The Buried Testament

A Case for Cain

Cain wiped the sweat off the back of his neck. He planted his self-made rake of weaved twigs into the ground and leaned into it. The sun was hot today, but he had to harvest his crops. They were perfectly grown, and he was worried one more day in the fields would be one day too long. He was eager to present Him with a gift, hoping it would make Him happy to see everything Cain had been able to achieve and grow from the sacred land He had created.

He took another swig of water from his pouch before kneeling down in the dirt, pulling out his knife to begin collecting the fresh carrots from the earth.

Once he had finished harvesting all his crops for the day, Cain placed all the full baskets into his cart and began wheeling them back to the house. The sun was beginning to set, which meant it would be time to start preparing the evening meal soon.

He approached the small cottage and parked his cart under the shelter at the side. He began to gather the very best of each vegetable he had grown and placed them all in one basket. With that basket in hand, he walked around to the back of the house and made his way up the pathway to the large stone altar where they performed their prayers every day.

Softly, he placed the basket of crops on the altar and knelt in front of them. He placed his hands together and closed his eyes.

"Dear Lord," he prayed. "I have worked hard in the fields to bring you this offering of the best crops I have ever produced. Thank you for all you have given me and my family, and thank you for helping me to grow such a lush bounty to care for my family with." Cain opened his eyes and looked up at the monument before him. His parents had told him that they built it in the image of a statue that resided in the Garden of Eden where they were both created. They wanted the Lord to be everywhere, not just in the garden. Cain placed his hands at the base of the figure and imagined how holy the original must have been if he felt such power and grace emanating from the replica before him.

"And I, too, Lord, have brought you a gift!" a voice bellowed from behind Cain.

Cain turned his head, still resting on his knees, full-well knowing who it was that would dare to disturb a moment of prayer. His brother approached slowly, dragging a large sheep carcass behind him. He turned back to face the monument and finish his prayer.

"Thank you for the favourable conditions in which to grow these crops, and thank you for this beautiful life. Please accept my offering to you, Lord. Amen."

Cain caressed the statue once more and looked up at it, hoping he might receive some kind of sign that God had acknowledged his work. His basket of crops sat at the altar, and the clouds in the sky continued to float to the east as they had been all evening. With a sigh, Cain stood and turned towards the cottage to begin preparing the family's evening meal.

"Hello, brother," Cain nodded to Abel as he passed him and his prized sheep.

"Cain," Abel nodded back. "Look how large this sheep is!" Abel stopped walking and squatted to get his arms underneath the large animal. With a grunt, he lifted it up and flopped it onto the altar, nearly crushing Cain's offering in the process.

"Be careful!" Cain called, rushing back to check that his vegetable basket remained unharmed. The last thing he wanted was for God to think he had offered up the worst yield of the year.

"At ease, brother," Abel said, giving Cain a nudge in the shoulder. "You are not the only man who can show his appreciation for the Lord. I, too, can share my labour's yield with our creator."

Abel arranged the sheep in the centre of the altar, shoving aside his brother's offering. He knelt to the ground and clasped his hands tight, eyes cast high to the top of the monument.