Genesis 4: My Brother's Keeper?
The questions of God are interesting to me. God knows everything, right? So, why ask?
He does this on many occasions. He did to Adam and Eve in the garden: Where are you? He knew where they were.
He does it to Cain also. "Where is your brother?" God knows the whole story. So, why the question?
Thought one: If God knows the whole story, then he knows what has been done, right and wrong. So, if knows the crime and the appropriate punishment, then why ask the question. Just punish the sinner! However, the willingness of God to ask the question is a sign of mercy and staying of judgment, if only for a moment.
Thought two: Asking the question is an opportunity for the ignorant to learn the answer. God does not ask for himself, but to teach the one who does not know. So, instead of judgment, God is allowing the fallen to learn from the mistake.
Thought three: Asking the question offers and opportunity for repentance. Once the truth is learned, then the ignorant, or the blatant offender, can admit wrong and ask for forgiveness.
Alas, neither Adam and Eve, nor Cain, could pass the the repentance test. Cain's answer is a question also, not a good sign if you need to humble before God. "Am I my brother's keeper?" In other words, "Am I responsible?" Uh, yeah. You are the older brother. You killed him. And you know where he is. Guilty on all counts. Cain failed miserably in life as a brother and in judgment before God.
Now, not even God pronounced the death penalty here on Cain, and required that no other man kill Cain--an interesting development in the story that is up for discussion. Any one care to explain that one?
Yet, God is still merciful, even though the question was not fully understood or sufficiently answered. God is merciful in his tests--allowing several takes for many of us before the final exam is given.
I bet my students would prefer that God handle my exams.
He does this on many occasions. He did to Adam and Eve in the garden: Where are you? He knew where they were.
He does it to Cain also. "Where is your brother?" God knows the whole story. So, why the question?
Thought one: If God knows the whole story, then he knows what has been done, right and wrong. So, if knows the crime and the appropriate punishment, then why ask the question. Just punish the sinner! However, the willingness of God to ask the question is a sign of mercy and staying of judgment, if only for a moment.
Thought two: Asking the question is an opportunity for the ignorant to learn the answer. God does not ask for himself, but to teach the one who does not know. So, instead of judgment, God is allowing the fallen to learn from the mistake.
Thought three: Asking the question offers and opportunity for repentance. Once the truth is learned, then the ignorant, or the blatant offender, can admit wrong and ask for forgiveness.
Alas, neither Adam and Eve, nor Cain, could pass the the repentance test. Cain's answer is a question also, not a good sign if you need to humble before God. "Am I my brother's keeper?" In other words, "Am I responsible?" Uh, yeah. You are the older brother. You killed him. And you know where he is. Guilty on all counts. Cain failed miserably in life as a brother and in judgment before God.
Now, not even God pronounced the death penalty here on Cain, and required that no other man kill Cain--an interesting development in the story that is up for discussion. Any one care to explain that one?
Yet, God is still merciful, even though the question was not fully understood or sufficiently answered. God is merciful in his tests--allowing several takes for many of us before the final exam is given.
I bet my students would prefer that God handle my exams.
posted by Randy Rogers at
3:07 PM
5 Comments
