Early in my writing in this blog, I wrote on the topic of “What Jesus Probably Didn’t Mean”. I really enjoyed finding the intended meaning of the phrase, by simply considering the context of the passage. It was usually very challenging!
It has been quite a while since I had considered that series, and when I was “a pondering”, I considered that the Word, apart from the gospels, has provided numerous sayings or phrases we hear in our day to day lives.
Let’s take a moment to consider Genesis 4:9 and what it’s original intent was when written, as compared with our understanding today.
Genesis 4:9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
To repeat the phrase “Am I my brother’s keeper” in our modern life, is a way to shirk responsibility, to avoid exhibiting love towards others in our circle of life, to avoid helping someone who is down on their luck, or is in need.
Now, I must admit, that in the original context, Cain is not merely speaking as a fully logical, thought driven man, for he has just performed the first murder, and that of his brother, a righteous man. I imagine he is high on adrenaline, full of conflict, guilt and condemnation, even before the voice of the Lord speaks. Remember, he is a man of the field, a man who worked the soil to produce fruits. He may not be accustomed, to the bloodletting experience of a herdsman like his brother Abel, so he is not only dealing with the violence he perpetrated on a family member, but his brother’s blood spread on the ground next to the lifeless body of his little brother.
It is amazing that the Lord did not simply convict Cain of murder, make a statement, and punish immediately. It was His right to judge and condemn. Yet He came to Cain to ask a question. Where is your brother Abel? I can’t imagine Cain simply making a logical response to God for this question. His first response was to plead ignorance and then reject responsibility!
Many times as we use this same question to refuse to love those about us, we are not trying to hide a murderous act. We are not trying to hide an action of infraticide. We are simply trying to avoid responsibility. Sometimes this phrase is used almost jokingly, and at other times it is our go to defense mechanism.
In this passage, the Lord was seeking confession. Cain attacks, with claims of ignorance, and diversionary questions. He may have still had physical blood on his hands, and yet he refused to simply admit the truth.
When you think of this question, remember that it was an effort of a sinful man to avoid responsibility, an effort to avoid the truth. With righteous blood dripping from his hands, he sought to lie to the God of all truth.
My friends, confession is good for the soul. Don’t fight against the truth, for Cain’s question only brought about more judgment. With confession, forgiveness is avaialble.
By recording this quesiton, did the Bible intend to provide us a good response when we seek to avoid the truth. It certainly did not. If we repeat this question, let it ring in your head as a self judgement, for as we make this claim, we are proving, in a small way perhaps, that our own deeds are evil, and that those we ignore or reject are righteous.
1 John 3:12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.
This question was voiced by the first murderer. Let us not mimic him, but the One we are to follow, as He told us to love our enemy.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Paul directs believers to be keepers of our enemy in Romans 12:20.
“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Surely this includes our brothers!
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Considering the Bible 