaven. He is actively attempting to take over earth and build a kingdom that rivals God. He wants to fill the earth with his own image bearers who worship him.

Now there are two kingdoms at war over Earth and mankind. Satan (Lucifer) launched His first attack on God’s earthly kingdom by convincing Adam and Eve to mistrust and disobey God’s command not to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Our previous lesson established that God announced that the war was not over. Satan had won a partial and temporary victory. But God announced His plan for victory:

Genesis 3:15  KJV 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

In this statement, God declares that from that point forward the earth will be occupied by two seeds:

• The seed of the woman
• The seed of Satan

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Those two seeds belong to the two kingdoms

• Kingdom of God
• Kingdom of Satan

 

And there would be enmity between them until God sends someone from the seed of the woman to crush (destroy) Satan.

That brings us up to Genesis 4. This chapter is where we find a rather familiar story from the Bible — the first murder in human history.

 

Test Your Knowledge:

• Who committed the first murder?
• What is the name and relationship of the person he murdered?
• What event led to this murder?

 

BIG QUESTION: What single word goes in the blank? Cain murdered his brother because he was ___________ Did you know the Bible answers this question in the New Testament?  1 John 3:12

 

1 John 3:12  KJV 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

 

John identifies the root problem in Cain’s life:

• He belonged to the Kingdom of Satan
• He was evil and his brother was righteous

 

The Bible Storyline

From Genesis chapter 4 we can learn about subjects like:

• Worship
• Sacrifice
• Anger
• Jealousy
• Sin
• Murder
• Judgment
• God’s mercy

All of these are important and worth studying. But they are not the main point of this chapter. So what is? How do we find it?

Return to Genesis 3:15.

Genesis 3:15  KJV 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

The Two Seeds & Two Kingdoms:

God identified there would be two “seeds” in the world. The seed of the woman and the seed of Satan.

• The seed of the woman identifies those who align themselves with God. They are God’s image bearers; and they make up God’s kingdom on earth.
• The seed of Satan identifies those who align themselves with Satan and oppose or reject God’s purposes.

 

Enmity

God also declared that there would be enmity between the two seeds — or two kingdoms.

• Enmity is defined as irreconcilable hatred and opposition
• God said this enmity would be between the woman and Satan; and between their offspring
• We will learn that people may come from the same physical parents but grow up to represent two opposing kingdoms. In other words, the seed of the woman is not just her physical descendants, it identifies humans who follow God’s law and image Him.

 

The Bible Storyline — Fulfillment Throughout Scripture, God often announces a truth and then follows it with a narrative that demonstrates that truth. This lesson will demonstrate what this looks like by using the announcement God made in Gen 3:15 and the following narrative of Gen 4.

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The Two Seeds Revealed:  Genesis 4:1–5

Genesis 4:1–5  KJV 1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.  2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

 

Genesis 4 opens with two brothers, Cain and Abel.

• They share the same biological parents, Adam and Eve, yet they do not belong to the same seed.

This is important because Genesis 3:15 announced there would be two seeds on the earth, the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan.

Genesis 4 is the first chapter where those two seeds become visible.

We know Cain and Abel belong to different seeds because the New Testament identifies them for us. First John 3:12 says Cain was “of that wicked one.”

1 John 3:12  KJV 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

 

John is not merely describing Cain’s behavior. He is identifying Cain’s spiritual parent (lineage) and kingdom allegiance. Cain belongs to the seed of Satan and is one of Satan’s image bearers on the earth.

Abel is presented very differently. Hebrews 11:4 says Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and obtained witness that he was righteous.

Hebrews 11:4  KJV 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

 

First John 3:12 says Cain’s works were evil while Abel’s were righteous. Abel belongs to the seed of the woman. He aligns himself with God, reflects God’s character, and is one of God’s image bearers on the earth.

For the first time in Scripture, both seeds announced in Genesis 3:15 are living on the earth together. They are found in the same family, raised by the same parents, yet they belong to different kingdoms. Cain belongs to Satn’s kingdom. Abel belongs to God’s kingdom. The first prediction God made has come true; there are two lines or seeds living on the one earth. Next, we will examine the second prediction God made — enmity, which we defined as irreconcilable hatred.

The Woman’s Seed is Cut Off:  Genesis 4:6–8

Genesis 4:6–8  KJV 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?  7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.  8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

 

Having identified Cain as belonging to the seed of Satan and Abel as belonging to the seed of the woman, Genesis now turns our attention to the enmity God announced in Genesis 3:15.

