4 C ain and Abel Read Genesis 4 Am I my brother’s keeper? Genesis 4:9
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dam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel’s story shows the deepening effect of sin. The story is simple. Cain and Abel both offer God the best they have in sacrifice. Abel’s offering is accepted. Cain’s offering is not, and he is angry and discouraged. While early Christian writers describe Abel as being more righteous than Cain, Genesis does not say this. God accepts the offering of the younger brother for his own reasons. This pattern is repeated in the Bible with the choice of Abraham over his relatives, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and Joseph and David over their older brothers. Cain’s hurt feelings turn into deep hatred of Abel. Cain believes God has insulted him. God tells Cain to continue living in relationship with him and others. Unfortunately, sin is like a beast lurking at the door, ready to master the heart of Cain. Cain refuses to make the choice of mastering this beast.
