Where Is Your Brother?

Last Sunday we continued our Questions GOD Asks Us message series pondering the question GOD asked of Cain in Genesis 4.9: “Where is your brother?” You can read the entire account of Cain, Able, and GOD by clicking here.

This question is asked just after Cain’s murder of Abel. The context is that Cain and Abel both brought offerings to GOD. Cain, who worked the ground, and Abel, who worked with animals, both brought gifts according to their trade. The Bible reports that Cain brought his fruit, but Abel brought his firstlings. GOD preferred Abel’s offering over Cain’s, which infuriated the older brother. Moses is giving us a clue as to what happened here. When we make an offering to GOD, He wants our best, not the rest. So as we read that Cain gave fruit, but Abel gave the firstlings, we see that Abel gave his best, while Cain gave the rest. This is why GOD held Abel’s offering in higher regard than Cain’s.

GOD could see Cain’s attitude shift and this concerned Him, prompting him to give Cain a poignant warning as noted in verse 7: “…sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”As the Lord saw Cain’s attitude shift, He knew that the enemy was at work in Cain, hence the warning. Satan was looking for a foothold, and Cain gave him two: (1) by not giving GOD his best, and (2) by allowing his anger to burn out of control. As Cain spiraled downward, the devil saw his opening and he took it.

We can certainly identify with this, can’t we? Something bad happens to us and then it seems like all you-know-what breaks loose. This isn’t GOD fault…GOD has given us the warnings, as well as the disciplines (things like prayer, worship, study, etc) to combat the tools of the enemy. Cain didn’t heed GOD’s warning, though, and verse 8 tells us that he led Abel out into the field to commit his remediated malice murder.

Much like with Adam and Eve, GOD gave Cain the opportunity to come clean and confess his sin as He asked our focus question, “Where is your brother?” Personally, I am struck by the arrogance in Cain’s answering GOD’s question with another question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In the Biblical language, the word Cain used for “keeper” refers to the work of a shepherd or other husbandry professional. Essentially, as Cain asks GOD his question, he is referring to Abel as an animal, essentially dehumanizing him to help rationalize his sinful and violent behavior.

This is something else to which we can likely relate. When we are hurt or angered with someone, we often times take it out in safer places. Cain was really angry with GOD for not regarding his offering, and he was probably angrier with himself for not giving GOD his best. Cain decided not to act out against GOD or enter into penitent reflection and repentance, but decided to eradicate his rival.

This is a powerful story about sin and our susceptibility to it, and as we read it, we, too, might wonder how much responsibility we have for others. I believe GOD’s question presupposes that we do have responsibility for others. This does not absolve us of personal responsibility for our decisions, actions, and inactions, but we have a responsibility to help support others and hold them account to GOD’s standard. This also becomes a powerful protection against the sin that lurks at the door for us. So as we reflect over GOD’s warning to Cain in verse 7, we also get a model for how we can work with others when we see them entering a downward spiral.

We all have witnessed it – a friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, etc who begins spiraling out of control as a result of sin. GOD’s caution to Cain gives an example to follow about warning people not to give in to the power of sin. It also gives us an example to follow in offering grace to people when they do fall.

So as we look back to our focus question for this lesson – Where is your brother?  -- it is prudent for us to not just think in terms of where he/she might be located, but also in proximity to the snare of sin. If you see your brother heading down a dangerous path, hold him to account and help him deal with the problems he is facing. If he still chooses to act badly, that’s on him, but you still have the responsibility to show grace in the face of sin, which leads me to my last point.

This episode did not necessarily change Cain, because when GOD pronounced His judgment on Cain, Cain remained self-centered worrying about himself, but GOD shows grace and promised to protect Cain. This proves the preeminence of grace, which is always greater than all our sin.

Where is your brother? Is there someone in your life who needs to be warned about sin lurking at the door of his or her heart? Has someone you know succumbed to temptation and sinned? Then he or she needs the power of grace to help overcome sin’s treachery. Paul says it this way: “But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.” (Romans 5.20-21, The Message)

May this be our strength and comfort in the face of sin. May it be our compulsion to help our neighbor when we see him or her spiraling out of control. And when we fall, because we all will, may we be changed by the power of love and grace.

Have a great rest of the week and I hope you'll join us Sunday as we explore our next question, "What is that in your hand?"