January 5th, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Where Is Your Brother?

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, You are the source of my hope and the giver of grace. I bow before You now.

Read Genesis 4:1-26

[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. [17] Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. [18] To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech. [19] Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. [20] Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. [21] His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. [22] Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah. [23] Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. [24] If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” [25] Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” [26] Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along” (Psa. 133:1, The Message). It’s such a blessing!

Think Further

Gospel summaries sometimes mention Genesis 1-3 and then jump to the New Testament! This neglects the many links showing that chapters 3 and 4 are to be read together: e.g. “desire, rule” (7; 3:16), “where?” (9; 3:9), “curse, ground” (11; 3:17), “work the ground” (12; 3:23); “drive/banish” (14; 3:23), “hide from God’s presence” (14; 3:8); “east of Eden” (16; 3:24), along with similar interplay of narrative and dialogue. 

God’s questions stand out: “Where are you?” (3:9) is matched by “Where is your brother…?” (9). “Keep” (9) describes constant watching over, like a shepherd with sheep, or a guard, or God with his people (Gen. 30:31; 1 Kings 14:27; Psa. 121:4-8), so Cain is exaggerating his responsibility: “Do you expect me to know where he is every minute of the day?” Just as Adam and Eve’s passing the buck is a common ploy when one has done something wrong, so is claiming that unreasonable demands are made! We have a responsibility to “love” our neighbor, not to “supervise,” but that responsibility cannot be evaded. 

Reading the opening chapters together shows that “‘Man’ is not just Adam and Eve, but also Cain and Abel. Christ’s work was directed as much to the person as a social being as to the person as an individual. If the sin of ch. 3 was turning away from God, in Cain it is turning from one’s fellow human. Cain’s sin brings God’s judgment, but Cain continues to live with a protective God-given “mark,” associated with judgment on anyone who seeks vengeance (15). God is setting a pattern that treats seriously the damage done by human sin, but continues to care and provide for the sinner.

Apply

Bring to God in prayer your relationships with others, particularly brothers and sisters. Ask God to heal them, where that’s necessary.

Closing prayer

Lord, I pray for the families of victims of homicidal violence. Comfort and encourage them, and provide them opportunities for healing.

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