{Genesis 4:9} (NIV 1984)
What a lame response by a wicked man to an Almighty, All-knowing, All-loving and Just God! Cain was the first fruit of sinful man. He was the first of all of us to come from a mother’s womb. Cain’s behaviour was an early indicator of the type of behaviour that plagues all humans to this day. Godlessness, Envy, Hatred and Murder.
Cain’s response to God was an early indicator of the expectation of a loving God for all of His created humans. God expects us to be our brother’s keeper! God created His own nation, by freeing them from Egypt, and by giving them the Law. The entire Law is summed up in a single command; “Love your neighbour as yourself.” {Gal 5:14}
God’s Son came to earth to deliver His people from their sins and to make it possible for many other people to join His family. As He prepared to leave His disciples and go to the cross, the Lord Jesus gave them and us a new command: Love one another. "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." {John 13:34}
Yes Cain, we are our brother’s keeper, and God will call us to account for those times when we did not obey His old and new command. Of course this life of love starts with our families. This first murder happened inside a family. Sometimes we treat those closest to us in the most dreadful ways. God picked our families for us, and He put us there in order for us to love them. We are to love our enemies. Just as God`s mercy is shown to the wicked and the righteous, so we should show mercy and love to all, no matter what their attitude is to us.
The Lord Jesus told us the story of the good Samaritan to teach us to love all we meet. In answer to the question; “Who is my neighbour?” the Lord described someone who is a good neighbour. Go and do likewise, Jesus said at the end of the parable. {Luke 10:25-37}
And so we shall. May we be the opposite of Cain! May we be like our Lord Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us. He who planned and intentionally carried out acts of love, at great cost to Himself.
May God bless those around us as we go forth and love all we meet.
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