Key Text: Genesis 4:8-10 (KJV)
"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. And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground."
The story of Cain and Abel is one that many of us have heard since childhood. It's a tale of two brothers, the first children born to Adam and Eve after they left the Garden of Eden. But this isn't just an old story from long ago. It's a powerful lesson that speaks to us today, right here, right now.
Let's picture the scene. Cain and Abel, two brothers growing up together. They probably played together as children, shared meals, and learned from their parents about the world God had created. But as they grew older, things changed.
Cain became a farmer, tilling the soil and growing crops. Abel became a shepherd, tending to his flocks. Both had important jobs, both were providing for their family and community. But something went wrong.
One day, both brothers brought offerings to God. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock, the best he had to offer. Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil. Now, God looked favorably on Abel's offering, but not on Cain's. This made Cain angry and jealous.
Here's where we need to pause and think. Why did God prefer Abel's offering? It wasn't because God likes meat more than vegetables. No, it was about the heart behind the offering. Abel gave his best, the firstborn of his flock. Cain just gave "some" of his crops. It wasn't about what they gave, but how they gave it.
This teaches us an important lesson. When we give to God - whether it's our time, our talents, or our resources - He cares more about our attitude than the actual gift. Are we giving our best? Are we giving with a joyful heart? Or are we just going through the motions?
Now, Cain could have learned from this. He could have asked God why his offering wasn't accepted. He could have talked to his brother about how to give better. But instead, he let anger and jealousy take over.
Our key text tells us what happened next: "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."
This is a shocking moment. The first murder in human history. Brother killing brother. Can you imagine the pain, the horror of this moment? Adam and Eve, who had already lost Paradise, now lose a son at the hands of another son.
But God, in His infinite love and justice, doesn't let this go unnoticed. He comes to Cain and asks, "Where is Abel thy brother?"
Now, think about this for a moment. God, who knows all things, is asking Cain a question. Why? It's not because God doesn't know. It's because He's giving Cain a chance to confess, to take responsibility for his actions.
But Cain doesn't take this opportunity. Instead, he responds with a lie and a question of his own: "I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?"
This response reveals so much about Cain's heart. Not only has he committed murder, but he's now lying to God and showing a complete lack of care for his brother. His question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" shows a selfish attitude that goes against everything God teaches us about loving our neighbor.
God's response is powerful: "What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground."
Here we see that even though Abel is dead, his blood - his life - still cries out to God. This tells us that God hears the cries of the innocent, the oppressed, the victims. Nothing escapes His notice.
