AM I MY
BROTHER’S KEEPER?
Genesis 4:9.
This question is the reply Cain gives to God after God has inquired about where
Abel was. God knew, but he wanted Cain to realize what he had done. This is
the second example of a cross-examination. The first was asked by God to Adam,
who was struggling to defend himself after he admitted the reason he and Eve
were hiding because they realized they were naked. God then asked him, “Who
told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded
you that you should not eat?” Genesis 3:9-11. Adam in a round-about way,
after first trying to pass the blame, had to admit they had listened to the
devil and not God. The question we are now considering is asked after a man’s
struggle with another man. Adam and Eve were evasive but humble in what they
had done. Cain exhibits hardness and cynicism.
The answer to the question is “Yes.” But Cain was trying to indicate
it was really no concern of his. His answer was one of contempt and deception.
He knew but didn’t want to admit it. “Am I supposed to watch over
him all the time?” People do have a responsibility to watch out for their
neighbor’s welfare, as Jesus pointed out is the second greatest commandment,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:39. We see
the same indifference of Cain’s response to God, with the priest and Levite
in Jesus’ parable about the good Samaritan Luke 10:29-37.
Envy and hatred kept Cain from doing what was right. He had just murdered his
brother. Centuries later his actions are used as a warning to men 1 John 3:11-12.
It was envy and hatred that caused the Jews to crucify Christ Matthew 27:18.
These attitudes are a disposition of little people. It steals their character
and nobility and makes them less than they ought to be. Solomon called it “a
rottenness of the bones” Proverbs 14:30. Like a tree that looks strong
from the outside, but rotten inside. A wind blows it down and people are surprised.
That is what envy and hate does to a person. It eats them up on the inside.
Envy is always wrong. It is different from jealousy. Envy wants that which belongs
to another and will do whatever it takes to get it if possible. Jealousy can
cause one to strive to possess the things that belong to another, but will seek
to obtain it by rightful means. God is a jealous God in that He wants our soul
for Himself, but He will not force man to accept Him. He will do the right thing
to acquire it, but only if the person is willing to allow it.
Not only envy and hatred, but selfishness kept Cain from being his brother’s
keeper. He was self-centered and thus unconcerned about his brother. He wanted
everything to center around himself. He wanted to be the center of attention.
“He loved himself too much to love anyone else.” Note 1 Corinthians
10:24. “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.”
“…Look out …for the interest of others” Philippians
2:4. “As frost to the bud, and blight to the blossom, even is self-interest
to friendship; for confidence cannot dwell where selfishness is porter at the
gate.” Tupper. “Sordid
selfishness doth contract and narrow our benevolence, and cause us, like serpents,
to infold ourselves within ourselves, and to turn our stings to all the world
besides.” Walter Scott.
Cain’s spirit was a renunciation of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood
of man. God is the father of us all. It follows then that we are all brothers.
As brothers we have obligations and duties to each other Malachi 2:10. This
is the link that holds mankind together. When we watch out for our brothers
we love the neighbor as ourselves Matthew 22:39. We will seek to restore the
fallen Gal.6:1-2 and help bear one another’s burdens. We will seek to
do good to all men Galatians 6:10 and give to him that needs Ephesians 4:28.
We will rejoice with others and weep when they do Romans 12:15. We will treat
others like we want to be treated Matthew7:12.
After reading the things above, let’s make the application to one of the
problems that is affecting our society today, that of racism.
Racism comes about because people are unaware of the fact that when God created
man and woman He created them as one race of people, the human race. Centuries
later Paul stated this truth as he told them that “God, who made the world
and everything in it made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all
the face of the earth …” Acts 17:24-26. This means that the blood
of any human being, regardless of skin color, ethnicity or nationality, can
be exchanged with any other human being. Yes, we are all ONE BLOOD, and this
cannot be successfully denied. In all the discussions about racism I have not
heard or read of this fact being pointed out. Whether people realize it or not,
racism is a renunciation of the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
This is what Cain was implying in his question to God, “Am I my brother’s
keeper?” Genesis4:9.
One other thing to consider is that since man has been created in the image
of God as stated in Genesis 1:26-27, racism would be eliminated if people were
like God, and practice impartiality. Jesus’s disciples had to learn this
lesson, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every
nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted of Him” Acts
10:34-35. Also read Romans 2:11.
By Tommy Thornhill
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