Cain
Category: Failure of worship & jealousy
Could endure: Offer acceptable worship like Abel.
“By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.” (Hebrews 11:4)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 4:4; Proverbs 15:8.
Chose wrongly: Gave an unacceptable offering, then murdered his brother.
“Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8)
Cross-Refs: 1 John 3:12; Jude 11.
Endured (negatively): Restlessness, curse, separation from God’s presence.
“You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:12)
Cross-Refs: Numbers 32:23; Isaiah 59:2.
Why (wrong motive): Pride and anger instead of repentance.
“So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” (Genesis 4:5)
Cross-Refs: James 1:14–15; Proverbs 14:30.
Result: Became a warning of godlessness.
“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain.” (Jude 11)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 12:16; Romans 6:23.
The Generation of the Flood
Category: Failure of righteousness
Could endure: Repent and walk with God like Noah.
“Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8)
Cross-Refs: 2 Peter 2:5; Ezekiel 14:14.
Chose wrongly: Lived in continual wickedness and corruption.
“Every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5)
Cross-Refs: Romans 1:21–23; Psalm 14:2–3.
Endured (negatively): The judgment of the flood.
“Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out.” (Genesis 7:23)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 24:37–39; 2 Peter 3:6.
Why (wrong motive): Loved evil more than God.
“The earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.” (Genesis 6:11)
Cross-Refs: Micah 6:12; John 3:19.
Result: Perished in judgment, leaving Noah as the remnant.
“…only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.” (Genesis 7:23)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20.
Tower of Babel Builders
Category: Failure of humility & obedience
Could endure: Scatter and fill the earth as God commanded.
“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth.” (Genesis 9:1)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 1:28; Acts 17:26.
Chose wrongly: Tried to make a name for themselves by building a tower.
“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.” (Genesis 11:4)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 8:14; Psalm 127:1.
Endured (negatively): Confusion of language and scattering.
“That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world.” (Genesis 11:9)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 14:13–15; Jeremiah 51:53.
Why (wrong motive): Pride, self-glory, fear of dispersion.
“…so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered.” (Genesis 11:4)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6.
Result: Human pride thwarted, God’s will prevailed.
“The LORD scattered them from there over all the earth.” (Genesis 11:8)
Cross-Refs: Acts 17:26–27; Revelation 18:21.