Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?" And the Lord said, "What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground." (vv. 9-10)
GRACE FOR A FALLEN CHILD
Cain and Abel were sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. In those days, people made offerings to honor the Lord. So Abel brought the fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. Cain brought some vegetables, but not his best.
Is it any surprise the Lord looked with favor on Abel but not on Cain? Would you not seek forgiveness and give an offering as great as the Lord had blessed you? The Lord was not pleased with Cain’s offering. Cain was sad, and then he got angry!
First the Lord advised him, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" Then came the warning: "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." The Lord could see into Cain’s heart and knew what evil existed there. The Lord tried to warn him, but Cain didn’t listen. The anger was too strong. He was deaf to the Lord’s counsel.
Cain took his brother Abel into the field and killed him. The Lord came to Cain and asked, "Where is your brother Abel?" Trying to hide the truth, Cain responded: "I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?"
The Lord knew the answer and wielded judgment for the crime before Cain could speak. God cursed Cain and drove him from the ground where he had buried his brother. Crops would never grow there again for Cain.
Cain complained: "My punishment is more than I can bear." He feared for his life, so the Lord put a special mark on him to protect him from those seeking vengeance. Even though Cain had sinned greatly, God was willing to show grace to this fallen child and spare him from certain death.
We can learn from Cain. The Lord advises us, warns us and gives us counsel if we will listen. Judgment is inevitable, but grace is freely given!
Lord, help us face up to our sins and beg for your forgiveness. We know that you see us when we fail. We cannot hide from your judgment, and we need your grace daily.
