Bad Boys of the Bible:. Barbara J. Essex

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      CAIN: “AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?”

      Read Genesis 4:1–16.

      Cain is a man tied to the land who rightly worships God by bringing of his bounty. But he pouts when God rejects his offering. He is horrified because God also rejects him. Rather than deal with God, Cain takes out his anger and frustration on his hapless brother, Abel, whose very name suggests one who is transitory, fleeting. When God confronts Cain, Cain lies, and becomes petulant. He basically tells God that if God is so concerned about Abel, God should be keeping him rather than expecting Cain to do so. God makes Cain pay, and Cain complains that the punishment does not fit the crime: that he was concerned about his life but had no concern for his brother Abel’s. A man tied to the land is forced to roam the countryside, although his descendants will build cities. Both Adam and Eve are absent from the story—Cain is left to fend on his own. God maintains a relationship with him, though, and provides for his safety.

      The story of Cain and Abel is foreshadowed by tragedy: the Adam and Eve debacle. We are prepared to envision life outside the Garden of Eden as marred by bad choices and subsequent consequences. Cain goes down in infamy as a bad boy because he is the first recorded murderer in the Bible. After killing his own brother, he utters perhaps one of the most convicting questions ever: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This question has haunted theologians, poets, novelists, sociologists, anthropologists, and screenwriters. It is an eternal question, challenging us to explore the nature of our relationships with other human beings.

      Cain’s question echoes through the ages as we have sought ways to live together in peace and harmony. His story raises pertinent questions about equity, justice, retribution, anger management, sibling rivalry, and conflict resolution. His exchanges with God invite us to consider our own relationship with a God who sometimes seems capricious and unfair.

      Further, Cain’s story raises some troubling questions: Where are his parents in this scenario? Why does God reject his offering? Where did the rest of the population come from if Adam and Eve were the first parents? What is the mark that God placed on Cain for his protection? Some of these questions will remain unanswerable. Let us explore, however, to see what we can learn.

      On the surface, Cain’s story seems fairly straightforward. Cain is the firstborn son of Adam and Eve. He is born after his parents have been evicted from the Garden of Eden. Both parents now live under the consequences of having eaten the forbidden fruit. Cain’s father is portrayed as a passive, whiny man who seeks to blame others for his bad judgment (review Gen. 3:8–13). Cain’s mom is depicted as a verbal, knowledgeable, assertive, adventurous decision-maker (review Gen. 3:1–6).

      The two are held accountable by God for their decision to eat the forbidden fruit (review Gen. 3:14–19). As a result, both must live with the harsh realities of life and are expelled from the idyllic environment of the garden. In the “real” world, they must eke out a living and produce a family.

      Life outside the garden moves right along—the man and the woman have two sons, Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve continue the creation of humankind. Notice that Eve speaks but Adam (again) does not. But things are different. The parents have lost their innocence and now know good and evil. They also know consequence, rejection, and exile. They have been cast out and are forbidden to reenter the garden. They are forced to make their own way in the world. They know hardship, limitation, sorrow, and pain. It is into this changed world that Cain and Abel are born.

      The narrator of the story explains Cain’s birth: Eve “conceived and bore Cain.” Eve makes a declaration that explains Cain’s name; the Hebrew Qayin likely means “to produce, acquire, create.” We are forced to pay attention to the firstborn son of the first family. Note that little elaboration is afforded Abel—“Next she bore his brother Abel.” The relationship between the two boys is established early: Abel is Cain’s brother. The name Abel is likely connected to the Hebrew hebhel and carries the connotation of vapor, breath, and transitoriness. It may signify the fleeting, temporary, even meaningless of Abel.

      Cain is a farmer and his brother is a shepherd. Both continue the vocation of their father, Adam. There is no implication that one vocation is better than the other; together they represent the realm of vocational possibilities at that time. Cain and Abel are both connected to the land. Both recognize a power greater than themselves and bring offerings to God. This act of worship expresses gratitude. God “has regard” for Abel and his offering, but God rejects Cain and his offering. This sets the stage for the drama of this story.

      There is no indication why God rejects Cain and his offering. Likewise there is no indication of how Cain learned of his rejection. Cain probably could have dealt with merely having his offering rejected, but God rejects Cain, too. How could God reject the product of the divine command to Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply? How could God reject the fruits of the earth that Cain has tilled as commanded by God? We are told that “Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.” The fallen countenance indicates the inner turmoil he must have been feeling; he is depressed and understandably so. Imagine bringing the best that your vocation affords and placing it before the Creator who created everything and called everything good! Cain has gathered the fruit of the land as an offering of worship and thanksgiving, and both he and his gift are rejected. Cain does not question God about the divine choice. Cain does not argue with God; he is silent in the face of God’s decision. As a character in the narrative, God appears arbitrary and uncaring. God chooses the younger brother over the older; God chooses animal offerings over the agricultural. And God provides no explanation for the choice.

      Cain feels dejected, rejected, and ejected from God’s ring of grace and care. Interestingly, though, God interacts with him. As in the earlier story of Adam and Eve, God has human qualities and speaks to humans. God begins the conversation by taking note of Cain’s reaction to God’s choice of Abel and his offering. Already knowing what ails Cain, God nevertheless asks Cain why he is in a bad mood. Can you imagine how this makes Cain feel? God goes on to tell Cain that his reaction to the divine choice will have great СКАЧАТЬ