Cain’s Anger Toward Abel

Cain grips his staff with a hardened face in the foreground while Abel, the shepherd, walks along the rocky hillside carrying lambs upon his shoulders. The contrast between the brothers points to the early Genesis account in which Abel’s offering from the flock was received, while Cain’s offering from the ground was not regarded in the same way. Cain’s visible anger reveals the sin crouching at the door of his heart, the moment before jealousy turns toward violence.

This biblical artwork is suited for teaching on Genesis 4, sibling rivalry, worship, obedience, repentance, and the danger of unchecked resentment. Abel’s lambs also underscore the sacrificial pattern that runs through Scripture, where acceptable worship is tied to faith and a surrendered heart before God. by Jeff Preston