Sibling Rivalry

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Opening Prayer

Lord, Your Word is a light that guides me to righteousness. Plant Your Word in my heart so that I will grow in faith and grace.

Read Genesis 4:1–16

^[1] Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” ^[2] Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ^[3] In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. ^[4] And Abel also brought an offering-fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ^[5] but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. ^[6] Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ^[7] 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.” ^[8] 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. ^[9] Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” ^[10] The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. ^[11] Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. ^[12] When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” ^[13] Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. ^[14] Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” ^[15] But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. ^[16] So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Meditate

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel” (Phil. 1:3–5a). This is God’s way for relationships.

Think Further

Outside the garden we are immediately presented with evidence that the disruption in relationships between human beings wasn’t restricted to male-female links. I get on well with both my brother and my sister, but most of us with siblings will have memories of childhood times when “it’s not fair” was a constant watchword! Why is he allowed to stay up longer? Why are my jobs harder than hers? (Well, maybe because he is two years older and she is two years younger!) Cain’s jealousy of his younger brother just ate away at him. There are lots of questions that arise in this chapter about, for example, other inhabitants of the land. The writer was probably aware of these ambiguities but focuses not on these but on ongoing concerns about responsibility and accountability. The rejection of Cain’s offering had nothing to do with Abel. The account does not go into detail, but verses 3 and 4 imply that the problem was this: whereas Abel brought “fat portions from some of the firstborn” of the flock he looked after, Cain merely brought “some of the fruits” of his labors. The approval given to Abel in no way prevented or replaced approval that might have been given to Cain. Verse 7 is clear. If Cain changes his attitude and behavior, he will also be accepted. Instead, however, Cain gives vent to his jealous anger. He kills Abel and then denies any responsibility. “How should I know where Abel is: he is the shepherd, not me!” In the post-garden world, however, responsibility and accountability for human actions remain. Cain, because of his actions and apparently partly by his choice, “went out from the Lord’s presence” (16).

Apply

How would you assess the way you handle anger? Where might God be looking on your life with favor? With disfavor?

Closing prayer

Father, forgive me for the times when I turn against other people because of my own failures; help me to recognize my responsibility to be “my brother’s keeper” (9).

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