# 5 - Cain and Abel: Genesis 4:1-16 - Reflection by Pastor Steve Buechler

Cain and Abel: Genesis 4:1-16

In one sense, the story of Cain and Abel is a primal story of sibling rivalry. One brother’s offering to God is accepted and the other's is not. Thus, the brother whose offering is not accepted feels “angry” and “dejected”. Is he angry at God or angry at his brother? Perhaps both? Moreover, it’s not really clear why God accepts Abel’s offering, but has no regard for Cain’s. In later Old Testament tradition, both animals and grain offerings are commanded by God, and both keeping the fields and keeping the animals are part of God’s command to care for and tend the creation.

For some reason, though, Cain’s offering wasn’t what God wanted. Why was that? The story really doesn’t tell us, but perhaps it was Cain’s motive. Was Cain’s motive to give thanks to God for the success of his labors, or to look better than his brother? Was Cain’s motive to be part of God’s plan, or to eliminate the competition? Was Cain’s motive to “do good” or simply to “look good”?

God warns Cain that “sin is lurking at the door” (the very first use of the word “sin” in the Bible), and the “sin” that God is speaking of isn’t simply a bad act, but the desire to mess up the relationships that God has created. By Cain’s act of killing his brother, Cain messed up his relationship with God, with his family, and with the very earth which he was charged with keeping.

So, this story isn’t just about sibling rivalry. I think it’s also a warning to us to examine our motives, which we so often think are pure and holy. And especially at those times when we feel our efforts or faithfulness are not being rewarded as much as we think they ought to be, it’s important to remember that our call from God is to give thanks, not to be rewarded. Our call from God is to be part of God’s plan, not to be “better” than other people. And our call from God is to do good, and not be consumed by the desire to look good.

Genesis 4:1–16

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD." ²Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. ³In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, ⁴and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. ⁶The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? ⁷If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it."
⁸Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. ⁹Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" ¹⁰And the LORD said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! ¹¹And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. ¹²When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." ¹³Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! ¹⁴Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me." ¹⁵Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. ¹⁶Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

Sculpture: Lorenzo Ghiberti