"Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?""
Genesis 4:9 (NIV)
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
LORD always means YWYH - it is the personal name of God. From the account at the burning bush, we understand it’s meaning to be “I AM who I AM” (Exodus 3:14). To place this verse in proper context we need to see it as the Person of God speaking to the human race after the fall.
Cain is the firstborn of Adam and Eve – Cain and Abel are the human race at this point in time. This question from God to Cain reveals for us the truth that the situation of other humans is our responsibility. The Person of God is placing on each of us the responsibility of knowing where (that is - the place and the situation) all humans are at. To put it very simply: God requires each human to care for the humans beside them. This defines the term a “good human” for us. What is a good human? One who pays their own way? One who is a great warrior? One who achieves prominence in their field of work? One who has statues built and their names written in history books? NO - a good human is someone who knows where the humans around them are at.
The other truth revealed by this verse is the ugly condition of the human heart. How quickly we degenerated into pride and hatred and murder! How quickly our lives turned into me above all everyone else. Me! Me! Me! God says to each one of us: “Your brother! Your sister! Your mother! Your father! Your neighbour!
I chose this verse to start our look at the story of the Samaritan to put this wonderful story by our Lord into the proper biblical context. The command of our Lord to “Go and do likewise” is a command to be a good human in a fallen world. Jesus came into this world from heaven to show us the way to God’s side. In response to a man’s question about getting to God’s side, He gave us the command to go and do likewise.
Where is your brother today? Where is your sister today? Are we thinking that someone else will care for them? Oh friend may we know this truth: God holds me responsible for their care! May our Lord who gave His all to help us, give us the grace and the unction to help those around us.
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