Before the enmity is demonstrated, God gives Cain an opportunity to submit to His authority. God warns Cain about the danger of sin and tells him, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?”

Cain refused God’s warning.

Cain refused to submit to God’s authority and turned his hatred toward Abel. First John 3:12 explains why: his own works were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

The enmity God announced in Genesis 3:15 is now on full display. The seed of Satan has murdered the seed of the woman.

With Abel dead and Cain aligned with Satan’s kingdom, the seed of the woman has been cut off. What follows is Cain’s descendants (seed of Satan) rapidly expanding Satan’s Kingdom on earth.

Satan’s Seed Expanding:  Genesis 4:9–24

Genesis 4:9–24  KJV 9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?  10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.  11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;  12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.  13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.  14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.  15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.  16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.  17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.  18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.  19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.  20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.  21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.  22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.  23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.  24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

 

After Cain murdered Abel, God judged him for his sin. But Moses immediately turns our attention to Cain’s descendants and shows the seed of Satan expanding on the earth.

Cain builds a city and names it after his son. Moses then traces Cain’s descendants through several generations. The seed of Satan is no longer represented by one man. It is becoming a family line, a people, and a growing kingdom on the earth.

Then Moses brings us to Lamech. Lamech is the seventh generation from Cain, and he reveals what Cain’s line has become:

• Lamech takes two wives, abandoning God’s design for marriage.
• He murders a man and then boasts about it.
• He even places himself in God’s position by declaring a greater vengeance than Cain.

 

Think about how far the story has moved. Cain murdered his brother in a field. Now, several generations later, murder is being celebrated. The seed of Satan has multiplied, spread across the earth, and become increasingly bold in its rebellion against God.

At this point in the story, Abel is dead. Cain’s descendants are multiplying. Satan’s kingdom is expanding. From a human perspective, God’s promise of victory over Satan appears to be in jeopardy.   But God does something now that will become His pattern throughout history and the Bible Storyline. He intervenes and overcomes.

 

The Woman’s Seed Reemerges:  Genesis 4:25–26

Genesis 4:25–26  KJV 25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.  26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

 

After tracing the expansion of Satan’s seed, Moses returns to Adam and Eve.

Genesis 4:25 says, “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.”

Eve identifies Seth as another seed in the place of Abel. The woman’s seed had been cut off when Cain murdered Abel, but God appointed Seth to continue the woman’s seed on the earth.

Verse 26 tells us that Seth had a son named Enos, and “then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.” God was preserving a people who aligned themselves with Him and belonged to His kingdom.

Genesis 4 has now demonstrated the conflict God announced in Genesis 3:15. The two seeds are revealed. The enmity between them is revealed. The seed of Satan murders the seed of the woman. Satan’s seed expands across the earth and establishes Satan’s kingdom. Then God appoints another seed and continues His unstoppable plan to defeat evil, restore creation, and establish His kingdom on earth.

Conclusion

In Genesis 3:15, God announced two seeds, two kingdoms, and enmity between them.

Genesis 4 shows those truths becoming reality on the earth.

Cain and Abel reveal the two seeds. Cain’s murder of Abel reveals the enmity. Cain’s descendants reveal Satan’s kingdom expanding on the earth. Seth reveals God preserving the woman’s seed.

This conflict continues throughout the rest of the Bible Storyline until the promised seed arrives.

That promised seed is Jesus Christ.

Application

Genesis 4 forces us to examine our own kingdom allegiance.

Two seeds. Two kingdoms. One earth.

Cain and Abel lived on the same earth, came from the same parents, and brought offerings to the same God. Yet one belonged to God’s kingdom and the other belonged to Satan’s kingdom.

The same reality exists today. The earth is still occupied by two kingdoms and two kinds of people. Some align themselves with God and reflect His character. Others reject God’s authority and reflect the character of Satan.

The question is not whether you prayed a prayer years ago, joined a church, or grew up in a Christian home. The question is: Which kingdom are you aligned with today? Which kingdom’s character is being revealed in your life? Which kingdom’s authority are you submitting to?

Genesis 4 also reminds believers that the conflict between the two kingdoms is real. God’s people should expect opposition because God Himself declared enmity between the two seeds. Yet God’s people should also live with confidence because Satan has never stopped God’s plan and never will.

Two seeds. Two kingdoms. One earth. The question every person must answer is: Which kingdom do you belong to?