Genesis 4:9. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”
Who protects you? Who keeps you safe?
There are lots of people who help to keep you safe. Family, friends, teachers, coaches, pastors, police officers, the army even. Then there’s all the people who make laws and decisions that help keep us all safe every day. You are being protected by literally thousands of people right now. And you are keeping others safe too (hopefully) in your own ways. At home. At school. In your neighborhood.
Why do we live in a world where we keep each other safe? Why do we have so many people that work to protect us and others? Because we believe that we are our brother’s keeper.
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” This is what Cain asked God after Cain killed his brother, Abel. Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s sons. They were born AFTER sin was released into the world by Adam. The Bible says that when Cain and Abel brought their offerings to the Lord, Abel’s was accepted by God, but Cain’s was rejected by God. We don’t know exactly why God rejected it, but we do know that God warned Cain that his anger was going to destroy him. Here’s what God said to Cain:
Genesis 4:5-7. 5So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.”
Do you know what jealousy is? Jealousy is when you get angry because you wish you had what someone else has. Abel had God’s approval but Cain did not. So Cain was jealous of Abel. This is the sin that was crouching at Cain’s door like a wild animal waiting to bite him. God was trying to protect Cain from his own sinful heart, but tragically Cain didn’t listen. Instead, he killed his own brother.
Still Cain never felt bad about what he did. In fact, when God showed up and gave Cain his punishment, he never said “forgive me,” or “what I did was so wrong.” He only thought about himself, not Abel or his parents. Listen to this conversation between God and Cain.
Genesis 4:12-14. 12[God said to Cain] When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
Cain is only worried about what will happen to him, and yet God still loves him and protects him. This is what God says in response to Cain’s selfish worries:
Genesis 4:15 Then the Lord said… “If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
The mark God puts on Cain is one of kindness – it will protect him from being killed. Cain will live on and his family will do amazing things all because God was his protector. How much more will God protect you when you are connected to Jesus? When we trust Jesus to save us he becomes our protector forever. Yes, bad things can still happen, but we know that Jesus will never leave us. Even if we do something terrible like Cain did, if we keep trusting Jesus God will keep us in his presence until the end.
Questions: In what ways does God protect you? How does trusting Jesus protect us from sin, selfishness, and guilt? How can you be your brother’s keeper today?
TLICfamily 