Genesis 4:1-6:22
Ending it All and Starting Over
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you
angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be
accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it
desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 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. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your
brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Summary
The story of Cain and Abel is a difficult one to
interpret. At first glance, it looks
like the story of the first murder and the consequences. But it goes much deeper. The murder comes in the middle of a
conversation between the Lord and a discontented Cain. Cain's question to the Lord "Am I my
brother's keeper?" - to which the implied answer is YES - continues to
reverberate to this day. It speaks to the truth that our relationship with
God is impacted by the way we treat others.
We can't fool ourselves into thinking that God doesn't care when we
abuse or hurt or kill another of his precious human beings.
Walking with God
The story begins by portraying Cain and his brother Abel
as walking with God through the practice of sacrificial worship. Abel works with and brings an offering from
livestock; Cain works the soil and brings grain offerings.
But the walk with God hits some rough territory. For some reason, the Lord accepts Abel’s offering and refuses Cain’s. It’s important not to try to resolve this
through study and speculation too soon (could it be God is on a diet that has
him choosing meat over carbs?). In the
story itself, it’s left open-ended, and that turns out to be a big part of the
problem.
Cain wonders what the deal is and gets mad at the Lord. Is
this his tragic flaw? It's tempting to settle
here, but I think we’re not quite to the heart of the matter. You see, the Lord responds to Cain without
anxiety or indignation, seeming to be genuinely interested in helping Cain deal
with the situation. God gives Cain a warning to watch out for the
temptation to take things into his own hands (righting a perceived wrong). Cain
is strangely silent at this point in the conversation. Not staying in communion with God, he’s a sitting duck
for the temptation to do evil. When the opportunity
presents itself Cain takes care of the problem as he sees it. He assassinates his rival.
Stumbling with God
The Tragic Flaw - Hamartia
Ignoring divine warning and wise counsel, we take justice
into our own hands.
Remember, the tragic flaw may or may not actually be
sin. For Cain, as for us, it can set us
up for a fall. Our tragic flaw can be an
attitude or a way of thinking/feeling that makes us vulnerable to the
temptation to sin. A sense of unjust treatment fueled Cain’s anger, and it
clouded his judgment. His anger kept him
from seeing
- The facts - The tragedy is that Cain’s problem was not with Abel, but with the Lord!
- The warning signs – Seems like Cain didn't hear God clearly say “watch out!”
Personal Identification Questions
- Where might this tragic flaw show up in your story?
- How has your sense of being unjustly treated by others, society, or even God made you vulnerable to the sin of mistreating others?
- What helps you see the facts and the warning signs? What keeps you from seeing them?
Even having fallen, God still walks with us
Yes, Cain is punished into a wandering existence. But even in that state he is not without God’s
protective presence. In my view the most
shocking and scandalous element of the story of Cain is the mark the Lord
places on Cain. It seems like the mark
should be to warn people about this offender in their midst, or even to
encourage people to target him with their own version of vengeance. But no, the mark of Cain is to protect him
from others’ violent reprisals. Even
though Cain failed miserably to be his brother’s keeper, the Lord continues to
be a keeper of Cain even after his stumble.
Prayer of Confession
Lord, I don't always understand you. Sometimes I feel
like the deck is stacked against me, and I wonder if you're responsible. Help
me not to allow my beef with you to flow into negative treatment of
others. Give me a humble heart willing
to hear your words of warning and to cling to you when temptation rises up
strong.
I’m sorry for
- Remaining too long in a place of self-pity
- Judging myself in comparison to others
- Planning or wishing harm on another
- Holding on to bitterness
- Not taking to heart your merciful words of warning
Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil.
Amen.
Encouragement
1 Peter 5:6-11
(NIV)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand,
that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he
cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in
the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world
is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,
will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the
power forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11 NIV)
1 Corinthians
10:12-13 (NIV)
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that
you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind.
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure
it.
Even in your stumbling, allow God to grip you and pull
you up by his grace, and walk on together.
Amen.
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